National Average Improvement and Repair Cost
Pro
DIY
Hours:
35.2
45
Cost:
$ 2543
$ 925
Would you do this project? According to our survey, 70% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.
The average price to Lay a Brick Sidewalk noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.
How much does it cost to install a brick sidewalk? A contractor charges $2543 to install a brick sidewalk vs. doing it yourself for $925 and saving 64 percent.
You can’t beat the rugged good looks and lasting durability of brick pavers to make a dramatic walkway to a front door or a winding path through a garden. It’s an upgrade that enhances a yard or property, so it’s sure to be a good investment you’ll enjoy for years to come.
To install a 50-foot long by 4-foot wide brick walkway, a landscape contractor or mason will charge $2543, which includes the labor and material. If you’re a stout-hearted do-it-yourselfer, you can buy the materials good quality brick pavers, sand, and plastic layout grids to help you space the bricks evenly for $925 and do it yourself, saving 64 percent.
You’ll need a wheelbarrow, shovels, push broom, garden hose, a ball of string, and stakes to outline the walkway. You’ll also need a carpenter’s level to make sure the bricks are level, and kneepads to save your shins.
This is strenuous work because the bricks are heavy and digging a trench for them can be arduous; working on your knees for a long period of time can be downright uncomfortable. Unless you have a pickup truck to transport the material, pay extra and have the sand and bricks delivered because they’re heavy. If possible, schedule the work when the temperature is cool, because working in the hot sun makes it more difficult.
We all know that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but don’t let that limit your design for a new brick sidewalk. Consider making it a winding path that meanders and creates a more natural look. The extra excavation work and cost of bricks will be well spent and appreciated throughout the years. You could even edge the sidewalk with more bricks to give it a clean border.
You’ll find advice about designing a brick walkway at www.thisoldhouse.com in the video “How to Design a Brick Walkway.”
Now you know the average cost to lay a brick sidewalk, which includes the labor and material, and what’s involved, so you can decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor.
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