Decorative pathways

What you'll need

• Pavers, concrete slabs or natural stone
• Ballast, crushed stone and bedding sand
• Concrete or plastic edging
• Weed-control geotextile
• Tamper or plate compactor
• Straightedge, level and marking string
• Solar lamps or outdoor spotlights

Step by step

1. 1

   Set it out and walk it

   Mark the path with a hose or string, then walk it a few times before you dig. Gentle curves walk better than right angles.

2. 2

   Dig and lay the geotextile

   Excavate 20–25 cm across the full width, plus 5 cm each side for the edging. The geotextile keeps weeds down and separates the layers.

3. 3

   Build the base in two layers

   15 cm of ballast, laid in two layers, each compacted properly. This step decides everything. One thick uncompacted layer will sink in the first winter.

4. 4

   Edging first, then bedding sand

   Set the edging in mortar. Then spread 3–4 cm of sand and level it with a straightedge run along the edging.

5. 5

   Lay it and sand the joints

   Set the pavers end to end with 3 mm joints. Compact, then brush in fine sand until the joints are completely full. Do it again after the first rain.

6. 6

   Fit the lights

   Lamps every 1.5–2 m, alternating left and right. Warm light, aimed downwards. Spotlights that shine in your eyes make the path harder to walk, not easier.