Cobble setts for driveway and paving

What are drivable or driveway cobbles?

Carriageable paving, drivable paving or driveway cobbles represent a paved surface that can be used for light and heavy vehicle traffic. Such as the passage of cars or lorries. To create for example a paved driveway, car park or road.

Driveway pavers are cobblestones of a size and thickness that allow light and heavy vehicles (such as buses or lorries) to drive on them.

They are designed to be durable and to withstand wear and tear caused by vehicles. Traffic paving setts can be used to create roads, pavements, driveways and private gardens. They are easy to maintain and can offer a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional tarmac surfaces.

Weather and frost resistant, they are often used in urban areas to improve the appeara nce and accessibility of properties. These paving setts also maintain a high level of safety for cars and traffic.

The curved, rounded surfaces of driveway cobbles and driveable paving slows vehicles down, particularly in towns and city centres.

What is the thickness and size of driveway cobbles and paving setts?

The thickness and size of a paving stone can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of vehicle intended to drive on it, the type of underlying soil and requirements in terms of durability and resistance to wear and tear.

Drivable paving stones come in large sizes ranging from 15x15x15 cm, 18x18x18 cm and 15x20x15 cm, providing greater stability and resistance to vehicle traffic. We recomend a thickness of at least 6 to 8cm. Thin cobblestones (2 to 5 cm thick) are not suitable for cars or vehicles to drive on and are mainly used for pedestrian areas, squares, quays, patios and streets. Sawn cobble setts have a flat surface and are more comfortable to walk on.

How can driveway paving setts be used?

Paving stones are used to create roads, driveways, pavements, courtyards and other areas for vehicular traffic, cars, vans, lorries, or to renovate existing roadways. Granite paving stones are also used for urban and landscaping projects, such as patios, pathways and garden edging.

They can also be used to improve the appearance and accessibility of town squares, properties, homes, gardens, parks, etc.

Suitable for vehicular traffic, cobblestones can also be used to create pedestrian areas, public squares and urban parks, offering a durable alternative with the charm of the past.

In the past, they were mainly used for paving streets, country roads and factory yards.

Paved driveway with reclaimed cobbles

A driveway made layed with thick cobble setts is designed to be used as a traffic surface for vehicles.

If your driveway is to withstand the passage of vehicles, it must be made with driveable cobblestones, thicker than 6 cm. This is the only constraint, because after that you can choose the type of paving: reclaimed paving stones for an authentic look, or natural stone paving stones for a more modern look.

How do you lay drive-over paving?

Preparing the ground: Before you start laying your cobbles, the ground needs to be levelled and prepared to ensure a stable, even surface.

Marking out the work area: To mark out the area where the cobblestones will be laid, you can install a border or define the space with a rope line.

Laying: Pavers can be laid on sand or thin mortar. Thin mortar is a mixture of sand, cement and water used in construction to fix the cobblestones in place. It is called “thin” because it contains less cement than other types of mortar.
The paving setts can be laid one by one, starting at one corner of the defined area and working towards the centre. It is important to check the levelling and alignment of the pavers regularly to ensure a uniform result.

Note that with a thickness of 15 to 18 cm, you don’t have to lay a concrete slab. We recommend laying drive-over cobble pavers on a thin layer of mortar with a mortar joint or grass joint, depending on the project.

Which cobble setts to choose for your driveway: granite or sandstone?

Granite paving stones that can be driven on come in a range of colours:

• grey, bronze with a hint of beige and pink for Lyon® cobbles
• beige, pink and grey for Paris® cobbles

Sandstone pavers that can be driven on have darker mixed colours:

• Beige, brown, ochre and grey for Versailles® pavers
• Beige, brown and ochre for Fontainebleau® setts

With these old reclaimed cobblestones, you can create a driveway with the charm of the cobbled streets of yesteryear.

Driveway paving cobbles for sale

If you’re looking for driveway paving cobbles and setts, take a look at our online catalogue or contact us.