If you are the owner of a private courtyard, country house or summer cottage, then you must want to have a neat and well-kept yard. In order not to encounter a problem expressed in the excessive growth of weeds, it is better to use paving slabs to decorate the territory.
Brick, concrete and asphalt today are already remnants of the past, tile rules the ball. It is presented in different forms, and is united by one term - paving. In order to choose the most optimal option, you need to familiarize yourself with the parameters. Previously, state standards existed for everything, today this is much more complicated. Manufacturers make tiles with different sizes, customizing it for their own needs, and not for general categories.
Some suppliers try to save raw materials, others purchase import lines with specific units, while for third suppliers the form is much more important. Using paving slabs, you can create a variety of patterns, the result is a territory with unique variations, solutions and combinations of patterns.
Tile thickness
The visual component of the future territory depends on the width and length of the described products. Important in this matter is the fact that how well the material will fall into place. But the thickness of paving slabs determines its purpose and is one of the main performance indicators.
From the assortment that is offered by the selling organizations, it is worth highlighting the tiles of several categories, among them products:
- for footpaths;
- to create universal coatings;
- for the formation of monolithic territories.
The thickness of paving slabs for pedestrian walkways is 30 mm. This option is the most budgetary and is used for garden paths, paving sidewalks, creating a house blind area, erecting steps, areas around the porch, as well as areas under awnings. Such products, however, are completely unsuitable for creating driveways, because they do not show the ability to undergo high loads during operation.
But if you want to pave the area around a barbecue or street barbecue, then pedestrian paving slabs will become a technically justified solution, which, according to experts, is most acceptable.
Universal tile thickness
If you are interested in the thickness of paving slabs, then you should familiarize yourself with universal products, the parameters mentioned above vary from 50 to 60 mm. Such products cost more, but the scope of their application is much wider.
Universal tile fulfills its role if it is laid out with park areas, paths and courtyards. You can also use such cladding for driveways and the garage floor if it is planned to be used for storing a passenger car or minibus. With the help of this tile you can pave all the territories available near the house. These products will be able to withstand almost any load.
Monolithic coating thickness
The thickness of the paving slabs will be different, when it comes to monolithic products, in this case the described parameter varies from 70 to 80 mm. However, it may be more. Such products are quite expensive, and specialists charge a high price for work on their paving. This coating is intended for driveways, parking lots, areas where trucks will pass, as well as areas that are planned to operate at high loads. However, any operational conditions are not afraid of a monolithic coating.
For reference
If you are interested in the question of what thickness of paving slabs will be the most optimal if you need to equip a personal plot in the garden, then it is best to use products whose described parameter starts from 30 mm. The maximum value for paving slabs is a thickness of 60 mm. This approach will save money, because the product has an acceptable cost and has all the necessary characteristics. If you follow the laying algorithm, the tile will fully exhaust its resource. However, it is not recommended to use it in those areas where the loads will be quite large, as for, for example, access roads.
Features 20mm tiles
Paving slabs with a thickness of 20 mm has some positive features, among which are:
- frost resistance;
- aesthetics;
- environmental friendliness;
- ability to withstand solar radiation;
- maintainability;
- 15 year warranty.
Such a coating is not intended for strong mechanical loads. You can use it in the design of landscape design and in those areas where cars will not drive. This should include cases when you need to arrange a garden or pave a walkway, as well as make a miniature playground.
You should know before choosing paving stones: paving slabs with a thickness of 20 mm can be classified according to several criteria, among them:
- production method;
- base material;
- surface size;
- quantity and style of the shade;
- the form.
As for the material, the basis of the tile can lie:
- rubber;
- concrete;
- porcelain tile;
- polymers and sand.
Tiles can be made by vibrocasting or stamping. The main advantage of such a coating is affordable cost compared to those tiles that have a more impressive thickness. Laying such material is much easier, this is confirmed even at the stage of preparation, when it is necessary to remove the soil for installation work. After all, if the thickness of the tile is more impressive, then the volume of earthwork increases. In addition, such paving slabs do not provide for the use of hired force during installation, which can significantly save money.
There is no need to think about the issue of which soil to use as a base. For the reason that the site will be unloaded, the surface should only be leveled, deepening by 15 mm maximum. The base is covered with sand or gravel, and during installation you need to remember only about the horizontality of the coating and the need to maintain the gaps between the products up to 4 mm. After they are filled with silicate glue, which provides the tile with a snug fit and immobility.
Features 30mm tiles
Paving slabs with a thickness of 30 mm also has its own characteristics, it:
- environmentally friendly;
- consists of natural ingredients;
- not afraid of temperature changes;
- resistant to chemical influences and easy to clean.
Such products can be produced not only by vibro-casting or vibro-pressing, but also by hyper-pressing. The last kind of work involves the supply of the composition under the influence of high pressure in the hyperpress.
For independent production of tiles with such a thickness, the following materials may be required:
- coloring pigment;
- sand;
- cement;
- water.
In order to make the tile more durable, a plasticizer should be added to the ingredients. Independent mixing of the composition should be accompanied by respect for proportions. If it comes to sand and cement, then they are added in a ratio of 1 to 2.
The mixture is mixed, dye is added to it, and then water, until you can get a thick composition. The solution is mixed in special containers, and then poured into molds that can be made independently or purchased at a hardware store. The forms may be silicone or plastic. The latter are more durable, but silicone, as practice shows, is more convenient to use. Before use, the mold must be lubricated with dishwashing detergent or a special substance.
Additional thickness
Paving slabs 40 mm thick, as mentioned above, can be used for pedestrian areas, paths, hiking trails and sidewalks should be included here. But such a tile is not intended for heavy loads, which cannot be said of the one whose thickness is 60 mm. On such coverage it is possible to carry out the movement of cars and pedestrians. Such products are suitable for bike paths and garages.
Thickness leaders
If you have tiles with a thickness of 80 mm, then it will already be able to withstand heavy traffic. The thickest is the 100-mm tile, with which you can pave a reliable surface for trucks. She will be able to endure the weight of any vehicle.
Size selection
If you have a question about what thickness paving slabs for a car to choose, then you should know that for this you can use products from 60 mm. However, many consumers are also interested in whether large or small products are preferred. Here, several nuances should be taken into account. One of them is expressed in the fact that when using a small finishing element, more seams are formed on the surface. They will distribute the load well during intensive use of the surface, which is especially important for parking lots and entrances to the garage. But for direct garden paths it almost does not matter, therefore, you can use elements of any sizes and shapes for them. If you have to pave a terrace with an irregular shape or an arcuate path, then it is better to prefer small paving stones, since this material allows you to create intricate radii.