Western fashion for the design of personal plots with the help of a system of paths has reached us. Now, many homeowners are trying to decorate the surface of the earth with tiles that mimic masonry or wooden walkways. To help in such a difficult process come innovative inventions and methods that allow the manufacture and installation of tiles to do it yourself.
Scope of paving slabs
Tiles for the organization of sidewalks in Russia began to be used everywhere in the 70-80s. XX century. Until this time, massive concrete slabs, which can still be found in many settlements, were used to cover the sidewalks.
Currently, pavement paths are made not only in cities, but also in personal plots, for the design of landscape design. Tile tracks make it possible to create an aesthetically comfortable space, especially in spring and autumn, when excess moisture forms dirt and puddles.
Paving tiles can even lay out a parking space for a heavy car. The density of the material from which the tile is cast is able to create a very durable surface.
Properties of paving slabs
Paving slabs are in severe environmental conditions. There is excess moisture, and winter frost, and summer heat. To transfer these differences while maintaining the original characteristics, paving slabs must have a number of properties:
- High level of wear resistance.
- The minimum percentage of water absorption.
- High rate of strength and frost resistance.
From the point of view of aesthetics, the tile for the manufacture of sidewalks should have a variety of shapes and colors, so that it is possible to choose a suitable track design for a particular style of design of the site.
Tools for making and laying tiles
To make and lay paving slabs according to the forces of one person without outside help. To organize the workflow, some materials and tools should be prepared. To prepare the solution you will need sand, cement, superplasticizer and gravel. Prepare everything you need to make paving slabs:
- Molds for casting tiles.
- Capacity for the preparation of the mixture, a bucket.
- Bayonet shovel.
- Drill with mixer nozzle.
- Shovel.
- Level, roulette.
Types of molds for paving slabs
As part of the classification of forms for paving slabs, we will not consider the options that are used for its industrial production. We are interested in the types of forms that can be used in self-manufacturing.
- Wooden form in the form of formwork. The most primitive form for making tiles. It is presented in the form of bars fastened together. For pouring cement, this design is installed on a flat metal or polyethylene surface. We fill the form halfway, lay the fittings, fill it to the end. Using this type of template gives only one kind of form. Wooden blocks must be disconnected to remove the finished tile.
- Silicone molds. Easy to use due to its elasticity. This form does not need to be treated with lubricating fluids to facilitate removal of the finished tile. It is necessary to use it on a solid, ideally smooth surface, otherwise distortion and distortion of the mold during casting is possible. For the manufacture of tiles will need several forms, otherwise the casting process will be delayed for a long time. Silicone mold is durable and wear resistant. You can give concrete tiles any texture with this shape.
- Polyurethane form. It is very similar in properties to silicone, but is more durable and less flexible. The disadvantages include the high cost of this form.
- ABS plastic. It is characterized by high shock resistance and durability. Such forms are used for reusable use, the wall thickness can reach 1.5-2 mm.
- PVC plastic. Less durable and brittle material. The cost of these forms is low, so you should buy several pieces at once with a margin, in case of damage to the forms.
- Metal. Suitable for making shapes without texture. The metal frame has a collapsible appearance, this simplifies the removal of the finished tile from the mold.
- Frame shape. This type is designed for casting tiles directly at the location of the masonry. The method is convenient, the speed of construction of the sidewalk due to the use of this technology is significantly increased.
DIY wooden mold
Making a mold with your own hands can significantly reduce your costs. If you decide to make the simplest tile without texture and pattern, then ordinary boards are quite suitable for this purpose. It is enough to determine the size and make several identical blanks to increase the casting speed.
The beam for the mold must be sanded and leveled. The thickness of the beam will correspond to the thickness of the future tile. The most suitable thickness for the tile is 3-5 cm. To extend the term of use, it is better to treat the boards with a moisture-proof coating. The simplest form is a square or triangle. Cut the timber, fix the corners with screws. The form is ready to use.
Do-it-yourself silicone mold
To make a silicone mold with a texture, we need three-phase silicone. It consists of a base, hardener and catalyst, which are mixed in certain proportions. Structural clay can be used to imprint the texture. The manufacturing technology is as follows:
- A mixture of three-phase silicone is mixed in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer.
- The form in which the silicone will be poured is set. At the edges of the joints we lay out structural plasticine in order to fill all the small cracks.
- Elements for creating a print are installed on the surface of the form.
- Elements are lubricated with vegetable oil or other lubricant.
- The mixture is filled with silicone.
The resulting form will last you a very long time, but its cost will be much higher than other home-made options.
Mortar for paving slabs
To prepare the solution from which the tiles will be cast, you need to choose the recipe you like. The methods for making paving slabs are similar, but there are some nuances.
The simplest option is a mixture of water, cement and sand. Water should be clean, free from impurities. If you want to get a light tile, then take white quartz sand. Whatever sand you choose, it should be uniform and clean, free from clay and stone impurities. Cement for the mixture must be M400 or M500. The proportions of cement and sand - 1: 3. These components are mixed until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. After this, slowly introduce water, stirring constantly. The mixture should resemble the consistency of sour cream.
A mixture with the addition of a plasticizer is possible. It is diluted in hot water, then mixed with cement. Then add sand to the composition and mix the mixture. We gradually introduce water until the mixture begins to flow smoothly from the mixer nozzle. The plasticizer will improve the characteristics of the mixture, significantly reduce the risk of cracks, detachments, increase the flexibility and strength of the product. As a plasticizer, you can use a soap base, washing powder, chicken protein or buy the finished mixture in a hardware store.
You can add crushed stone to the solution, it will give the tile surface additional strength and increase the level of frost resistance of the coating. Crushed stone should be clean, with a fraction of 5-10 mm. In the process of manufacturing the mortar for paving slabs, it is important to observe proportions. Otherwise, the final product may turn out to be of poor quality.
The process of manufacturing paving slabs
Prepare your preferred silicone mold with a suitable structure. It is advisable to take several identical forms. Pour the prepared solution into the mold and wait until the mixture dries. Do not immediately prepare a large amount of the solution, when it begins to dry, the mass will no longer be uniform. In factory production use a press for the manufacture of paving slabs. This technology allows you to achieve the best strength indicators.
The finished tile is laid on a flat surface, which consists of layers of gravel and sand.
If you use the form in the form of a frame, then the process of creating a paving path will accelerate. The masonry technology will consist of several stages. Step-by-step instructions for making paving tiles with your own hands are given below.
- Clean the surface of the earth from debris, remove the top layer.
- Lay a layer of rubble and sand. Level the surface.
- Install the frame in the right place.
- Half fill the mold.
- Pour a small amount of crushed stone in a small fraction.
- Fill out the form to the end, paying attention to hard to reach places.
- When the cement has set, remove the mold and move on to the next section.
In the process of this type of tile laying, it is not necessary to wait for the cement to solidify completely, it is enough that the top layer is fixed in the desired shape.
Paving slabs
Dyes are able to give the paving tiles the necessary color that matches the structure and individual preferences. The ability to make colored paving slabs will give you various design options for your home garden.
There are three ways to paint paving slabs:
- Coloring the solution. The coloring pigment is introduced into the solution gradually. With stirring for 5-8 minutes, the mixture becomes homogeneous.
- Finishing the finished surface. The tile is covered with a layer of paint or varnish to give a certain color and gloss to the surface. This method is more budgetary compared to staining the entire cement mass. The resulting layer will not only give the desired color to the coating, but also protect the cement from environmental influences and extend its service life. The negative side of the surface method of painting is the gradual abrasion in places of increased patency.
- The use of two solutions for casting tiles. This method involves the use of painted cement to color the front of the tile, and fill the rest of the mold with a non-colored mortar. This method reduces the required amount of dye, which means it saves your finances. Due to the dye content in the thickness of the surface layer, such a coating will not be subject to abrasion and will last a long time.
Which dye to choose?
Dyes themselves can be liquid, in the form of bulk mixtures. The chemical composition of the dyes are:
- Polyurethane They serve more for protection than for improving external characteristics. Create a surface layer that increases wear resistance, protects against chemical and atmospheric influences.
- Alkyd. Very similar to the previous option in terms of the ability to improve the operational properties of the tile. A negative feature is the presence of a pungent odor that stays on the treated surface for a long time.
- Rubber. An excellent coating option, which has all the positive properties of alkyd and polyurethane mixtures, is practically odorless, but the cost of such dyes far exceeds the cost of analogues, and it is not always possible to buy such material due to its low prevalence on the market.
- Lucky. Able to create a glossy elitist surface, affordable and harmless to health.
- Organic pigments. They are included in the mixture, composed of small rock elements.
- Chemical dyes. Also designed to be mixed. They are distinguished by their fragility in terms of preserving the original properties. The cost of such bulk mixtures is much lower compared to organic.
Each type of dye has its pros and cons, before buying, decide which option will be convenient for you.
Vibrating table for paving slabs
At specialized enterprises, vibration tables are used for the manufacture of paving slabs. The technology of vibrocompression involves uniform distribution of the solution throughout the matrix, while removing air bubbles located in the thickness of the hardening mass. As a result of compaction of the mixture, a very strong and wear-resistant product is obtained.
The use of such equipment for the manufacture of paving slabs becomes appropriate if you plan to cover a large area of the site, including making a site for car parking.
Finally
Self-made tiles will save you a significant amount of money. And the process itself will be fascinating and interesting.