Pouring a DIY Concrete Sidewalk: Is It a Good Idea?

Concrete walkways are a popular, budget-friendly solution for enhancing the curb appeal of a home and making it more accessible to family and friends. Not only are concrete sidewalks durable and long-lasting, they are often more affordable than those made with pricey materials like natural stone or slate. But even though concrete sidewalks offer a lot of bang for the buck, some budget-conscious homeowners try to save money by doing the installation work themselves.

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Placing a concrete path or walkway may seem to be a simple, straightforward DIY project (especially when compared to a DIY concrete driveway), but it takes a real craftsman to make a concrete sidewalk look good while avoiding the common mistakes that can lead to premature failure. Read on to learn why professional expertise is important for concrete work and how hiring a professional can save you time and money.

What are the benefits of concrete sidewalks?

One of the biggest appeals of concrete sidewalks is their long service life, which can be 20 or years or greater when they are installed properly. Concrete walkways are also exceptionally durable due to their high compressive strength, making them a great choice for high-traffic pavements such as sidewalks and pathways.

The ability to customize the appearance of concrete walkways is another big plus. By stamping patterns into the concrete you can mimic the appearance of natural stone and other high-end materials. Concrete can also be integrally colored or stained to match the color scheme of your home, creating an attractive and cohesive design that will significantly boost your home’s curb appeal.

What are the challenges of pouring your own concrete sidewalk?

Pouring a concrete walkway is not nearly as straightforward as it seems. Ensuring a successful outcome requires careful planning, thorough site preparation, meticulous concrete finishing, and the ability to work quickly so the concrete doesn’t set before you have a chance to make it smooth and level. If you plan to mix your own concrete, you’ll also need to accurately estimate how many bags of concrete mix you’ll need so you don’t run short.

Also keep in mind that fresh concrete is heavy and placing it can be backbreaking work. Even when pouring a small sidewalk, you’ll need to have a strong helper on hand to assist you in hauling and spreading the concrete.

What are the most common mistakes made in DIY sidewalk projects?

Two of the most common reasons a DIY concrete walkway fails are improper subgrade preparation (more on that later) and poor finishing techniques.

Amateur concrete finishers tend to overwork the concrete with the bull float or trowel, resulting in an unattractive surface that is often impossible to correct later. The timing of concrete finishing is also key because starting the process too soon can weaken the surface and cause dusting and craze cracking.

Another common mistake DIYers make when laying out a concrete sidewalk is installing the concrete forms improperly and not making sure they are level and staked securely. Because the forms serve as the support structure for the concrete until it sets, they can have a big impact on the final appearance of a sidewalk slab. Erecting the forms gets even more complicated when you are pouring a concrete walkway with curved edges.

How do you prepare the ground for a concrete walkway?

DIYers often don’t realize how much work goes into properly preparing the subgrade for a concrete sidewalk. You can’t just excavate an area in your yard and pour the concrete directly on dirt. The soil may not drain well, and it can be difficult to compact to the proper grade. To provide uniform support for your concrete sidewalk, it’s important to add a 4-inch thickness of compacted gravel or crushed stone to the area to create a solid base that will prevent erosion and slab settling.

If you are building a new concrete sidewalk, you’ll need to remove the sod and soil in the area to an approximate depth of 8 inches — 4 inches for the gravel subbase and 4 inches for the sidewalk thickness. If you are replacing an existing concrete sidewalk, you will first need to demolish the existing concrete using a sledge hammer or jackhammer and haul away the debris.

What tools are needed to level and finish a concrete sidewalk?

At a minimum, you’ll need a screed or straight board to level the concrete, a bull float and trowel for finishing, an edging tool to create neat edges along the perimeter of the slab, and a concrete groover to cut joints into the sidewalk. You should also invest in a stiff-bristle broom to create a lightly textured, nonskid broom finish.

An important thing to keep in mind is the narrow window of time you have to finish the concrete once it’s poured. Failing to have the proper tools on hand (and not knowing how to use them) can ruin all of your efforts.

Learn more about the tools and techniques required for finishing concrete.

What are the long-term benefits of hiring a contractor?

Can you pour your own concrete sidewalk? Sure, if you know what you’re doing and are willing to accept the consequences if things go wrong. But If your DIY skills are lacking, even a material as durable as concrete can fail after several years and you could be facing substantial costs for concrete sidewalk repair or replacement.

By paying a bit more to hire a professional concrete contractor to pour your concrete sidewalk, you can be confident that you will be getting an attractive, problem-free pavement that will add to the value and curb appeal of your home. What’s more, having a concrete walkway professionally installed may not be as expensive as you think. The cost of a basic concrete sidewalk, with no decorative colors and finishes, can run for as little as $6 per square foot.

MORE DIY SIDEWALK FAQS

How thick and wide does a concrete walkway have to be?

Concrete for a residential walkway should be poured at a minimum thickness of 4 inches, which will give it sufficient strength and durability to withstand foot traffic and light equipment like wheelbarrows. The ideal width for a concrete sidewalk is 48 inches. This makes it wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or two people walking side by side.

Can I use Quikrete for a sidewalk?

For sidewalks and other relatively small concrete projects, Quikrete and similar preblended, bagged concrete mixes make it easy to mix up a batch of concrete without worrying about measuring and proportioning of the components, since most products only require the addition of water. Just be aware that you’ll need to buy or rent a portable concrete drum mixer or mortar mixer and wheelbarrow for transport of the mixed concrete to the work area. Learn more about how to mix your own concrete.

Do I need to reinforce a concrete sidewalk?

For most residential concrete sidewalk projects, steel reinforcement is not required, unless the sidewalk cuts through a driveway and will be subject to vehicle traffic. Instead, concrete contractors often use a fiberglass-reinforced concrete mix to give the concrete better resistance to cracking and chipping.

Can I dry pour a concrete walkway?

Dry pouring of concrete, where you dump bags of prepackaged concrete mix directly into the forms and then spray it down with water, might be acceptable for small slabs that won’t bear much weight, such as the floor of a tool shed or the base for an air-conditioning unit. But for any project where the load-bearing capacity of the concrete is important, such as a concrete sidewalk or driveway, it should be avoided if you want the concrete to look good and last for the long term.

Can I pour concrete directly on dirt?

You shouldn’t pour your concrete directly on dirt because water may collect under the concrete and cause erosion. Placing a compacted gravel base underneath your sidewalk will not only help to drain away water, it will also prevent the concrete from shifting and cracking.

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