All owners of private houses seek to improve their yard. They choose high-quality material for laying tracks to last for many years. The most suitable coating for paving a garden plot is polymer sand paving slabs. This new building material is of high quality and varied colors.
Material Composition
The composition of polymer sand paving slabs includes such components:
- crushed polymers (polystyrene, polypropylene, high-pressure polyethylene), which are a binder and account for 25% of the total volume;
- sand;
- tinted pigments.
Tile production
In the manufacture of tiles in the first place prepare the constituent components, which must be high quality. The most stringent requirements are placed on the sand. It should be sieved, washed, calcined and have medium grain size. Subsequently, the components are thoroughly mixed by vibration. Then, the finished solution is loaded into the extruder, heated to a temperature above 250 ° C, and then it is formed and pressed under pressure in special forms. This technology allows you to get products of strict geometric shapes with a distinct pattern and the absence of voids in it.
Strength, density, uniformity, aesthetics - these are the qualities that distinguish paving slabs. The equipment used for the production of this high-tech building material is a modern automated line, providing him with high rates.
Technical characteristics and physicochemical properties
Polymer sand paving slabs, the production of which is carried out by the method of vibropressing, has excellent physicochemical properties. The main ones are:
- compressive strength 50.2 MPa;
- density 2.05 g / cm;
- % abrasion - 0.06;
- hardness (HRB) - 68-82;
- frost resistance - 300 cycles;
- % water absorption - 0.52.
Polymer-sand paving slabs 25, 35 and 40 mm thick are made. Its dimensions are 330x330 mm, in 1 m 2 - 9 pieces.
Benefits
Thanks to its manufacturing technology, paving slabs made of polymer sand far exceed the characteristics of cement-sand counterparts.
- Strength. Binders give the material ductility. Unlike concrete tiles, it does not prick or crack, therefore, during storage, transportation and operation, its costs are minimal.
- Durability. This material is shockproof, resistant to temperature extremes, has a high abrasion resistance. The operational period of coverage is more than 50 years.
- Environmental friendliness. Polymer sand paving slabs when heated do not emit harmful substances, do not form concrete dust, dangerous to others.
- Convenience. Tiles with 3-5 mm gaps are laid, thanks to which water falling on the surface without any obstacles seeps into the ground without forming puddles. The coating is easy to clean, does not absorb moisture and is of such quality as anti-skid.
- Easy to install. The tile is easily processed that allows to realize the most various design ideas. It can be laid manually or using specialized machines. Installation of tiles is simple and quick.
- Low cost. Polymer-sand paving slabs (its price for 1 m 2 is 450 rubles and above) meets all the requirements of the consumer.
How to choose high-quality paving slabs from polymers
When buying material, you should pay attention to the color quality and color uniformity. From the coloring pigment depends on how long the aesthetic attractiveness of the coating will remain. Extraneous inclusions, stains on the tile - the result of the use of low-quality dye or violation of production technology. This significantly degrades the quality of the material, reduces its strength and durability. The highest quality dyes are made in Germany.
Tile Laying Technology
Polymer-sand paving slabs are laid on a sand base, concrete screed using a mortar or a cement-sandy dry mixture. Most often, the installation of the coating under the tracks is carried out on a sand layer, which requires compliance with the laying technology:
- In the place provided for laying the coating, the soil is removed by 15-25 cm.
- The surface is leveled and tamped.
- To install the border, grooves are made, their bottom is compacted, covered with a 5 cm layer of sand. The sand is well watered and rammed.
- Drawn string is pulled over wooden hammered pegs to mark the line of borders.
- Cement is poured into the bottom of the grooves and curbs are laid.
- Geotextiles are laid on the surface for laying the tiles, sanding is carried out, each layer is watered with water, leveled and compacted.
- Tiles are laid with a gap of at least 3 cm and the horizontal line is leveled with a rubber mallet.
- Sand is poured onto the surface of the laid tile to fill the seams.
Here, using such a simple technology, polymer sand paving slabs can be laid. The price of its masonry is from 420 rubles per 1 m 2 of material.