What edge holds a Vancouver walkway without spikes?

Aluminum L-channel edge restraint held with spikes is the standard, but if you can't use spikes — or don't want to — there are several effective alternatives that work well in Metro Vancouver's conditions.

The most common spike-free option is soldier course edging: a row of pavers set on end (or on their side) along the perimeter of the walkway, bedded in concrete or compacted gravel. The mass and depth of the soldier course pavers resist lateral spreading without any hardware. This is a traditional technique that looks intentional and clean, and it performs well in Vancouver's wet climate because there's no metal to corrode and no spike holes that can become water infiltration points.

Concrete curbing poured along one or both sides of the walkway is another highly effective edge. A simple 4-inch-wide by 6-inch-deep concrete curb — poured before the base is screeded — gives the pavers a rigid, immovable edge to bear against. This is particularly useful on walkways that border lawn or garden beds, where the concrete also acts as a mowing edge. In Metro Vancouver's clay-heavy soils (common in Surrey, Burnaby, Langley, and Delta), a concrete edge beam also helps prevent the base from spreading laterally into soft, saturated soil during the wet season.

Existing hard boundaries — a house foundation, a concrete driveway slab, a stone wall, or a poured concrete step — function as natural edge restraints wherever the walkway meets them. Good walkway design takes advantage of these fixed elements so that only the truly open edges need restraint. If your walkway runs between a house wall and a garden bed, you may only need edging on the garden side.

Plastic bender board (the flexible black or brown landscape edging sold at garden centres) is sometimes used, but it is not a reliable paver edge restraint in Metro Vancouver. It flexes under lateral load, degrades in UV and persistent moisture over time, and does not have the structural rigidity to hold pavers against spreading. It's fine for mulch beds — not for interlock.

What About Adhesive or Mortar?

Some installers use construction adhesive or mortar to bond the perimeter pavers to the base or to each other, eliminating the need for mechanical restraint. This works in low-traffic pedestrian applications but creates a problem: if any pavers ever need to be lifted for drainage repairs or utility access (very common in Metro Vancouver where base settling and drainage issues occur), bonded pavers are difficult to remove without damage. The flexibility of a properly restrained but un-bonded interlock system — where individual pavers can be lifted and relaid — is one of the key advantages of interlock over poured concrete.

The Honest Trade-Off

Spike-based aluminum or steel edge restraint driven into the compacted base is the ICPI-recommended standard for a reason — it's fast, reliable, and holds under vehicle loads. For a pedestrian walkway, the alternatives above work well. For a driveway or any area with vehicle traffic, spike-driven restraint (or a concrete curb) is the right choice. Soldier course edging and concrete curbs are both excellent long-term solutions for walkways and are worth the modest extra effort.

If you're planning a walkway project and want to get a few quotes from local contractors, Vancouver Interlock can match you with experienced hardscape professionals in your area at no cost.