Bricks are an excellent option for your walkway. Not only are they easy to put, but you can also organize them to create unique designs. Bricks are also pretty easy to clean as you only need a broom and a source of running water.
When planning to lay your walkway, the cost is an essential factor. It influences nearly all aspects of the work. For example, your budget influences the quality of material you buy. It also influences the number of people who will work (thus influencing the speed of progress).
It also contributes to who does the work (and, by extension, their level of experience). In short, the cost determines how good or bad your brick walkway becomes. As such, the question ‘what is the average cost to lay a brick walkway?’ is very common.
The simplest way to answer the cost question would be to analyze all the factors involved in the laying work quickly. You may do this by looking at your total intended budget for your project. Looking at your building plan (if you have one) is another excellent way to do a quick analysis.
That said, some different aspects come into play to determine precisely how much you will spend. Some of the factors include:
- The types and quality of materials you use
Truth be told, materials take up a considerable chunk of your construction budget. Different types of materials come at different costs.
Also, every brand has its specific prices for the products sold. A product may go for price X from a particular brand. A different brand will sell the same product at price Y. On the same note, material quality influences cost.
Of course, price does not always equal quality. However, in most cases, the best quality products will always come at the highest cost. After all, they say cheap is expensive, right?
- The length and width of the walkway
How long do you want your walkway? How wide do you need it? Naturally, the longer and broader the walkway, the more construction materials you will use. Using more materials means you will spend more money, ultimately bringing up your construction costs.
- The extra path features you will add
Your path will not be made of just bricks alone. You will need to add other additional features to go with it. Some factors that will determine your extras include your aesthetic needs and exactly where your walkway is leading. Some additional features are steps, benches, and lighting.
- Project work and management
Is your walkway a personal do-it-yourself project? Do you need professional help doing it? Building it yourself is cheaper than hiring help. Similarly, highly experienced service providers tend to charge heftily for their services. Your choice of running the project depends on precisely what you want and how quickly you need to complete it.
- Let’s Talk Numbers
You may be wondering, 'So what are the numbers?' Well, there is no uniform number when it comes to cost estimations. The numerous factors that are in play during construction are the reason for this.
Hiring a professional bricklayer will cost you an average cost per square foot of between $8 and $18. However, if you are under a small budget and decide to do the work yourself, the cost can go as low as $6 per square foot.
- Calculating Your Costs
Your total construction cost depends on the length and width of your path. To get the total cost, you will need to multiply the average cost and the total area, in square feet, of the pathway you are constructing.
For example, you might want to lay a 4-foot wide by a 50-foot long walkway. The total area to be covered is thus 200 square feet (4 feet X 50 feet). If you use the upper limit of $18 per square foot for a professional, your total cost will be $3600. The cost is inclusive of labor and materials. Similarly, if you were to do the work yourself, the cost is $1200.
Doing the work yourself is more than 50% cheaper. However, the construction process is strenuous. It involves putting a lot of energy and time into it. As such, in both instances, the price matches the value.
Tips to Help you Save on Cost
- Do it yourself
Building your pathway yourself means you only spend money on equipment and materials. Doing this helps you save on labor costs. To build, you will need to dig the trench, carry and lay the bricks. The weather conditions may also not be in your favor in the cold or under the scorching heat. However, if you are hands-on and enjoy such projects, you could do this and cut costs. - Straight over winding
The distance between two points is shortest within a straight line. Well, so is the cheapest. Having curves in your walkway is aesthetic. However, it takes up more material which makes it unsuitable if you are keen on cutting costs.
- Proper research
Nothing beats proper planning and research. If you want to save up, do adequate research on the most affordable contractors available. Enough research also helps you compare prices, thus identify excellent but cost-friendly materials and supplies. - Project management skills
Your management skills will come in handy to help you cut costs. Whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring, you need to know what is going on exactly. You also need to have a work plan and adhere to it. - Cut down on the extras.
You may want to add extra items to your pathway. When building it at the lowest cost possible, things like lighting and steps might have to go. Click here to read more about walkways.
Conclusion
While the prices in this article are only market averages, the actual prices are not far off. You may opt to work yourself or hire out. You may also decide to spend a little money or go all in. Either way, a brick walkway is a fantastic way to add aesthetic, class, and functionality to your outdoor environment.
