Install Concrete Pavers

Tools:

sand
concrete mix
concrete color (optional)
wheelbarrow
shovel
hoe
garden axe
hand tamper
level
trowel
sledgehammer
concrete form
safety glasses

1. Dig up the ground along the walkway, make it about a half-inch deeper than the form you'll be using to allow for a layer of sand.

2. Tamp down the ground with a hand tamper to get a smooth level surface.

3. Test fit the form (figure A). Check it for level and make sure it follows the slope of the ground.

4. Put down a layer of sand. Tamp this layer too, and spray it down with water so the sand doesn't suck the moisture out of the concrete when you pour it in (figure B).

5. Test the slope and check for level again.

6. Mix the concrete according to the manufacturer's instructions. It should be about the consistency of oatmeal. If you like, add 1/4 bottle of coloring per bag of concrete and mix well before using concrete.

7. Pour the concrete into the form and trowel it to remove air pockets (figure C). Tap the form with a sledgehammer to move the concrete around to all edges of the form (figure D).

8. Allow the form to sit for 20 minutes, and then remove it (figure E). Smooth and sculpt the damp concrete with a trowel to make it look more like natural stones if desired. Wash the form well before setting up the next set of steps.

9. Pour a few extra steps in the mold and set them aside to fill in gaps when making curves in the pathway (figure F).