If you have an old concrete patio and an extension made with pavers, with the whole thing looking mismatched, you actually have one more option to make it look deliberate and well-designed: making a cobblestone patio. Still, whether you have design issues to settle or simply like the look of cobblestones on a wide patio where you can relax in the evenings, you can make light of this task with the right tools and knowledge.

Step 1. First, you will have to prepare the base. You will need to do different prep treatments for different surfaces. For concrete portions, you will simply need to pressure-wash the area. For areas that are not concrete, you will need to bring in base rock to make a solid foundation: lay the base rock down so that it rises at least one inch above the concrete, and then use a gas-powered compactor to push it down until it is only very slightly higher than the neighboring concrete. For bare soil, you will need to dig a bit until you have two inches of base; give room for about half the height of the pavers to measure the final height of your patio.

Step 2 . Add sand over the entire area, and spread it out using a rake until it is approximately an inch thick. This sand bed will become the cushion for your cobblestones.

Step 3. Start laying your cobblestone pavers. The way you lay them will depend on the shape of your cobblestones: some are straight, some are round, while even others come in fanned-out designs. The straight ones are, obviously, the most straightforward: starting at one end, lay the cobblestones on the sand forming straight rows all the way to the other end of your space. Use wire snips in removing the two smaller cobbles on each end of the mat of pavers, making sure they fit together. When you reach the end of each row, keep the smaller pavers on the mat, serving as a straight edge.

Step 4. Depending on where you lay the cobbles, you might need to compact them. For concrete, you will not need to do this step; for base rock, spray the cobbles lightly with water, and use a compactor to push them down part way into the base rock, making sure not to push them down all the way.

Step 5. Prepare your grout depending on instructions, and pour it into a wheelbarrow that you have previously soaked down: this will keep the grout from sticking to your wheelbarrow. Spread the grout using a foam squeegee held at the end of a broom handle to fill in all the gaps between the cobblestones. When you have gone over the entire area, go over them again using a different squeegee to remove the grout off the top of the pavers. After that, use a broom with a stiff bristle to remove any grout remnants. Leave your new patio to dry for at least five hours before you walk on it, and after that you can now enjoy your new cobblestone patio!