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Deciding between concrete, stone, or brick pavers comes down to your budget and the ease of installation. Concrete is the least expensive material, followed by brick and then natural stone. Concrete pavers are also the easiest to install, but bricks are relatively easy as well. Stone pavers require more time and labor because their natural shapes make them harder to fit together. Professional stoneworkers, however, are able to shape them as needed.

Gravel is crucial to your paver patio’s drainage, meaning it plays a massive role in the lifetime of your patio. Gravel holds the pavers in place and allows water to move away from your patio to prevent erosion or stone damage. 

Without gravel, your paver patio will need replacing much sooner, and in the meantime, water damage and potential weed growth will cause you a lot of headaches.

Cobblestone is just one of many driveway materials. Other, more economical, albeit less elaborate options include concrete, asphalt, and gravel. 

If you want a material that most closely resembles cobblestone, your best option is bricks or pavers. Both cost anywhere from $10 to $50 per square foot and can be laid in all kinds of patterns. Depending on the type of paver you choose, you can also get a good bang for your buck by investing in durable natural stone.

Yes, flagstone is more expensive than pavers, but natural stone lasts longer and has a unique aesthetic appeal that pavers can't match. It is important to make the distinction that flagstone can be different from flagstone pavers. Some pavers are flagstone pavers, and some are not. Flagstone can be uniformly cut and set like pavers or retain the stone’s original shape.