Cobblestone my Driveway. Suggestions?

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Right now I have a 20 yd dumpsters worth of cobblestones that I am aching to do something with. They were freebies from a demo job and are in various conditions, but most are pretty good. I took them with the intent of making curbs on the sides the the drive but then decided to replace the existing gravel for the 1st 1/4 or so of it.

SO, at the moment I have a gravel driveway that really needs new gravel. I was thinking of digging down about 6 inches in the first 1/4 and using a crushed stone base, then concrete. Then laying the Cobbles down and filling in between them with concrete. Any way that I can do this better or perhaps less wrong? I really don't know how to lay stone so......... ideas ?

 

[ddawg16]

What style of cobblestone....are the uniform or random?

I don't think you want to fill in between with concrete.....

I would make sure you have a good solid base of about 4"-6" of p-gravel....at least 2" of sand....then lay the cobbles....then fill in the gaps with sand.

 

[lilredex]

If you intend to do any kind of work in that area...........moving tool boxes, using a creeper, you sure do not want cobblestones as your work surface. Good old SMOOTH concrete is my first choice.

Sand in the joints is the way to go, if you do use them. You need to be able to do repairs to the base (and you will need to). There is special sand for those joints that does set up a bit.

Here's a start.

http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/patios/patios_1.htm

 

[irishtom]

What size vehicles are you driving on your driveway, cars, trucks or larger? The basecourse for a driveway is more robust than for a patio and the depth should be appropriate for the level of use. You don't have to pour concrete, but you should excavate about 9-12" for a driveway.

Doing a quick google search if found this. http://www.concretepaversguide.com/the-cobblestone-driveway-what-you-need-to-know.html

 

[Kevin54]

Right now I have a 20 yd dumpsters worth of cobblestones that I am aching to do something with. They were freebies from a demo job and are in various conditions, but most are pretty good. I took them with the intent of making curbs on the sides the the drive but then decided to replace the existing gravel for the 1st 1/4 or so of it.

SO, at the moment I have a gravel driveway that really needs new gravel. I was thinking of digging down about 6 inches in the first 1/4 and using a crushed stone base, then concrete. Then laying the Cobbles down and filling in between them with concrete. Any way that I can do this better or perhaps less wrong? I really don't know how to lay stone so......... ideas ?

Pics of said Cobblestones would help. Are they all the same thickness, same size, actual stone, or a concrete type of paving stone, are they square, round, interlocking or not?

 

[Kurt4440]

A picture of the site and the cobblestones might be useful, as well as a description of the current drainage design and your location.

 

[z28snksknr]

There's still a good amount of cobblestone roads in Philly - I always cringe when I turn down those roads in my camaro. You can't go slow / fast enough to keep from jarring some fillings loose. They've lasted 200+ years now so it may be the last time you have to do your driveway!!

As for your question, I would echo those above - gravel base, compacted sand, cobbles, and sand the joints. I would suggest you pack them as tight as possible to help keep them tight.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The hot tip these days is to use polymeric sand to fill in the cracks. It has some sort of binder added to it; you spread it out on top and sweep it into the cracks, then lightly mist it with water and the binder glues it all together. It almost looks like mortar when it's done, but it's still somewhat flexible. It helps keep the stones from shifting and resists weeds much better. You should be able to get it from the local home center.

 

[incurablescrounge]

I definatley agree with the others about compacted solid gravel base. You should use pulverized stone dust under and between the stones. Sand is round and does not pack well, (think of standing on ball bearings). Stone dust has flat and angular sides so they can lock together. You will need to do repairs in the future and is simply digging and levelling.

 

[mobetta]

id save them for a patio

 

[cheap bastard]

Do you have to remove snow from your drive in the winter? Cobblestone can be tough to do a clean job if you do.

 

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The Cobblestones are all different sizes from old building foundations and roads in some areas of the city. As far as use of the driveway they will see one car parked on them, possibly my work/welding rig, family cars etc etc...
As of right now I don't have anywhere to really work on my stuff except for a concrete pad toward the back of the driveway, which I think i'm going to extend for another ten or so feet farther into where the gravel is now. Don't have any pics yet as my camera is busted and my computer refuses to read my memory card for some reason. I will post some pics of what I want to do when the weather turns warmer. Snow is always a problem, but I have a snowblower and a roofers torch.....so......