Services
Cobble skirts and driveway aprons
A cobblestone apron at the end of your driveway, built on a compacted base, set in mortar and kept on your property.
What it is
A cobble skirt, or driveway apron, finishes the end of your driveway in cobblestone.
We keep the work on your property.
A cobble skirt typically takes about 5 days on site.
How we build it
Point 01
We dig 10 to 12 inches below the finished surface.
Point 02
We lay the chipstone base in lifts and compact each lift with 3 to 4 passes of a plate compactor.
Point 03
We set the cobbles in mortar, not sand.
Point 04
Mortar locks the cobbles against shifting, rocking, spreading and sinking under vehicle load, weather and freeze-thaw.
Point 05
Mortar fills the joint to about 1 inch below the top. Polymeric sand fills the rest.
Point 06
Polymeric sand may need topping up over time, after weather, washing or normal wear.
Point 07
We pack mortar tight against the outside cobbles to lock the edges.
From the bottom up: solid subgrade; compacted chipstone in lifts, 3 to 4 passes each; cobble set in mortar; mortar stopped about 1 inch below the top; polymeric sand in the top of the joint. Dug 10 to 12 inches below the finished surface. A bracket on one joint marks the mortar stopping about 1 inch below the top of the stone.
- Solid subgrade
- Compacted chipstone in lifts, 3 to 4 passes each
- Cobble set in mortar
- Mortar stopped about 1 inch below the top
- Polymeric sand in the top of the joint
Dug 10 to 12 inches below the finished surface
Why skirts fail
Common problems with cobble skirts, and what causes each.
- Cracked mortar
- Joints filled solid to the top, so they couldn't handle movement.
- Loose or wobbly stones
- The joints failed, or the stones weren't set properly.
- Weeds in joints
- Failed or missing polymeric sand.
- Low spots and puddles
- The apron wasn't pitched correctly.
Our mortar stops about 1 inch below the top, and the polymeric sand above it gives the joint room for normal movement.
The stone
- A mix of reclaimed and quarried stone.
- A substantial share of it comes from Pennsylvania.
- Belgian block is common on Cape work.
- Reclaimed cobble is offered at a lower rate.
Tell us about your project
We'll call you to set up a site visit.