How to Prepare a Ground Area for Cementing or Laying Brick
- 1). Dig out the area for the walkway or patio. Rake the area smooth. If you're putting in a cement walkway or patio, the dug-out area must be 4 inches deep. If you're installing brick or pavers, the dug-out area must be 6 inches deep.
- 2). Lay a 2-by-4 inch board on the prepared area. Lay the level on top of the board. The ground is level if the bubble is in the center of the level, between the two lines. Check the entire area in both directions, plus vertically.
- 3). Smooth out high areas and fill in low areas with the rake and shovel. Check to see whether the areas are level.
- 4). Line the outside of the prepared area with 2-by-4 inch boards if you're going to use cement. You can pour the cement yourself or have a cement truck dump the cement, depending on the size of the area.
- 5). Line the bottom of the 6-inch area with weed block. Line the area with 2 inches of 1-inch gravel. Cover the gravel with 2 inches of sand. Tamp down the sand. If gravel shows through after you tamp it down, add more sand.
- 6). Ensure that the sand is level by using the 2-by-4 inch board and the level. Install the pavers over the level sand.