Granite cobble driveway in Illkirch-Graffenstaden

The project

The owners of a house in Illkirch-Graffenstaden wanted to replace a worn asphalt driveway with a durable surface able to take car traffic, and to give structure to their flower beds.

The choices

They chose Grey-Yellow Mix granite cobbles for their warm shades. A few Vosges granite boulders complete the beds.

Granite is a dense natural stone: properly laid, these cobbles withstand frost and car traffic. Their natural look suits driveways, edgings and courtyards alike, in traditional or contemporary settings.

Installation

A local landscaper carried out the groundwork and installation in about two weeks.

For a driveway, the cobbles sit on a compacted aggregate sub-base, then on a bedding layer of sand, grit or mortar depending on the expected traffic. Joints filled with sand, polymeric sand or mortar stabilise the surface, and an edge restraint keeps the cobbles from shifting.

The result

About 50 m² of driveway and 20 metres of edging: a tidy access to the house and a better-structured garden.

A natural-stone cobble driveway weathers gracefully without losing its qualities; regular sweeping and occasional cleaning are enough, and a damaged cobble can be replaced individually.