A cobblestone path is one way to add texture and stability to walkways around your home. While the process of paving with cobblestones is not complicated, it is time consuming and very labor intensive. While many ambitious do-it-yourselfers may be able to create a small cobblestone path or sidewalk, large areas may require the use of heavy machinery to prepare the ground and help spread sand and gravel to prevent the project from becoming overwhelming.

Instructions    as follows:

Firstly, mark the area you will be paving by setting stakes into the ground along the outer edges of the area and connecting the stakes with string. This will help you visualize how large the paved area will be and decide if you want to make the area smaller or larger.

Secondly, use a shovel to dig a hole approximately 16 inches deep within the area. Try to remove the dirt evenly so that you have a flat area 16 inches lower than the ground bordering the soon to be paved space.

Thirdly, pour loose gravel into the space to fill approximately four inches of the hole. Spread the gravel around evenly with a metal rake.

Fourthly, spread six to eight inches of sand on top of the gravel.

Fifthly, wet the sand down with a garden hose and then smooth out the surface of the sand with a rake.

Sixthly, place the cobblestones on top of the sand leaving approximately 1/3 to 1/2 inch between each stone. Lay three to four rows of the stones at a time.

Seventhly, pour sand on top of the cobblestone. Spread the sand over the cobblestones with a large push broom until the sand has completely filled the spaces between the stones. Add more sand as necessary to fill these spaces.

Eighthly, continue to lay three to four rows of cobblestones at a time and fill the spaces with sand until the entire area has been paved.