Choosing Materials Home and garden centers offer a good selection of loose paving materials. Slate, flagstone and sandstone are popular choices. The greatest selection and lowest price stones are those native to your region because of the high cost of shipping this heavy material. Choose stone paving material with a smooth surface for sure footing in colors and textures that complement your house and landscape style. To make a 2 foot wide 20 foot long walk you'll need at least ten 50 lb.
Tools Building a walk requires basic gardening tools and a push broom.
Use a spade to cut and remove sod and a shovel to excavate soil from the area. A bow rake comes in handy to spread and smooth the sand base and a wheelbarrow is necessary to haul the dirt and materials. You'll remove considerable sod and soil from the ground where the new path is planned so reuse the sod to fill in worn areas in your lawn and amend your garden beds with the excavated soil. Excavate the sod and dirt to a depth of at least 4 inches plus the thickness of the stone. Place the 1x4 lumber along the edge of the excavation and fill the trench with sand.