[narrowhead]

I have been installing patios and walkways for some time now. In the past, I have always used metal poles and a nice size board to level my sand prior to the brick installation. Is there anything else out there that works better than a wood board?

[LandArts]

Concrete equipment suppliers sell aluminum screeds.

[Stonehenge]

Originally posted by LandArts
Concrete equipment suppliers sell aluminum screeds.

Yup.

They're a bit harder to work with because of their size, but you can save time with 10' magnesium screed boards (or larger, if you dare) by setting less pipe.

[narrowhead]

Thanks for the information.

[AZTLANLC]

I hope you can follow my make your own screed guide.
Buy a regular landscape aluminum rake about $45.00 home depot, buy a L shape aluminum board (I don't know the name) to your desired size I think 8' works better than 10' at least for me and 5' being the one that gets more use.
Take the teeth out from the rake and drill couple of holes in the L shape board, attached in place of the teeth
20min and $60 later you end up with a contraption looking like this

[narrowhead]

With this invention, I'll be seeing you on QVC. Thanks

[Keith N]

Concrete guys use a tool like that called a "come a long" but they are usually only 18" wide. That is a good idea. I just bought an aluminum rake that might get a little fab work.

For the screed boards go to your local metal supply yard and just get some aluminum 1x3's. I just bought some today as a matter of fact. 25 feet cost me $82.00 and a dollar per cut. Goodbuy warped 2x4's!

[moltenfe]

Probst makes a device called a sand pull. It comes in a four foot model with the option of adding "wings" to make it a six foot pull. For larger jobs they make one you can pull along with a machine like a skid loader. We use the four foot model and it works really well because it allows you to push sand forward and then pull back . This works well for filling in hollow spots in the sand.