What is the difference between a paver and a cobblestone? Traditionally a paver was a flat stone used to pave a pathway, whereas a cobble referred to a rounded stone taken from a riverbed, fit for use as a ballast in ships and for paving roads. Later cobblestones were thought of as any paver made from natural stone, sourced from a quarry, and shaped to be uniform in size. Unfortunately, natural stone has become prohibitively expensive, therefore nowadays most pavers are manufactured from a concrete mix, which is a cost-effective yet durable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to natural stone. Cobblestone pavers are typically manufactured from a wet mixture of stone, sand, cement and a colouring agent, which is hand placed into individual moulds of varying shapes and sizes to resemble true cobblestones. Cobblestones are generally quite expensive, but these wet-cast products are much more reasonably priced than the natural stone alternative. They have a high-density composition, which still offers incredible durability and therefore an extensive lifespan. Concrete pavers, on the other hand, are manufactured from a similar, but very dry mix, which is fed into large moulds, a vibrating press then compresses the concrete into this mould, causing the small amount of water within the mixture to set the cement. Although concrete pavers have similar advantages to cobblestones, they are not quite as aesthetically pleasing and durable. Cobblestone pavers are extremely elegant and durable, but they are somewhat more expensive than concrete pavers. So, if you are looking for a low budget driveway or walkway, you may be better off considering concrete pavers, but if you require a more durable, attractive and unique design, its hard to beat cobblestones. Cobblestones are perfect for driveways, walkways, courtyards and around swimming pools, but if you are looking for a cobblestone effect to your driveway and budget does not allow, consider just installing a cobblestone border, or a decorative cobblestone inlay. Both pavers and cobbles in your garden, driveway or walkway will not require a large amount of maintenance. A good wash with a high-pressure hose will do the trick once or twice a year, together with the regular pulling of weeds that grow through the joints. Also, damaged areas are usually easy to repair by lifting the pavers, re-surfacing the sand base and then re-installing the pavers or cobbles. TFSD Concrete Products manufactures an extensive range of through colour cobbles. Our friendly staff are always available with expert advice regarding the range, variety and installation of our products, so pop into our showroom to see for yourself!
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Written by
Sarah Noel
February 23,
Edited by
Tara Farmer
Fact-checked by
Tom Grupa
Cobblestone pavers cost $20 to $50 per square foot installed on average or up to $75 per square foot for specialty installations. A cobblestone patio costs $4,000 to $20,000. A 2-car cobblestone driveway costs $17,300 to $28,800 installed. Cobblestone prices are $10 to $25 per square foot.
Cobblestone pavers cost Patio / walkway size (square feet) Total cost installed 50 $1,000 $2,500 100 $2,000 $5,000 150 $3,000 $7,500 200 $4,000 $10,000 250 $5,000 $12,500 300 $6,000 $15,000 350 $7,000 $17,500 400 $8,000 $20,000 500 $10,000 $25,000 1-car driveway (12'x24')* $8,650 $14,400 2-car driveway (24'x24')* $17,300 $28,800*Fees increase from $50 to $75 per square foot with a gravel base of 8" to 12" deep.
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Cobblestone prices are $10 to $25 per square foot, excluding installation. Prices vary by the type and shape. Gray granite cobblestones are the most common.
In comparison, most other brick or concrete pavers cost $2 to $4 per square foot on average for materials.
Granite cobblestone price per square foot - chartGranite cobblestone price per square foot Cobblestone type Cost per square foot* Size per cobblestone piece Cube $17 $20 3.5" 4.0" on all sides Square thin $16 $18 4"x4" at 2" thick Regulation $16 $17 5"x9" at 5" thick Thin landscape $10 $16 4"x8" at 2" 3" thick Landscape $15 $17 4"x8" at 4" thick Jumbo $10 $25 7"x10" at 4" thick*Material prices for recently quarried granite, not reclaimed or antique cobblestones.
Prices of traditional cobblestone alternatives include:
Concrete cobblestone-shaped pavers cost $4 to $5 per square foot for sizes6"x6" to 6"x9" at 2" to 3" thick.
Concrete cobblestone matted pavers cost $5 to $6 per square foot on average.
Concrete cobblestones with irregular rounded shapes cost $6 to $7 per square foot and are 2.5" to 2.75" thick.
Cobblestone paver installation labor costs $10 to $25 per square foot. Additional fees to install cobblestones depend on local site conditions.
Cobblestone paver installation cost Factor Cost per square foot Average total cost (200 400 SF) Materials $10 $25 $2,000 $10,000 Installation labor & supplies $10 $25 $2,000 $10,000 Total installed cost $20 $50 $4,000 $20,000Cost factors include:
Leveling The cost to level or regrade a yard is $0.04 to $2.00 per square foot.
Landscaper labor Landscaping costs $50 to $100 per hour for setting the cobblestones and all related yard work.
Patio edging Landscape curbing costs $5 to $18 per linear foot.
Permit A permit costs $200 to $300 for paver patios of 200 to 400 square feet.
Stone base Gravel prices are $10 to $50 per ton. A 4" to 6" deep gravel base works for patios and walkways, but an 8" to 12" deep base is essential for driveways.
Ground fill materials Sand costs $15 to $50 per cubic yard delivered, or $50 to $150 per ton. Installers place sand above the gravel for dry-laid cobblestones for rainwater drainage and to stabilize the stones.
Cobblestone size per piece Higher prices of $20 to $36 per square foot apply for thicker stones cut into extra-large 0.5- to 1.0-square-foot blocks.
Antique cobblestone Reclaimed cobblestones from historical sites cost up to double the price of normal cobblestones.
Color Black granite cobblestones are the most expensive color. Pink and yellow granite also cost slightly more than the common gray granite.
Demolition Removing a damaged stone patio costs $1 to $5 per square foot. Concrete removal costs $3 to $8 per square foot.
Total job size Prices per square foot are cheaper for big jobs and increase for small jobs according to the contractor's minimum fees.
Custom stone cutting Installing a semicircle patio or curved borders will raise labor fees since many stones need precise cutting for that design.
Weed barrier Prices for landscape fabric materials are $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot depending on the type. Installers lay this barrier under the gravel bed to stop gravel pieces from sinking down into the ground soil.
A 10'x20' cobblestone patio costs $4,000 to $10,000 or $20 to $50 per square foot installed. This price includes a well-draining base of gravel 4" to 6" deep that's ideal for most patios.
Adding outdoor lighting installation costs $80 to $300 per fixture.
A patio enclosure costs $8,000 to $30,000.
Tumbled cobblestones with a smooth and perfectly flat top are important to make a level surface for patio chairs.
Cobblestone patio cost Patio size Average total cost installed 6'x9' $1,100 $2,700 10'x10' $2,000 $5,000 10'x20' $4,000 $10,000 12'x12' $2,900 $7,200 12'x24' $5,750 $14,400 15'x15' $4,500 $11,250 20'x20' $8,000 $20,000 24'x24' $11,500 $28,800 30'x30' $18,000 $45,000A 2-car cobblestone driveway costs $17,300 to $28,800 or $20 to $50 per square foot installed with a 4" to 6" gravel base underneath. However, the cost of a cobblestone driveway can reach $75 per square foot with an 8" to 12" gravel base in climates with a frost line deeper underground.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Calacatta Cobble stone.
Excavation and prep alone can take several days, and laying the cobblestones adds another 1 to 2 days.
Cobblestone driveways must have a level and well-compacted base to maintain a flat surface under the extra weight of vehicles.
In comparison, other driveway pavers cost $10 to $30 per square foot installed with bricks, concrete pavers, rubber pavers, or permeable-grid paving.
A 4'x20' cobblestone walkway costs $1,600 to $4,000 on average or $20 to $50 per square foot installed. This price range includes a gravel base of at least 4" below the cobblestones to allow for the necessary drainage.
In comparison, a regular stone walkway costs $16 to $35 per square foot installed.
Lower costs apply for walkways installed in compacted, sandy, or rocky soil that doesn't need as much gravel below.
Cobblestone walkway cost Walkway size Square feet Average cost installed Primary / front walkway (minimum) 20'x4' 80 $1,600 $4,000 35'x4' 140 $2,800 $7,000 70'x4' 280 $5,600 $14,000 90'x4' 360 $7,200 $18,000 Primary / front walkway (comfortable) 20'x5' 100 $2,000 $5,000 35'x5' 175 $3,500 $8,750 70'x5' 350 $7,000 $17,500 90'x5' 450 $9,000 $22,500 Side path / secondary walkway 20'x3' 60 $1,200 $3,000 35'x3' 105 $2,100 $5,250 70'x3' 210 $4,200 $10,500 90'x3' 270 $5,400 $13,500 A curved cobblestone walkway around a residential home.A regular brick or concrete paver patio costs $10 to $17 per square foot installed on averageabout half the cost or less of installing a cobblestone patio. The following table shows other paver material prices and installation costs:
The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of cobblestone pavers:
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Pros and cons of cobblestone pavers Pros ConsCobblestones are natural stones from riverbeds cut into square or rectangular shapes. Cobblestones are typically granite, basalt, bluestone, or limestone. More expensive types of cobblestones include marble and travertine. These pavers have non-slip surfaces, withstand all climates, and are the most versatile to install.
You can buy cobblestone pavers from:
Home improvement stores
Landscaping companies
Quarry suppliers
Stone and paver outlets online
Masonry supply outlets
Before hiring a paver installer or patio contractor, be sure to:
Compare 3 or more estimates from different cobblestone paver professionals.
Select licensed, insured, and bonded companies with 5+ years of experience.
Ask if they have certifications as an ICPI Residential Paver Technician or from a masonry association.
Read their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Request an estimate, contract, and warranty in writing before work starts.
Beware of the lowest bids that may be a sign of low-quality results.
Never make the last payment before the job is complete.
How many cobblestone paver projects have you installed?
Can I see a portfolio of your past installations and references?
What are the price differences between the cobblestone types you offer?
How do I contact the project manager, and will you bring subcontractors?
Will you pull all permits?
Do you check for underground utility lines before digging?
What will you use for the base under the stone pavers?
Will you compact and level the base before installing paver stones?
Which cobblestones do you recommend?
What are my options for edging?
Are you familiar with building codes for patios in this area?
Does this bid include all materials, delivery fees, labor, prep work, and cleanup?
How long will this job take?
What does your warranty policy include?
How much space will you need for the crew and equipment?
What is your payment schedule?
For more information, please visit Calacatta Root Quartz.