Walkways & steps
The path people use before they reach your door.
A front walkway is the first thing every visitor walks on and the last thing most homeowners think about. It is also the element most likely to have uneven risers and a settled first step, because it is where the original builder cut the most corners.
Risers are the detail that gets noticed
People do not consciously read a walkway, but they feel an uneven step immediately — usually with a stumble. Building code and common sense both want every riser in a flight within a few millimetres of the others.
The most common fault we correct is a first step that has settled, leaving a taller rise from the walkway than between the steps above it. That happens because the base under the bottom step was backfill, not compacted granular. Rebuilding it properly is the fix; shimming it is not.
Width, and why 900 mm is not enough
A great many GTA front walks are 900 mm wide, which is enough for one person. Two people cannot walk side by side, and nobody carrying groceries or a stroller enjoys it.
1,200 to 1,500 mm reads as generous, costs surprisingly little more because the base excavation is already happening, and changes how the front of the house feels. Where the walk runs along a garden bed, widening it is usually the highest-value change we can suggest.
Side paths and utility routes
The narrow run between the house and the fence line takes the bins out every week and gets the least attention of anywhere on the property. It is also where drainage problems start, because it is often the lowest point beside the foundation.
A side path built with proper fall away from the wall and a permeable border does two jobs at once: it stops the mud, and it keeps water moving away from the basement instead of collecting against it.
Lighting, laid in at the same time
Conduit for path lighting costs almost nothing while the base is open and is a small excavation project once the pavers are down. If lighting is anywhere in your plans, even for later, we sleeve for it during the build.
Same for irrigation lines and any low-voltage runs to the garage or a future shed.
Pricing
Ranges we actually quote across the GTA in 2026. Your number depends on square footage, access, disposal and what has to come out first — all confirmed on site.
| Work | Price | Typical project |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway | $18 – $30 / sq ft | $2,000 – $6,000 for a typical front walk |
| Steps | Quoted | Per riser, includes footing and bullnose cap |
| Side path | $18 – $28 / sq ft | Often includes drainage correction |
| Lighting sleeves | Included | Conduit laid while the base is open, on request |
Ranges are for planning, not a quote. Get your exact number →
Questions
How wide should a front walkway be?
1,200 to 1,500 mm lets two people walk together and handles strollers and deliveries comfortably. 900 mm is the common builder width and it is tight for everything except one person walking alone.
Can you rebuild just the steps?
Yes. Steps can be rebuilt without touching the walkway, though where the bottom step has settled we usually need to lift the first metre or so of the walk to correct the base under it.
Do walkway pavers need to match the driveway?
They do not have to. Coordinating the border colour across both ties the front of the house together without requiring the same field paver, and it gives you more design freedom.
How long does a front walkway take?
Two to five days depending on length, steps and how much of the old surface has to be removed and disposed of.
Will the new walk be higher than my door threshold?
It should not be. We set the finished height against the threshold and the existing steps before excavating, and adjust the base depth to suit rather than the other way round.
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