Can I pour a concrete walkway myself in New Brunswick?

A small concrete walkway — 20 to 50 square feet, under 2 cubic yards of concrete — is one of the more achievable DIY concrete projects for a motivated homeowner, but NB's climate demands that you get the mix specification, base prep, and timing right or the result will deteriorate quickly.

The practical threshold for DIY concrete in NB is roughly 1-2 cubic yards. Below that volume, you can use bagged concrete mix (Quikrete or Bomix, available at NB building supply stores for $5-$8 per 30 kg bag) mixed in a rented electric mixer. For a 3-foot wide by 15-foot long walkway at 4 inches thick, you need approximately 0.6 cubic yards — around 30-35 bags of 30 kg mix. That is manageable for a DIYer with a helper and a half-day commitment. Above 2 cubic yards, you need ready-mix delivery, and placing, screeding, and finishing 2+ yards of concrete before it sets is genuinely difficult for inexperienced pourers — there are no second chances once the truck arrives.

For any exterior walkway in NB, the mix specification is critical. If using ready-mix (required for anything over 1-2 yards), always specify air-entrained concrete, 25-32 MPa, 4-6% air content. Do not accept standard non-air-entrained mix for exterior work — it will scale and deteriorate within 3-7 years under NB's 150+ annual freeze-thaw cycles. If using bagged mix, look for a product labelled as suitable for exterior use in freeze-thaw climates, or add an air-entraining admixture to standard bagged mix.

The excavation and base prep is the most important part. Dig out the walkway area 10-12 inches below finished grade. Remove all topsoil and organic material. Place 6 inches of compacted granular fill. Set forms (2x4 lumber is fine for a 4-inch walkway) at your finished height, sloped 1/8 inch per foot to the side for drainage. Place wire mesh on chairs at mid-height. When pouring, don't add extra water to the mix — use the manufacturer-specified ratio and mix thoroughly.

Finishing is where DIYers struggle. After screeding level, float the surface with a magnesium float to consolidate and smooth, then apply a medium broom finish for texture and traction — drag a stiff-bristled push broom lightly across the surface in one direction. Cut control joints every 4-5 feet along the walkway (every 1.5x the walkway width for wider paths) with a groover tool before the concrete hardens. Cure for 7 days with plastic sheeting or curing compound, keeping the surface moist.

For a standard front walkway in Moncton, Dieppe, Bathurst, or elsewhere in NB, professional installation typically runs $600-$1,200 for a typical 50-100 square foot walkway. The professional benefit is mostly in quality assurance — proper air-entrained mix, efficient finishing, and experience with NB soil conditions. For simple straight walkways, a careful DIYer with good base prep can produce a durable result.