Cobblestone DIY

Lay out the walk or driveway with string and wooden stakes. Make sure to account for any edging. Outside corners should be set a bit farther out than the edge of the paving. Double-check your work, particularly if you're planning a square or rectangular job.

Excavate the soil where you propose to lay the cobblestones. Plan on a 4-inch base of gravel or crushed stone for walks, patios and driveways. Top this with a 2-inch base of sand. Account for these 6 inches plus all but 1 inch of the height of the cobblestones you're laying, which will be above the ground. For example, if your cobblestones are 3 inches high, you should dig out a total of 8 inches.

Remove any rocks, roots, grass and other obstructions from the excavated area. Lay half the gravel layer and tamp it down with a hand tamper. Fill in the rest of the gravel and tamp it down.

Excavate a more narrow trench around the edges, if you're using edging materials like bricks. Add the gravel and tamp it down. Add a 2-inch layer of sand. Tamp the edging material down, leaving enough height leftover to cover the 2-inch layer of sand that will be added in the next step and the height of the stones themselves.

Lay down a weed barrier over the gravel layer if you wish. Fill the excavated area with a 2-inch layer of sand.

Set the cobblestones tightly together on the sand layer and tamp them into place with a mallet or trowel handle. Use a string line to keep the cobblestones in a straight line, if you're laying a straight pathway or driveway.

Level the stones. Once you have set several square feet, lay a 1-by-6-inch board on the stones and tamp with the mallet to achieve a uniform height. If any stone is too low, lift it out, add some sand and tamp it back down again.

Continue until you have completed the project. Then fill the joints between the stones with sand by spreading a thin layer of dry mason's sand over them and sweep it into the cracks with a broom. Spray the area lightly with water to wash all the sand down into the cracks. Allow the sand to dry, then repeat the process.