Choosing Material for Outdoor Walkways

An Effective, Attractive, Walkway Adds Value to Any Property

When you want to make a walkway or pathway in your yard the key item to consider carefully is the type of construction and what type of materials you should use. The first step is to layout the pathway. Using garden hoses to chart the route of the pathway is very helpful. Measuring the width of the walkway at various points adds to the aesthetic value of the walkway when you are done. It also helps in calculating how much material is needed.

After the pathway is laid out you need to clear all sod and material down to a depth of at least 6 inches. The ground should be as flat and clear of anything other than soil.

Then the first and most important material is placed in the walk way. That is sand. Sand the size you find on most beaches or slightly larger in diameter is what you need. The sand should be tamped down do that it is compacted and flat after installation.

This sand and the underlying flat soil now becomes the foundation for your walkway. This determines how long the walk way will last and how stable and safe it will be.

Next you need to consider what material will be used for the top paving material. Here are some of the choices you can consider.

Gravel is the most popular material used for walkways. It is not always the best choice but because it is natural and even provides a "walk in the wild" sound of rocks crunching under your feet, it is a very popular material. If you choose gravel , or crushed rock the individual pieces should be no smaller than ½ inch in diameter or larger than ¾ inch in diameter. Gravel is not a good choice if there is a possibility of barefoot use of the walkway.

Asphalt used to be a very popular option but over time asphalt develops cracks easier and can have problems in very hot climates. Again you must consider who will use the pathway. It is difficult and even dangerous to use an asphalt walkway on very hot days if the path is in the direct sunlight.

Sand of slightly larger diameter than the compacted sand used for the foundation can also be considered. The problem with this is that often even moderate use will result in damage to the underlying foundation of compacted sand.