Tools For laying Cobblestones

Stone paving for roads, sidewalks, and courtyards has been used since about 4000 BC. The stones used can be round river rocks or irregular split stone, called cobbles or cobblestones. Stones trimmed into rectangular shapes are called setts or Belgian blocks. Most old cobblestones that are not river rocks are quarry waste, chunks too small to be used for other purposes. Granite is the preferred rock for paving, if it is available.

Laying cobblestones, Hammond, Indiana

The stones are set in a base of crushed stone (small mixed aggregate), crusher run (mixed aggregate of all sizes), stone dust (the smallest crushed aggregate), sand, or earth. The advantage of the mixed particle sizes is that it is easily shoveled and raked when delivered, and compacts under pressure and water into a cohesive mass. For paving, the cobblestones are usually not cut by the installer since the sizes vary, but they may be trimmed.

Traditional tools for laying cobblestones, setts, and other paving blocks include the following:

Paving hammer, USA

Flat bladed shovel
Rake or other spreading tool
Pick
Wheelbarrow
Paving hammer for trimming
Stone chisel
Wooden or rubber mallet
Stiff broom
Mason’s line
Level

Brades Co. City Road paving hammer, UK

Boston pattern paving hammers, USA