How to Construct a Wooden Walkway at Grade

Building a wooden walkway is a lot like building a small deck. It is not a project that you can do quickly, but the durability of the final product and the satisfaction you'll have are worth the investment of time.

Things You'll Need

• String
• Stakes
• Shovel
• 4-way post support piers
• Level
• 2-by-6-inch cedar or pressure-treated boards
• Circular saw
• Carpenter's square
• Metal connectors
• Cleats
• Decking lumber
• Deck screws
• Drill with bits

Instructions

1. Mark the path of the walkway with string and stakes.

2. Dig four holes that form a rectangle at the beginning of the walkway. The short side of the rectangle should be roughly 2 feet and the long side should be 5 feet. Each hole should be deep enough to hold a support pier.

3. Adjust the soil under all four support piers until they are level with one another.

4. Cut two 6-foot pieces of 2-by-6 inch board. Stand one on its side resting in the slots of two support piers. This will form one of the long sides of the rectangle. Stand the second one on the opposite side to form the second side of the rectangle. Stand a 30-inch piece of 2-by-6 inch board on its side at the beginning of the walkway. This forms one of the short sides of the rectangle.

5. Use the carpenter's square to check your corners and adjust piers as necessary. Fasten the 6-foot pieces to the 30-inch piece using metal connectors.

6. Dig two pier support holes that are roughly 5 feet down the path of the walkway. Again, these should be roughly 2 feet apart. This is the next 6-foot section of the walkway. Level the piers and stand two six-foot pieces of 2-by-6 inch boards on their sides in the slots.

7. Use cleats to secure the 6-foot boards from the first section you built to the boards from the second section you just built.

8. Continue making walkway sections until you have achieved your desired length. The last section should have a 30-inch piece of 2-by-6 inch board on the end.

9. Cut decking boards into 3-foot sections and screw them into the joists. Leave a ¼- to ½-inch gap between boards to allow for expansion.

Tips & Warnings

• Building the walkway in 6-foot sections helps you deal with grade issues and determine if you will need to install steps to transition from one section of walkway to another.

• Take your time with leveling the piers; this is one of the most important steps in the process. Being off by just a little will result in an uneven deck.

• 16 D nails work well as spacing guides between decking boards.

References

• Creative Homeowner: Projects Online: Building a Boardwalk