How easy is it to walk on them?
It’s not a problem. The Queen of England walks across granite cobblestones at Westminster Abbey whenever she visits (photo on request).

What’s the history of granite cobblestones?
They arrived in the US in the late 1800s as ballast on sailing ships from Europe. The ships would return to Europe with US goods. The cobblestones left in the US were used for city roads, mainly at port cities. In Europe cobblestones are still used for many city roads and piazzas. That is the why the cities of London, Paris and Rome have so much charm and history.

Why use them on a driveway or pedestrian walkway?
They have character and speak of their past history. They are directly cooled from the earth’s mantle, and are not sterile like concrete pavers or slab concrete. Yes, there are other options at a lower price but nothing says quality like these granite cobblestones.

Are they all the same size?
No, cobblestones can vary +/- a half inch on any of the hand cut faces of the cobblestone. The beauty of granite cobblestones is they don’t look like a machine cut or cast concrete cobblestone.

Why treat your driveway like the poor relative?
Your house is a valuable investment. Your driveway says Welcome Home even before the garage door is open. Curb appeal is the first word that realtors use to describe your home. There is no substitute for a quality granite cobblestone driveway.

How easy is it to maintain?
Just wash with water from time to time. No need to worry about cracked granite cobblestones because granite doesn’t break very easily. No freeze and thaw issues. That’s why our East Coast clients remove their asphalt and concrete driveways and replace with granite cobblestones. West Coast clients view these cobbles as an enhancement to their property.

What’s the most important factor for a successful installation?
The preparation of the sub-surface is critical. A properly compacted sub surface will prevent dips in the surface level.

Some pointers for installing granite cobblestones.
First excavate the surface to a depth of 10 - 12”. Then fill with decreasing sizes of interlocking stone and gravel. Continue to compact with fines in levels, with a final top surface of compacted base #2 (full details upon request).

How can I get a level surface for the driveway or pedestrian walkway?
The installer will use a string line, a long level, or a 4”x2” timber length to check that the surface is level as he installs the cobblestones. Individual cobblestones are leveled by adjusting the setting bed depth, adding or removing the setting bed material.

Mortar or Sand bed installation?
This is usually decided by the installer/owner dependent on how permanent the surface needs to be, or what type of traffic is planned for the area.

Delivery or your pick up.
Pick up is not available. We ship by flat bed trucks. Pallets weigh approximately 2,800+ lbs, and we load between 11-16 pallets per flat bed truck dependent on color and weight. Black granite cobblestone pallets weigh 3,700 lbs.

How do pallets get unloaded at the delivery site?
Your GC or stone installer requires a fork lift truck to be on site the day of delivery. A standard rented fork lift has a lift capacity of 5,000 lbs whereas a Bobcat only has a 2,000 lbs weight capacity. For safety reasons it is not advisable to use a Bobcat to unload the cobblestone pallets.

What are some layout designs?
There are primarily three styles. Straight lines both vertical and horizontal. This is known as Running Bond or Soldier Course. Cobblestones that are installed offset are known as Staggered Bond. The third style is Random layout. This is more suitable when using the smaller cube size (4x4x4”). Original Roman roads were installed in this Random format with large cobblestones because design layout was not considered important back then.

How can I use the cobblestones as a border edge?
It creates a separation from the adjacent landscaping and compliments the field area of cobblestones. For example you could use 5”x5” cobblestones for the main driveway while the border could have larger cobbles 8”x4” and set vertically. Or, you could have the main area with 4”x4” cobbles and use a 10”x7” cobble for a more dramatic look.

Are there different top surfaces I can consider?
Yes there are several. You can have a flamed flat surface that is ADA compliant. This is often used on large public areas, universities and hotel entrance driveways. Homeowners, too, with kids who rollerblade, shoot a basket, or cycle choose this top surface. The physical installation to achieve a level surface is very important here. Other clients prefer the split face top surface that offers irregularity and character to it.

What type of cobble edging can I select?
Do you want a contemporary look with sawn edges and straight lines? Or, do you prefer a split face edge (hand-cut cobbles) with ragged lines that look more used and old. Recently we brought from Europe split face edge cobblestones with a flamed top surface (flat/ADA compliant). The outcome is a stunning modern yet aged appearance.

How much of a joint width can I have?
This is often a personal choice. Hand-cut cobblestones require a minimum joint width of 1/4”. Sawn edge cobblestones can be installed closer with a 1/8” joint. For some projects a wider joint may be a preference for design layout.

Is the color of the joint material important?
Yes very important. The selection of the joint color is most important. It can make a huge difference to the overall appearance. Very often the joint color pulls in the colors of the house exterior (paint color, chimney, windows and doors) with the cobblestone driveway. Give the joint color serious consideration early on in your driveway planning. We don’t supply the joint material but will be pleased to offer assistance with grout color selection.

Is there a way to save $$$s for a long driveway?
Yes there is. Consider the ladder concept. Your motor court area will be the main area for cobblestones. Then from the entrance of the driveway to the motor court you could install a crossbar every 10 to 20 feet with vertical cobbles (4-6 rows) creating a ladder appearance. The rectangles formed as a result can be filled with gravel in the interim, and at a later date replaced with cobblestones. This method provides a lower cost installation and still offers an elegant driveway (see photos, Project page)

Why select USED granite cobblestones?
They are rustic and romantic, and speak of days gone by. From a European street these used cobblestones are shipped to an American driveway or pedestrian walkway.  Some clients combine the used cobblestones (driveway) with modern construction (house) because they compliment each other similar to antiques and modern décor in interior design.

Are cobblestones OK for livestock to walk on?
We have several clients with horse ranches who have installed cobblestone driveways. Their feedback is that the horses can get a solid grip on the cobblestones making it a win-win for all. Our cobblestones have also been used at a cattle ranch in California, and an equestrian center in New Mexico for a long driveway.