Setts are quite different from cobbles as they create a more attractive and rustic aspect on a driveway. These setts also come in various designs and stone finishes which you can choose from.
This gives your driveway a traditional and more rustic feel. If you are familiar with ‘Coronation Street’ one of the popular television shows, you could have noticed the cobbled street shown in the opening scene.
The streets are in fact made of granite setts and not cobbles. Setts help to create a durable driveway with character.
What is a Sett
Setts are mainly made of granite. They are designed into rectangular blocks and set in a mixture of sand and cement to form a surface. Setts are used to create pavements and roads or other hard standing surfaces.
The difference between cobbles and setts
People often use the terms cobbles and setts interchangeably as much as there is a clear difference. Setts are usually rectangular shaped stones which are mostly of the same size.
On the other hand, cobbles occur naturally from rivers and beaches and appear more rounded in shape due to weathering. Cobbles tend to have uneven surfaces compared to setts.
A classic surface
The setts were first used by the Romans. This explains why setts appear on many Italian streets. In Edinburgh, setts have been used in various places including the Royal Mile. These surfaces have withstood the test of time and remained attractive over the years.
Create your sett based driveway
As mentioned earlier, setts come in various designs, colours, and finishes. As a result, you can create a custom driveway using different setts that suit your style. You can install the setts if you have the necessary skills or employ professional services to have the setts laid out in the right configurations.
There is no limit to what you can create with setts on your driveway. You can decide to install a specific pattern or circular patterns depending on the size of your driveway.
The reclaimed stone option
If your driveway style leans more towards a traditional and rustic look, using reclaimed stone is an excellent option. Reclaimed setts will appear more weathered giving your driveway an olden look.
Additionally, recycling setts is beneficial to the environment. These reclaimed stone may also give you a sense of pride. This is because some prominent people could have walked on these stones over the years while they had been installed on the streets in the UK.
Installing cropped granite setts on your driveway can give it a long-lasting and conspicuous aspect. However, this will produce a rugged but entirely unique pattern of granite setts and cobbles on your driveway.
Below is a simple guide on how to lay cropped granite setts.
How to install cropped granite setts
- Choose an area that is level.
- Eliminate about two hundred millimetres of vegetation or topsoil.
- Create an efficient drainage system.
- Set up strong edges around the area.
- Install at least one fifty millimetres of sub-base.
- Compact each layer with a plate vibrator.
- Add mortar as the base layer which should consist of sand and cement in a ratio of 3:1.
- Lay the cropped granite setts in the prepared area with a difference of twelve millimetres apart.
- Make a mixture of sand to cement at a ratio of 4:1 and use it to fill up all the joints.
The tools needed
- Mixer
- Wheelbarrow
- Rubber mallet
- Spirit level
- Tape measure
- Protective gloves
- Trowel
- Pointing tool
- Rake
- Spade
- String line
- Plate compactor
The materials needed
- Sand
- Water
- Granite setts
- Cement
- Spray paint
- Sub-base material