A walkway gets used every day, in every season, so it has to be built for more than looks. A paver walk that's laid on a thin base will start to heave, sink or tip within a few winters, and that's a tripping hazard right at your front door. We build walkways the same way we build patios: a compacted base at the right depth, a slight slope so water runs off, and edges that hold everything in place. We install paver walkways in Oakdale, Woodbury, Maplewood and across the east metro.
What we build
- Front walkways from the driveway to the door
- Replacements for cracked or sunken concrete sidewalks
- Side yard and backyard paths
- Walkways connecting a patio to the house or driveway
- Landings and wider entries at the front step
- Stepping-stone and natural stone paths
How we install a paver walkway
- Lay it out with youWe mark the path and width in the yard so you can walk it before anything is dug. Most front walks feel best at least 4 feet wide.
- Quote and material choiceYou get a clear written price, and we help you pick pavers that match your house or your patio.
- Remove the old walkIf there's an old concrete sidewalk or a worn path, we break it out and haul it away.
- Excavate and build the baseWe dig deep enough for a full gravel base and compact it in layers, so frost doesn't push the walk around.
- Slope and layWe set a slight slope for drainage, lay the pavers in your pattern and make clean cuts along the edges and curves.
- Lock it inEdge restraint goes along both sides, joint sand gets swept in and the surface is compacted.
- Finish the edgesWe backfill along the walk with soil, sod or rock so there's no trip edge, and clean up.
Pavers vs. a concrete sidewalk
Poured concrete costs less up front, but in Minnesota it often cracks or heaves, and a cracked section is hard to fix without tearing out a whole slab. Pavers are made to flex a little with freeze and thaw, and if one ever gets damaged or a section settles, it can be lifted and reset. You also get far more choice in color, size and pattern, so the walk can match your patio or your house.
Will a paver walkway heave in winter?
Heaving happens when water gets into soft or shallow soil under a walk and freezes. The fix is underneath: enough compacted gravel base, a slope that lets water run off, and soil around the walk that drains away from it. Built that way, a paver walkway holds its shape through our winters. Use a plastic shovel or a rubber-edged blade for snow, and go easy on rock salt.
What affects the price
We price in the middle of the market. Paver walkway cost depends on:
- Length and width of the walk
- The paver or stone you choose, and the pattern
- Curves, steps or a wider landing
- Removing an old concrete walk first
- How easy it is to get equipment and material to the area
Quotes are free and itemized. Building a paver patio too? It's usually more efficient to do both at once. Path lights along a new walk are easiest to add during construction, too. See landscape lighting.
Common questions about paver walkway installation
How wide should a front walkway be?
Most front walks feel best at about 4 feet wide, so two people can walk side by side. Side paths can be narrower.
Pavers or concrete for a sidewalk?
Concrete costs less up front but can crack and heave. Pavers flex with freeze and thaw, and a damaged section can be lifted and reset.
Will a paver walkway heave in winter?
Not if it's built right. A deep, compacted gravel base, a slope for drainage and solid edge restraint keep it flat through freeze and thaw.
Can you replace my old concrete sidewalk?
Yes. We break out and haul away the old walk, then build the new paver walkway in its place.
How long does a walkway take?
Most walkways take a day or two once we start, depending on length and whether an old walk has to come out first.
How much does a paver walkway cost?
It depends on the size, the pavers you choose and whether an old walk has to be removed. Request a free quote and we'll give you a clear price.
Do you serve my area?
We are based in Oakdale and serve the east side of Saint Paul and nearby communities, including Woodbury, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, White Bear Lake and Hudson, Wisconsin. See the full list on our home page.
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651-888-0351Mon–Sat 7am–5pm. Based in Oakdale, serving the east metro.