Your home’s details make all the difference. You could have a big backyard with plenty of space for entertaining, but where should your guests walk?
A host’s first responsibility is to be hospitable, and that begins with making their home comfortable and inviting.
So let’s start with a place where people can place their feet!
You may think that building a concrete walkway, especially one with an intricate design, is challenging and time-consuming.
Well, it would be without one handy tool: the Quikrete WalkMaker!
This line of reusable, 2-foot-by-2-foot plastic forms includes four attractive patterns: Country Stone, European Block, Running Bond Brick and Basket Weave. Installing a walkway couldn’t be easier thanks to these forms. Just purchase the pattern that fits your style, find a good spot for the walkway, prep the site, mix the concrete and fill in the forms.
Here’s what you’ll need for this project:
•Quikrete Walkmaker Form
•80 pounds of Quikrete Crack Resistant Concrete mix or Quikrete Concrete Mix
•Gallon of Quikrete Acrylic Cure & Seal
•10 ounces of Quikrete Liquid Cement Color
•Plastic mixing tub or wheelbarrow
•Mixing hoe
•Measuring pail
•Shovel
•Margin trowel
•Gloves
•Safety glasses
Now, let’s get to work!
Step 1
Find a project area and level the ground. Remove sod or soil as needed.
Step 2
Mix Quikrete Crack Resistant Concrete — this product improves impact resistance, which is just what you need for outdoor projects. Now’s the time to add liquid cement color (if you want to give the concrete some flair).
Step 3
Place the WalkMaker form on the ground and fill its cavities with concrete.
Step 4
Use a margin trowel to press the concrete mix into the form. You’ll want to work from the corners to consolidate the concrete and eliminate any voids.
Step 5
Smooth the surface and immediately remove the form. You don’t have to wait for the concrete to set.
Step 6
Rotate the form a quarter of a turn to vary the pattern for a random look.
Step 7
Use a trowel to smooth any rough edges before the concrete becomes “thumbprint” hard.
Step 8
Begin curing the concrete immediately after the sheen has left the concrete’s surface.
Step 9
Water-cure freshly placed concrete at least three to five days with a fine water mist.
That’s all there is to it!
Your new walkway is fine as it is, but you can fill its joints with sand or mortar mix for a more finished look.
Just sweep sand or dry mortar into spaces between the concrete’s sections. For mortar, you can mist the joints with water so they harden in place.
You also could create custom surface finishes by pressing small stones or pea gravel into the wet concrete or by brushing on a layer of sand.
Apply finish materials after the concrete has reached its initial set (thumbprint hard) but is still damp — the should be approximately one hour after placing.
Watch this video to learn more about this project>>
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