Cobblestone Pavers (Types & Designs)

Cobblestone pavers are beautiful to have around the home. They bring a look and texture that’s reminiscent of ancient cottages and century-old houses and it comes as no surprise why homeowners are looking into it in their home improvement projects.

Cobblestone is basically a material that’s made out of small blocks of natural stone that’s used for paving purposes. Although modern manufacturers have been known to cast bricks made out of concrete and have marketed them as cobblestone pavers, they are technically not the same. 

These bricks made out of concrete are more accurately designated as concrete pavers. Cobblestone, the real ones, will always be made out of natural stone. There are a lot of stone types to choose from: granite, limestone, basalt, and so much more. Read more about crushed limestone driveways here.

Cobblestone has been used for centuries, dating all the way back to the times of the ancient Roman Empire; and they’re still around to this day. This is a true testament to how cobblestone is durable enough to last and can withstand the test of time. 

Cobblestone can stand up sturdier and better compared to any other construction material and has a unique, old charm vibe and look to it that can certainly contribute to the overall look and value of your home.

Types Of Cobblestone Pavers

Here are the most popular types of cobblestone materials.

Granite

Granite cobblestone pavers are known for their durability and versatility. This is why they tend to be one of the most popular materials for building projects to this day. They’re great for outdoor areas such as patios, driveways, outdoor walkways, and so much more. 

Its versatility aside, there are a lot of other reasons why you ought to consider getting cobblestone pavers for your construction projects.

Durability

There are a lot of stone materials that you can use to upgrade your property but among them, granite cobblestone pavers prove to be the most durable and readily available. Granite is well known to be naturally hard and strong. 

It can be quite resistant to cracking, chipping, and the good old wear and tear. It is actually recommended to use granite cobblestone pavers in areas that tend to get a lot of traffic as they are known to maintain their shape, look, and even colors, for years and years to come. 

Maintenance

Maintaining granite cobblestone pavers doesn’t take anything more than occasionally getting them washed. If time has accumulated a lot of gunk and other debris that tends to stick to the pavers, a stronger power wash might be required. 

But rest assured, once done, it will go back to how it originally looked from when it was first installed. There might be some instances wherein you need to reseal the pavers to maintain their pristine condition but this only needs to happen every several years or so. 

If you’re looking for an investment that won’t be eating up a lot of your time and resources in terms of maintenance, cobblestone pavers can be real winners for you to root for.

Concrete

Concrete cobblestone pavers aren’t technically considered as true cobblestone materials as cobblestone should only be made out of natural stone. However, over time and with advancements in manufacturing, they have become low-cost versions of real cobblestone and are hence nicknamed as such. 

These types of pavers are very similar to tiles in a way wherein they can be manufactured in different colors, sizes, and shapes and are usually sent to the construction site ready for installation straight away. See our guide to concrete driveway finishes.

Durability 

Concrete cobblestone pavers make for great outdoor materials such as for driveways, walkways, patios, and so on. They are known to last for years and years to come although there are some considerations that need to be made as well. 

For starters, it is the main base material. Because they’re made out of manufactured concrete bricks and not out of natural stone, they have the tendency to chip and crack over time, especially when exposed to the harsh elements such as rain, heat, and snow. 

Still, they make for budget friendly material options and can last for years, although not necessarily for multiple generations. But then again, when you consider their low costs, they can be well worth it.

Maintenance

Concrete cobblestone pavers are permeable surfaces that allow water to pass through them and straight down to their base of compacted sand and soil. This means that the pieces may end up shifting over time and they also run the risk of having weeds grow in between the pavers. 

Aside from making sure that you hire out a professional to get them installed, you should also look into its maintenance. Every once in a while, some pavers might need removal and reinstallation. 

It’s best to get this done immediately as soon as some pieces come off so as to minimize long-term and wide-scale damage and interruptions from you being able to use them.

Bluestone

Contrary to popular opinion, bluestone cobblestone pavers aren’t always blue. As a matter of fact, they can range from grays, to beiges, to rusts, to ocres, to plums and lavenders, and yes, to blues. 

Bluestone is quite resistant to fading so it’s the perfect material to opt for if you plan to install it somewhere that gets a lot of sunlight or heat exposure and on top of all of that, they are known to have the ability to last for decades. The only downside to bluestone cobblestone pavers is the fact that procuring them can be difficult. 

They are quarried from select regions and are oftentimes imported, which explains why their prices would normally come at such a high premium.

Durability

Bluestone cobblestone pavers are very much built to last. They have been known to stand up extremely well against the weight of vehicles and heavy machineries so when it all comes down to it, getting them in areas that are exposed to a lot of foot traffic is peanuts for them. 

There’s been a fearless claim that cobblestones can last for a lifetime, or for an eternity, even and this is why they’re favorites for borders, expensive driveways, or even for landscaping. 

Maintenance

One of the main appeals of bluestone cobblestone pavers is their easy maintenance. They don’t require constant sealing or resealing and they can be kept clean with nothing more than a brush and some water. 

If there are instances wherein your bluestone cobblestone pavers are stained, just add in some vinegar in the water and you can easily get the stains scrubbed out. Another maintenance requirement is some power washing every few years. 

Because of its tendency to get grooved due to the natural qualities of the stone, it is highly recommended not to power wash bluestone at the highest setting.

Charcoal

Charcoal cobblestone pavers are an interesting material to work with for your building projects at home. They are known for their rough finish, making them work well with outdoor areas in the home such as for the patios, driveways, and other spaces that require a little bit of character or personal touch. 

However, interestingly, charcoal cobblestone pavers also come with the polished variety which makes them suitable to use for the indoors as well. So when you’re making a purchasing decision that’s related to charcoal cobblestone pavers, it’s important to consider where you will actually use them.

Durability

Charcoal cobblestone pavers are built solidly. This means that they can withstand a lot of stress and weight without ever running the risk of wearing out or chipping or breaking. This is the main reason why most people feel like charcoal cobblestone pavers are the most suitable for outdoor use. 

Maintenance

Charcoal cobblestone pavers require very little maintenance. Compared to the other types of flooring material available in the market, they’re more resistant to corrosion or getting weathered than most. 

Cleaning them is as easy as giving them a few quick sweeps or mopping them up with some water. No special cleaners and chemicals are required but if you want some extra touch or if they get particularly dirty, you can add in a little bit of detergent.

Belgian Pavers

Belgian cobblestone pavers are also nicknamed as Belgian blocks. They’re large and cubically shaped blocks of stone that run up to 10 to 12 inches in length as well as in height. 

They were initially used as ballasts for ships that were known to be too light. Later on, they were later reshaped and resized into 4 to 5 inches in portions. 

This size was proportioned after the size of a typical horseshoe, allowing them to draw heavy loads while still having a firm and secure foothold even if they step in between the blocks. They do, however, have a few drawbacks. 

Their surface textures can be a little too rough and they can get slick when they get too wet. Still, their solidness and durability trumps the slight drawbacks, to be honest.

Durability

Because of their naturally more symmetrical and solid qualities, Belgian cobblestone pavers are more durable than basic cobblestone. 

Their angular shape and rough texture create a solid and strong foundation so even if you use them in the driveway to bear the load of vehicles and other heavy foot traffic, they will be able to handle it. They also tend to last long because of this as they don’t get displaced too easily.

Maintenance

Similar to other types of cobblestone pavers, Belgian blocks are pretty easy to maintain. They only need to get swept with a broom for debris and the occasional power wash every few years. Because they’re so durable and solid, they won’t chip or break away even if you get them power washed at the highest setting. 

Cobblestone Driveway Pavers

Cobblestone driveway pavers are great to have around. They contribute a lot to your curb appeal as they’re aesthetic in their barest form. It’s also a significant component in increasing the resale value of your property if you happen to have it in your driveway.

Because of the fact that most of them are made up of small rectangular or square pieces , they’re pretty easy to lay and install. You can either lay them over a base of sand and dirt, or set them in mortar. And although the actual installation may be labor intensive, it’s not necessarily rocket science.

You can definitely consider this as a project that you can do yourself for as long as you have enough preparation for it. If you want more complex or intricate designs though, it would be best to hire out a professional contractor.

They have a capacity to bear heavy loads and they provide great permeability for water and other external materials. This allows heat, moisture, and the cold to dissipate easily; allowing it to last long, for lifetimes, even.

Most of these stones also have a good amount of silica content which makes then PH proof and stain resistant especially in the face of oil leakages from vehicles that are either moving or parked. This makes them perfect to have in the driveway. See our guide to pavers vs concrete driveways for more ideas.

Driveway Pavers Cost

The cost of cobblestone driveway pavers depend heavily on the kind of material you pick as well as the overall area that you’re planning to cover it with. They come with different looks, different textures, and obviously, different price tags. Paving a driveway with cobblestone can cost anywhere from $6,000 to as much as $30,000 and upwards. Here are the different rates per square footage.

Granite Cobblestone Pavers: $20 to $70 per square foot

Belgian Cobblestone Pavers: $10 to $30 per square foot

Concrete Cobblestone Pavers: $10 to $25 per square foot

Bluestone Cobblestone Pavers: $30 to $80 per square foot

Cobblestone Patio Pavers

Cobblestone patio pavers are great to use for patios as they create beautiful and unique areas surrounding the home. They come in a lot of different shapes, sizes, and colors and it’s quite easy to add them on to your home’s existing styles and designs. 

You can easily update the look of your patio and its surrounding areas such as your walkways, and even your fire pit area. 

Create a project card so you can envision the end result of what you would like to produce, build yourself a solid base, either with a sand and dirt combination, or with a solid concrete base. Make it a point to level your base layer. 

You don’t want the some stone pieces looking higher or more elevated compared to the others, get your cobblestone pieces laid out, and also take into consideration how you would like the edges held out. This helps keep the installation together as well as getting the weeds out.

Make it a point to seal the cobblestone pavers to preserve them so that they last longer. This is great when it comes to creating a weather barrier that prevents fading out of sun exposure as well as maintaining the gloss level of your preference depending on how you’d like your patio floors to look like.

Patio Pavers Cost

The cost for cobblestone patio pavers depends on the size of your actual patio. A typical patio has the size of 20 x 20 feet. A basic cobblestone patio of this size can range from $1,900 to $6,800 or upwards, depending on the type of cobblestone material you actually choose.

How Many Cobbles Do I Need

Although there’s no exact measurement for this as it’s all relative to the size of the individual cobbles as well as the actual largeness or smallness of the area that you’re working with.

For the purpose of working up an estimate, considering getting 4-inch cobblestone size squares, about 100 stone cube pieces could cover one square meter. Manufacturers also offer online calculators that could give you a pretty good approximation depending on the stone type you are actually buying.

Cobblestone Look Pavers

The cobblestone look can be easily fabricated through faux rock panels. There are mortar fills in between the stone joints, contributing to the realism of how cobblestone pavers actually look like. 

The faux rock panels are great for accentuation such as for tables, fireplaces, kitchens and the like; but they don’t make for very good floors as they don’t offer the same durability and weather and stain resistance compared to real cobblestone pavers. 

You will be able to easily blend colors and styles and the installation is typically easier as most of these faux stones can at times even come in tile form but still maintain the overall look of a classic charming cobblestone. 

It’s perfect for making a statement either for the interiors or the exteriors of your home. If you’re all about adding an element of texture and color to your indoor and outdoor spaces, achieving the cobblestone look for your pavers is the perfect way to go.

For added aesthetics, you can gloss it over with a top coat; which can completely elevate the overall look of the area that you’re planning to dress up at home.

Check out our types of driveway pavers design guide for more ideas.