How to Install Paver Bricks Over a Concrete Sidewalk

Install paver bricks over a concrete sidewalk to dress up a plain, gray walkway. There are many different types of paver bricks to choose from, but if you choose a paver brick with a width that is equally divisible by the number of inches in the sidewalk, you can save yourself from renting a masonry saw to cut the bricks.

Things You'll Need

• Pavers
• Mortar
• Tile spacers
• Nails
• 1-by-2 inch boards
• Cement smoothers
• 2-by-4 inch board
• Level

Instructions

1. Sweep the entire area of the sidewalk clean. Make sure there are now loose stones, sand or other debris on the sidewalk. Using concrete screws, attach a thin board to the vertical edges of the sidewalk. You do not need many screws, as this will be removed when the job is complete. You are just building a form to keep the pavers or bricks even while you are working. The "railing" should stick up over the edge of the sidewalk by an inch and a half.

   Working from one end of the sidewalk, lay out all of the bricks to be sure you have enough and to be sure that there are no bricks that need to be cut. This also helps if you are making a design with the brick pavers---you will be able to see what the finished product will look like. Use tile spacers in between the pavers or bricks. The pavers should butt up against the wooden railing.

2. Remove the pavers and lay them out in the pattern you created next to the sidewalk. Make sure they are within easy reach, as you will be grabbing them from their respective rows to place them on the sidewalk. Mix enough mortar to cover the sidewalk with an inch of mortar. Spread the mortar out on the sidewalk. Make it completely smooth and flat. Lay a 2-by-4 inch board on the finished product and put a level on it---this will show you where you need to add more mortar or scrape it lower. You will need to work fast at this point so the mortar doesn't dry.

3. Line of the first row of pavers against the wooden rails. Set the tile spacers at the edges of the bricks, then line up the second row. Continue until all of the pavers are in place. Mix another batch of mortar. Remove the tile spacers around the first block. Pack mortar between the blocks. Continue working in this manner until all of the blocks are packed with mortar. Rinse the walkway down to remove any excess cement. Let the new walkway cure pursuant to the instructions on the bag of mortar before walking on it.