How to Install a Unilock Interlocking Brick Sidewalk

Lay the course of the sidewalk with two parallel ropes. Adjust the ropes with measuring tape to measure 4 feet wide, and follow a course that complements the overall layout of your landscape. For instance, a straight or angled path works well with a formal landscape, while a winding course accentuates overgrown and rustic gardens.

Unearth growth and 6 inches of topsoil from the sidewalk site using a flat shovel. Dump the soil on a nearby tarp so you can reuse it in new gardens or lower-lying spots. Dig a consistent slope into the bottom of the expanse so that the side of the walkway closest to the house sits 1 inch higher than the other side.

Compress the subsoil with a plate compactor machine to force out any moisture and air pockets.

Spread a 4-inch layer of crushed rocks over the site with the shovel. Go over the rocks a few times with the compactor until they don’t move beneath the machine. The compacted rocks support the bricks under daily traffic, while enabling underground moisture to drain away.

Line the inner perimeter with metal or plastic edge restraints. Insert spikes through the slots across the bottom, and then hammer the spikes down into the ground.

Spread a 1-inch thick bed of course grit sand on top to create a smooth surface that will grip the bottom of the bricks.

Set the first Unilock brick on top of the sand at one end of the walkway so it’s flush with the edging. Set the next brick straight down so it locks into the side of the first brick without disturbing the sand bed. Continue setting the bricks in this way, according to your selected pattern. If necessary, cut end bricks to fit with a brick splitter.

Roll a rubber mat over the walkway to protect the bricks. Run the compactor over the surface to press it down flat.

Dump fine polymeric sand over the sidewalk, and sweep it into the narrow joints with a firm brush. Mist the surface with a hose so the sand hardens in the gaps.

Wait about an hour for the sand joints to dry. Coat the bricks with penetrating brick sealer using a painter’s roller brush. Wait up to 24 hours for the sealer to dry completely before allowing foot traffic on the surface. Sealing bricks is optional, but it reduces maintenance by preserving the sand joints longer. It also slows fading and makes the bricks easier to keep clean.