How to add concrete footpath around house?

[Modolla1]

I am a beginner. How I can DIY 1.5m concrete footpath around my house. What tools do i need? etc

It is a new house and currently have no concrete footpath.

Need helpful tips.

handyman assistance.

Where I can get materials for job.

[EricL]

Hello @Modolla1 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about building a concrete foot path around the house.

I suggest having a quick look at this guide - How to pour a concrete slab by @tom_builds. The steps shown in this guide will give you a general idea of how you can build your foot path. However, before you begin, I suggest planning where the foot path begins and where it will end. How wide do you want the foot path to be? How deep will the slab be?

If this is your first attempt at building a concrete slab, it's important that your slab have the proper fall so that it drains water away from your house. It's critical that you get the concrete mix correctly, too much water and the finish will be weak and dusty, not enough water and the concrete will be very brittle, and cracks will form on it surface.     

There is also the matter of drying time. An experienced concrete specialist will know how to slow down the drying time of the slab so that it does not crack or split in the middle. A poor foundation and a badly prepared surface can undermine even the best pours.  

If it is a long pathway, I propose engaging the services of a concrete professional or concrete walkway specialist. They will have the knowledge, experience and tools to build a proper walkway that will last a long time.     

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @Modolla1 

There are a few things I would consider before a concrete path.

You will need a retaining wall between your neighbours and yourself, probarly sooner then later as there is nothing holding the soil at the moment. With a retaining wall comes drainage and where you want the water to travel to, wether its towards the road or if there is a stormwater access at the rear of your property. 

A fence should also be factored in. I mention these because they may have an impact to your concrete path around the house, with the fall of the concrete and drainage associated with it. 

I am thinking along the lines of @EricL as to the steps he has suggested for the actual concreting. I would actually suggest to do a small slab somewhere thats out of the way to see how confident you are before you start on the whole path. Baby steps to test it and then bigger steps with more confidance.

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @Modolla1 

The first thing thats "urgently" required that @Dave-1 has mentioned is a retaining wall. I am very surprised this wasn't built when the property was graded for the slab as its a substantial height. Once thats in place I would definitely be taking @EricL advice on looking at either concrete or an exposed aggregate done by a professional company. There is a long list of why besides finish quality and strength integrity, but also correct falls for water run off. Additional plumbing will be required which can be discussed with the concreter.

Whichever product you choose it will be expensive. So consider how wide do you actually need for pathways and do you need a space dedicated for your rubbish bins, a space to stand for a clothesline. Factoring in the finish level height of the ground to the desired height of the clothesline itself. And maybe a spot for a garden shed as part of the paved areas.

Something also to consider and can easily do yourself is installing several 60mm PVC plumbing pipes slightly under current ground height that runs from side to side of paths and/or driveway to later feed low-voltage lighting cable or irrigation tubing at a later stage. Once the concrete is down its extremely difficult to run cables tubes underneath if at all without using a specialist machine.

Regards, Nailbag