We make paving slabs on our own. Paving slabs at home: from shape to do-it-yourself laying

Paving slabs successfully withstand competition with other types building materials for covering sidewalks, parking lots and squares in cities, paths, recreation areas, access roads to summer cottages and in country houses. The demand for it is growing from year to year. Producers who are sensitive to consumer needs are not limited to the production of the species familiar to us. paving slabs, and bring to the market more and more of its varieties with unexpected and very interesting characteristics: rubber and polymer sand, luminous, and even tiles with a printed three-dimensional image.

Paving slabs manage to maintain their popularity for a number of reasons:

Paving slabs are produced by vibropressing and vibrocasting. The first production method is high level mechanization and high labor productivity, significant volumes of output. In the production of tiles by the method of vibrocasting, manual labor prevails in most enterprises, the products themselves are inferior in terms of characteristics to vibropressed tiles, and the service life is shorter. However, its advantage lies in the variety of shapes and colors. In small-piece production by vibrocasting, it is not a problem to change the mold and fulfill an individual order.

Do-it-yourself laying and production

On your site, if you have the desire and time, you need to do it yourself. And to compensate for the lack of experience with accuracy, exact observance of technology and the introduction of a creative beginning into the design of a recreation area or path.

More difficult is the issue of production at home. First of all, you need to decide whether you will make tiles only for yourself or will sell them. "Business plans" of the organization own production paving slabs distributed on the Internet are very far from reality and do not take into account the most obvious things.

Important! For your needs, it is advisable to make tiles at home. It is a question of economy and quality. The fact is that there are a lot of small manufacturers on the market who do not disdain violations of technology and the use of low-quality raw materials. Defects will “come up” in a year or two, when it will be too late to make claims, and there is no one to complain to. And for yourself you will try to make the best tile in the world.

The organization of a small production for the production of paving slabs only, at first glance, seems to be a very profitable business. AND main problem sales will become for you - the market is oversaturated and the buyer is very picky. Plus (or rather, this is a big minus for your plans) is not a very favorable situation in the suburban real estate market. The mass of finished objects "hung" and are not for sale. No purchases - no new dacha owners and country houses who urgently need to pave paths and platforms. Without a clear and distinct prospect of selling the products that you are going to produce at your new production, it is hardly advisable to start buying equipment and raw materials. While you are considering this question, let's talk about equipment for the production of paving slabs using the vibrocasting method. For their needs, after all, it is necessary to establish a production process.

Production by vibrocasting at home

For production at home, we need fairly simple equipment and materials for concrete mortar.

Equipment

A complete set of necessary equipment consists of vibrating tables for pouring and knocking out, a heat chamber and a concrete mixer. In practice, they are often limited to only a pouring table. It is a metal frame to which a movable table with a vibrator is attached. Working plate the table is fixed with springs (these are used in Zhiguli). A vibrating table is necessary - it provides compaction and degassing of the solution. Without vibrating table you will get fake diamond rather than dense paving slabs. The vibrating table for knockout has frames for knockout of finished products on the working movable plate. However, you can do without it.

The "canonical" technology of vibrocasting involves the use of a thermal chamber to reduce the solidification time of the mixture in a humid environment at elevated temperatures. In part, the hardening time can be reduced by using warm solutions. The heat chamber is sometimes replaced with a heat bath - a container in which, with the help of heating elements the water temperature is maintained at 70-80°C. When producing for your needs, the time factor is not critical. Unlike production for sale, when it is necessary to use all the possibilities to speed up the turnover of forms.

Attention! For the production of a limited volume of tiles, it makes sense to abandon the concrete mixer and limit yourself to a powerful puncher with a mixing nozzle.

However, even with small-scale production, you will need at least one concrete mixer for implementation. The second will be needed to make tiles of different colors.

The materials commonly used to make molds are polypropylene, rubber and plastic. The rubber mold is more durable and can withstand up to 400-450 cycles. Polypropylene can withstand about 100, but they are one and a half times cheaper. You will also need molds for the production of curbstones.

Solution components

At home, after several trial batches, you will determine the best proportions for making a solution. Try to start with the following:

This is based on a batch in a concrete mixer. Check the quality of the solution after the completion of the cycle as follows - the solution should look like a granular porridge, you can take it with one movement of the trowel, while the solution does not break into pieces. For the production of colored products, pigments are added. Approximately 0.7 kg of dye will be required for one batch, however, this value must be checked for compliance of the resulting tone with the intended color in the finished product.

Technological process

All components are loaded into a concrete mixer. Please note that the plasticizer, which is purchased in dry form, must be diluted with water. The pigment is laid at the beginning of the process of mixing the solution.

Forms are placed on a vibrating table and pre-lubricated with special compounds - so they will not be damaged when the tiles are removed (during stripping). It is easier and faster to lubricate the molds from an aerosol can. After mixing is completed, the vibrating table is turned on and the solution is poured into the molds. Within about 4-5 minutes, starting from the moment the forms are filled, the solution is compacted and degassed. Watch for the appearance of foam and do not let the resulting foam settle. This is a signal that the solution is ready. Overdo it, the composition will begin to exfoliate. Next, the vibrating table motor is turned off and the molds are sent to dry.

Very important! It is required to carefully monitor that the forms to dry were in a strictly horizontal position. Otherwise, you will receive a defective batch of tiles, which you will no longer be able to use for its intended purpose.

For storage it is convenient to use ordinary wooden pallets.

The mixture in the molds will dry for at least a day. Much depends on temperature and humidity. environment. After the mixture has set in the mold, the heaters in the bath are turned on and the mold is placed in the water heated to 70-80 ° C for five minutes. This procedure facilitates the removal (dismantling) of the tile. The removed products cannot be used immediately, they must “rest” for at least a week and gain strength. Organize a place under a canopy for soaking finished products during this time.

Important! Consider the work done only when you have washed the molds with brine (a solution of 30 g table salt in one liter of water), rinsed them with water and set to dry.

We examined the production process of paving slabs using the vibrocasting method at home. It should be noted that another production method - vibropressing - is associated with significantly higher costs for the purchase of equipment, primarily a vibropress. A vibropress is a much more complex and expensive equipment. Yes, and in this case you can’t do a thermal bath, you will need to buy a thermal chamber.

Owners of country houses and cottages often use paving slabs as a covering for paths and driveways. There are different requirements for such a coating depending on the place of its use. The same can be said about the styling method. If the production of paving slabs will be carried out at home, then Special attention it is necessary to pay attention to the manufacturing technology and preparation of the solution, since the operational characteristics of the material and its durability depend on this.

Advantages of self-production

Self-manufacturing paving slabs has the following advantages:

• significant savings on the improvement of the local area;
• confidence in the quality of the product;
• as a result, you will receive a unique and beautiful product;
• choice suitable color and design under general style site;
• long term services.

In addition, the process of producing paving slabs at home is quite exciting. It will help reveal your hidden talents and give you a reason to be proud of the result.

Which is better: vibrocast or vibropressed tiles?

The production technology of paving slabs involves the manufacture of two types of coating:

1. vibrocast tiles more often used in private construction. Outwardly, it is smooth and more beautiful due to rich color and heterogeneous structure. The manufacturing technology is quite simple: a solution is poured into the molds, then they are installed on a vibrating platform. During vibration, air bubbles are removed, and the mixture evenly fills the mold. After drying, the products are removed from the molds and additionally dried.
2. Tiles obtained by vibrocompression, stronger and more durable. It is suitable for places with heavy traffic. The manufacturing process of this product requires the use of special technological equipment. Externally, the product is obtained with a homogeneous structure and a rough surface.

Pressed products are distinguished by a limited choice of shapes and colors, but they are more durable, strong, and moisture resistant. Due to the absence of pores, such elements do not crumble and are resistant to abrasion. But making them at home will not work, since tiles can only be pressed on a special machine.

The method of manufacturing a vibrocast coating is simpler and suitable for self-fulfillment. But you can cast any shape and choose the right color. This tile is suitable for paving garden paths on the street, but not for places with heavy traffic and loads (for example, near the garage).

Necessary materials

For the manufacture of paving slabs at home, you will need the following materials:

1. The main component in the composition of the solution is cement. The quality of the product depends on its characteristics. For mortar, take cement grade M 400-500. High-grade cement will give the product strength, increase its moisture resistance and frost resistance.

Advice! Buy only fresh cement, as long-term storage he loses some of his qualities. To check the freshness of the cement, squeeze a handful of the powder in your hand. If you get a lump - do not use this composition. Fresh cement wakes up through the fingers without forming a lump.

1. IN cement mixture filler must be added. It is large and small:
   • small crushed stone, granotsev, pebbles or slag is used as a large aggregate (the filler must be cleaned);
   • sand with a grain fraction of up to 0.6 mm acts as a fine filler (use sand without clay and impurities).

1. The water in the solution must be clean, room temperature.
2. Another component is a plasticizer. It comes in the form of a ready-made mixture and in powder. Plasticizers increase the elasticity of the solution, reduce the cost of water and cement, increase the density of concrete and facilitate the mixing process. The additive called Superplasticizer C-3 is considered the best, but you can also use Polyplast SP-1, PLASTIMIX F, Westplast or Master Silk. Plasticizers in the composition of the mixture provide high moisture resistance and frost resistance of the product, as well as its wear resistance.
3. Dye or coloring pigment allows you to get a tile desired color. Choose lightfast dyes. Since pigments cost a lot, it is beneficial to add dye only in upper layer tiles, and the bottom one is made of ordinary gray concrete.
4. Fiberglass is a reinforcing additive to increase the strength of the product. As a reinforcing fiber, a polypropylene fiber is used with a fiber length of up to 2 cm and a diameter of up to 50 microns.

Important! The length of the reinforcing fiber should not exceed the diameter of the coarse filler.

1. Matrix lubricant needed to facilitate the removal of tiles. There are special lubricants on sale (Emulsol or Lirossin), but substitutes are often used instead:
   • vegetable oil;
   • used motor oil;
   • soap solution.

Equipment and tools

You will need the following equipment for the production of paving slabs:

1. A concrete mixer is needed only for large volumes of work, otherwise you can get by with a shovel or trowel.
2. Vibrating table for compacting the mixture in the form and removing air bubbles. Instead, tapping or shaking the mold is used.

Advice! It is easy to make a simple vibrating table from a conventional washing machine operating in the spin mode.

1. Drying racks. In this place, the product is dried in the forms for three days and another week after being removed from the matrix.
2. Forms are bought online. They are of several types:
   • silicone blanks are suitable for products of complex configuration with a structural surface (the disadvantage of silicone is that it swells under the pressure of concrete, the matrix can withstand up to 50 cycles);
   • plastic products are suitable for a simple pattern (they are strong, flexible and durable, withstand 800 cycles);
   • polyurethane ones are more expensive than silicone, but they keep their shape better (withstand up to 100 cycles).

Solution preparation

Making paving slabs with your own hands begins with the preparation of the mortar. The proportion of ingredients is as follows:

• sand - 56 percent;
• small crushed stone or granotsev - 23%;
• cement - 21%;
• coloring pigment - 7 percent of the volume of concrete;
• water - no more than 5.5% of the amount of concrete;
• plasticizer - 0.7% of concrete;
• fiberglass - for each cubic meter of concrete, approximately 0.05% of its total volume.

From one cubic meter of the solution, 16.5 m² of tiles are obtained, provided that their thickness is 6 cm. To obtain a high-quality solution, the ingredients are mixed in the following sequence:

1. First mix some water and plasticizer. The mixture is poured into a concrete mixer. For closing, use only warm water because the cold liquid does not dissolve additives. It is important to monitor the complete dissolution of the plasticizer.
2. Dye bred hot water(For 1 part of the pigment take 3 parts of water). Make sure the solution is free of lumps.
3. After that, crushed stone and sand are added.
4. Now it's the turn to put cement in the concrete mixer. In the process of adding it, periodically add water for better mixing.
5. At the end of the batch, the bulk of the water is poured out.

Important! The finished mixture holds well on the trowel without spreading, and when laid in a mold, it easily fills it.

Sequence of making tiles

It is important to lubricate the mold so that there is no excess or lack of lubrication. In the first case, cavities form on the product, and in the second case, it will be difficult to remove it from the mold. Let's start pouring the solution:

• in the production of two-color tiles, the color solution is first poured to ¼ of the height of the mold, and no later than 20 minutes, the gray solution is added (the interval between fillings should not be increased, as this will lead to poor adhesion between the layers);
• after pouring, the molds are shaken and placed on a vibrating table for 5 minutes;
• the appearance of a white foam on the surface indicates the release of air bubbles from the solution;
• excessive vibrotamping leads to stratification of the solution, so the mold is removed from the vibrating table when the white foam settles on the surface.

Attention! In the manufacture of two-color tiles, tamping is carried out after the first and second layers. The duration of the second vibration is no more than three minutes. The foam does not appear.

After that, the filled forms are placed on drying racks. It lasts up to three days. Racks are placed in a ventilated place where there is no access to sunlight. To reduce the rate of moisture evaporation and protect against cracking, the molds are covered with polyethylene.

Paths and platforms paved with paving slabs look aesthetically pleasing. Such a coating is durable, reliable, with a long service life, it is easy to care for it. But if you purchase material on the market, then the cost of finishing the tracks can be significant. Therefore, many owners are engaged in the production of paving slabs on their own, and they themselves lay it. Fortunately, there is everything on the market today for this. As part of today's review, we will try to sort through the entire technological process making paving slabs with your own hands, as well as consider how to lay it.

Two technologies are mainly used today:

• vibrocompression;
• vibrocasting.

How do they differ from each other.

vibrocompression technology

This industrial way production of paving slabs, which uses special equipment, consisting of a press and a vibrating table. the tiles are laid on the table, cement mortar with the addition of pigments is poured into it, after which the mixture is subjected to great pressure from the press. In the process of pressure, the table immediately vibrates, which evenly distributes the poured mortar over the entire volume of the mold.

Tiled material turns out to be accurate in shape and size, its density is increased, which means that the strength will be great. This technology, depending on the type of equipment used, is practically devoid of manual labor, no problems with disbanding. More recently, they used the steaming of finished products to pull them out of the molds. This increased the cost of products. Today, all this is not used, so the price of paving slabs has dropped sharply.

But the topic of the article is how to make paving slabs with your own hands, so we will not talk more about this method of its production. The only thing to note is that products made using this technology are superior in quality to home-made ones. And, accordingly, they will have a longer service life.

Vibrocasting technology

This method of production can be classified as "do it yourself". True, for this you have to make a vibrating table. About it a little lower, and now we will consider the principle of production of paving slabs by this method. First, for the production of tiles, you need to purchase molds. What does the market offer today?

DIY molds for paving slabs

There is no need to talk about size and geometric shape. In this regard, the choice is huge, and each consumer will find for himself the option that will satisfy him in all respects. The choice is based on the material from which the molds are made. Today, manufacturers offer three varieties:

1. This polyurethane molds for the manufacture of tiles or paving stones, which can be used up to 100 cycles. They are well suited for those who decide to perform a small amount of tiles.
2. Plastic. These molds can withstand up to 250 revolutions.
3. Made from special rubber plastic type, withstanding more than 500 cycles.

It is not a problem to buy molds for paving slabs today. The main thing is to make a choice. For small volumes, polyurethane is suitable. For example, if you buy five pieces, you can make 500 tiles, and this is a considerable amount. In addition, molds made from this polymer are very cheap, so the prime cost final product they won't make much of an impact.

Production technology of paving slabs by vibrocasting

So, for this you need a vibrating table, on which the forms are installed. They are filled with a standard cement mortar, to which plasticizers and pigments are added. The main requirement for paving slabs is full-body color.

The vibrator turns on. Inside the mold, the solution is evenly distributed throughout the volume, while all the components mix even better, the air escapes, and it is precisely this that causes the deterioration of the quality of the product. Cement milk moves and concentrates at the mold walls. In the process of vibration, the tile is smooth and even in terms of geometry. The most difficult thing is to remove the finished product from the formwork. Therefore, this method is proposed - the tile, together with the form, is immersed in hot water(not lower than + 40 ° C), plastic or rubber becomes soft, which makes it possible to easily remove the finished paving material.

In the same way, double tiles can be made, in which the lower part is a regular gray cement mortar, the upper one is colored. To do this, the color mixture is first poured into the mold, and after 30 seconds, the gray mixture. After 30-40 seconds, you can turn on the vibrating table.

Attention! The paving slabs produced by vibrocasting must be in the form for two days. Only after that it is possible to produce demoulding.

How to make a vibrating table for paving slabs with your own hands: photos, videos and drawings

The drawing below shows what the vibrating table is assembled from. In fact, these are two separate structures that are interconnected by springs. The lower table has a standard form with four legs and a reinforced base, because it must withstand significant loads not only from vibration, but also from the molds placed on the upper table with cement mortar poured into them. The top table is a kind of trough with small sides.

Now, as for the drive, which should create vibration. There are a lot of different options here:

1. There are special vibrators that are attached to the top of the vibrating table (to the bottom surface). An eccentric is already inserted in their design, which creates vibrations. This is the most convenient option, but costly, because the vibrator is not cheap.

   

2. You can use an electric grinder, on the shaft of which two loads are offset relative to each other and the center of rotation of the load. It is the latter that create the displacement of the device itself, due to which the vibration of the entire structure occurs.

   

3. You can use any electric motor whose shaft is unbalanced. For example, as shown in the photo below, you can use several nuts welded to each other, mounted on the motor shaft. Instead of a pyramid, you can install any load, as long as it is located relative to the axis of rotation on one side.

   

4. You can make a separate eccentric in the form of a shaft mounted in two bearings. This design is attached to the top table. In this case, the shaft must be unbalanced. The rotation of the eccentric will be transmitted by an electric motor (you can choose any here), which is installed on the lower table structure (the place does not matter). Most often, a belt is taken as an element for transmitting rotation.

   

Be sure to watch the video, which tells how the vibrating table was made from a profiled pipe.

Advantages and disadvantages of paving slabs made using different technologies

The table shows that paving slabs produced by vibrocompression are better in all respects than self-made ones. Let us add here the exact geometric shapes, so it is easier to work with such a tile. Although she has one drawback - it is difficult to cut such a stone, it is too strong.

Step-by-step instructions for making paving slabs with your own hands at home

First of all, you need to choose a form for paving slabs, which, as already mentioned, has different sizes, traditionally - this is a size of 500 × 500 × 50 mm. Let's deal with this form. But first we will indicate from which solution the product will be poured.

Most often, the recipe consists of several standard components:

• cement M500;
• a mixture of crushed stone and sand in a ratio of 1: 1, where crushed stone of a fraction of 5–10 mm is used;
• pigment;
• plasticizer.

As for the latter, the market today offers a huge range. These are both dry additives and liquid ones. The main thing is to accurately maintain the concentration of the plasticizer relative to. The dry additive is added to the solution in a ratio of 0.7% by weight of the cement.

To prepare the solution at home, you will need a conventional construction mixer. You can knead in a bucket, taking into account the volume of the required solution, so that it is enough for the manufacture of tiles located on the vibrating table. For example, if only four tiles fit on the table, then the minimum amount of batch should be enough to fill four forms.

A photo	Description of works
	Cement mortar is laid out in forms.
	The vibrator turns on. Under the action of vibration, the solution inside the mold begins to take on its dimensions.
	If necessary, the solution is added to the molds.
	As soon as the solution completely fills the internal space of the mold, the equipment can be turned off.
	The next step is drying. This process can be done naturally. It is impossible for the rays of the sun to fall on the tile, it is good if the room is ventilated. It is even better if the process is carried out on the street under a canopy. The main task - horizontal arrangement molds filled with cement mortar.
	The last stage is disassembly. The form with the tile is turned over and the edges of the form and corners begin to be bent, gradually removing it completely.

Do-it-yourself step-by-step instructions for laying paving slabs

With the seeming simplicity of laying tiles, paving stones or with your own hands, this is actually a process that requires a special approach. Therefore, knowing the nuances will help to carry out the installation correctly.

A photo	Description of works
	Sod is removed, on which paving slabs will be laid.
	Curbs are exposed that will form the boundaries of the sidewalk or platform. They are installed on a sand-cement mixture. A prerequisite is the placement of each border horizontally, for which a long rule is used.
	Paving slabs are laid on sand, so you need to fill the space between the curbs with this bulk material. The sand must be compacted well. Please note that the thickness of the applied layer must fill the space so that there is room for laying the tiles in height flush with the curbs.
	Now a mixture of sand and cement is being prepared in a ratio of 1: 5, which is poured over a sand cushion. Paving slabs will be laid on it. This layer must be leveled and compacted to prevent subsidence of the tiles.
	You can start styling. It is better to do this from the corner of the site.
	They laid the tile, knocked on it with a mallet to press down the flooring.
	A prerequisite is to check each laid element for horizontality. For this, the building level is used.

Thus, the entire platform or sidewalk is assembled, all the elements of the flooring must be checked by the level among themselves.

Attention! Even at the stage of backfilling the sand cushion, care must be taken to ensure that the finish is slightly sloping. This is done so that rain or melt water does not stagnate in the finished area.

We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the video - how to properly lay paving slabs.

And two more points:

1. If possible, the laid material should be compacted using a vibrating table.
2. Between the elements it is necessary to sprinkle a mixture of sand and cement in a ratio of 1: 1, which will fill the gaps between the tiles. This will give stability to the entire structure.

Alternative technology

Today it is possible to solve the problem of finishing sidewalks and platforms more in a simple way. To do this, you will have to purchase a special form, consisting of several cells that form paving slabs. In this case, we are not talking about vibrocasting, because the mortar is poured at the place where the tiles are installed. That is, right on the tracks or playgrounds. But this paving slab laying technology also belongs to the “do-it-yourself” category, because the elements themselves will be poured directly by the owner of the site.

Formwork, which is sold specifically for this technology, does not determine the size of paving slabs, because there is a huge assortment in terms of a variety of shapes. To understand what we are talking about, look at the photo. Although we must pay tribute that the cells can be geometric shapes: rectangles, ovals, circles and others.

The technology itself in terms of preparation is carried out in exactly the same way as described above with laying finished product. That is, a sand base is being prepared, curbs are being installed. After that, the form is laid in place, leveled, and cement mortar is poured into it. After two days, disbanding takes place. As you can see, it takes two days to dry, which means that in order to increase the speed of work, you will have to purchase several forms.

The cost of paving slabs from the manufacturer

Buying paving slabs today is not a problem. The market is just flooded with products different forms and sizes, colors and shades. Depending on the quantity used for manufacturing cement mortar, based on one element, the cost is calculated, and hence the price of paving slabs.

A photo	Size, mm	price, rub.
	500 × 200 × 50 - curb.	83
	300x300x50 - Florida grey.	56
	500 × 500 × 50 - 12 bricks.	140

We add that paving slabs from the manufacturer are not only a material made from cement mortar. This and ceramic tiles in the form of bricks, the manufacture of which is impossible with your own hands. The model of such an element called Lode Brunis Brown color and dimensions 200 × 100 × 52 mm costs 45 rubles. The price of cement paving slabs with dimensions of 400 × 400 × 40 mm is 65 rubles.

How to check the finished tile for quality

It is almost impossible to visually determine whether a tile is of high quality or not. But there are some tricks that will help you choose more or less high-quality material:

1. Tap on it. If the sound is sonorous, then the density of the tile is high. Accordingly, the strength is at the proper level, the product is well dried.
2. Bright color is a sign a large number added pigments. And they lower the quality characteristics of the material.
3. If on the cut the color is located only in the upper part of the product, then it is likely that the color will fade or fade over time. The pigment should be evenly distributed over the entire body of the tile.
4. The absence of bubbles and cracks is also a sign of quality.
5. The presence of a certificate indicates that production is established according to standards or specifications that are registered with government agencies.

So, we have analyzed the topic of production and laying of paving slabs. If you have any questions, we are ready to answer them. Contact us in the comments.

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Paving slabs - aesthetic and resistant to a variety of external factors material. However, its cost is also significant, so many owners of country houses are thinking about how to make paving slabs with their own hands.

We make paving slabs with our own hands

A step-by-step instruction will help in the manufacture of paving slabs with your hands.

. We purchase the necessary materials

To make paving slabs with your own hands, you need cement And sand. Additional components are dyes and superplasticizer. The latter is needed to increase strength characteristics products and their resistance to frost.

paving slabs with hands step by step instructions. A photo

. We select equipment

Of the equipment for the production of paving slabs with their own hands, a vibrating table and molds are required. vibrating table- a special device that creates small vibrations. Due to this, the mixture is compacted and the tile acquires the necessary strength. Buying such a device for home use is not profitable. If there are no rental options, then you can use improvised options. For example, the old washing machine , which remains in working condition if it vibrates strongly enough in any mode.

Next necessary equipment are forms. Further there will be information on how to make molds for paving slabs with your own hands, but in some cases it is more convenient to use ready-made ones.

how to make paving slabs with your own hands. A photo

Ready-made molds are rubber, plastic and polyurethane. Most durable rubber. They withstand five hundred castings. Least durable polyurethane. They are able to survive only a hundred castings. in the middle plastic- two hundred and fifty castings. Rubber and plastic molds are more expensive than polyurethane molds.

. Production technology

Preparing to fill out the forms mixture. The number of components will be as follows. For five kilograms of cement, twice as much pure fine sand and thirty grams are taken superplasticizer. Dye is added as desired.

paving slabs with their own hands at home. A photo

All components are thoroughly mixed first in a dry form. Then water is added, which is poured in small portions. The result should be a homogeneous and fairly viscous mixture. Water should not be too much. From a liquid solution, insufficiently strong products are obtained.

In addition to the main components, fine gravel or screenings can be added to the solution. It will make paving stones more durable and give it a natural appearance. In this case, the ratio of components changes slightly. Thirty grams of superplasticizer and two parts of cement, sand and gravel are taken.

Before pouring the solution, the mold is lubricated with a special emulsion. There are many kinds of them. However, you can use a simpler option - dishwashing detergent. This liquid is applied with a brush to the entire inner surface forms.

production of paving slabs with their own hands. A photo

After processing all forms, it is poured into them solution. To do this, the containers are filled halfway and placed on vibrating table or a device that replaces it. Vibration is turned on and then the forms are filled to the brim.

After some time, the forms are transferred to the room and covered film so that the concrete does not dry out too quickly. After about two days, do-it-yourself paving slabs are removed from the mold.

For quick extraction, the mold with the tile is lowered into hot water (80 degrees). The shape expands and the tile is easy to reach.

The finished tile is placed on a pallet or a pallet of boards and covered with a film. Better first ten days of her withstand in the utility room, i.e. under the roof. After that, she is taken out into the street and left for another month so that she gains strength.

Paving slabs with river pebbles

There are many options for paving slabs. Additional components are often added to the main solution, for example, river pebbles or other stones. Consider how to make paving slabs with your hands in step-by-step instructions.

The manufacture of paving slabs with their own hands begins with preparation solution. To do this, we take a plastic basin or other container, as well as a measuring container. Pour one part of cement and three parts of sand into the basin.

Pour water into the mixture, stirring constantly. Consistency ready solution should be pasty.

To make interesting paving slabs with your own hands, you should prepare not only the solution, but also the stones. Pebbles of an interesting shape and color are selected.

Required to make tiles the form. It can be made in the form of a wooden formwork. If tiles are required different sizes, then you can additionally take polyethylene flat containers.

do-it-yourself molds for paving slabs. A photo

The molding process is more convenient to perform on a plank platform covered with polyethylene. The formwork is placed on the platform. The bottom is smeared with used machine oil so that the concrete does not stick to the film.

concrete mortar spread trowel and distributed over the entire area. It should be laid out gradually, smoothing the composition and tamping it down.

After creating an even cement layer, lay out on its surface pebbles. The layout is carried out taking into account the color and size of the stones so that the entire area is filled.

After laying, the stones are pressed into the solution with a trowel. This process will require the use of force. At the same time, similar procedures are performed in small molds. Forms with tiles are covered with polyethylene and kept for three or four days. If the weather is hot, then they are additionally watered with water in the morning and evening. Formwork should be removed when the tiles begin to move away from the walls.

The resulting paving slabs are laid in various combinations. The result is consistently impressive.

Do-it-yourself molds for paving slabs

Many people would like to make their own paving slabs with their own hands for suburban area. However, many things scare them, and in particular, the high cost of forms. Consider how to make molds for paving slabs with your own hands.

. Plastic construction

Plastic is one of the most comfortable materials for mold making. It lags well behind the edges of the tile and is quite durable. If you make such forms for paving slabs with your own hands, then they will be relatively inexpensive option. Naturally, a homemade form will not create an ornament on the surface of the tile.

Production will require wooden form with carefully crafted details and plastic(can be secondary). The form is set as evenly as possible using a level.

When everything is prepared, pour the plastic. It settles down in about an hour. After that, the product is removed, the roughness is cleaned. Ready plastic mold dry for another two or three days.

Plastic home-made molds for paving slabs are made from any plastic containers. Most importantly, they should not crack when compressed.

Another way is to cut unnecessary pipes PVC on the rings of the desired height. They will make great shapes for round tiles.

. wooden form(formwork)

The wooden mold is one of the simplest and most inexpensive and can be easily made. To create this form for paving slabs, several pieces are taken with your own hands. wooden bars. The desired figure is formed from them, its corners are verified with a special tool. Temporarily the connection is made with adhesive tape.

When everything is ready, the bars are connected screws. For quadrangular formwork, eight screws are sufficient for secure fastening.

finished frame sanding. To prolong its service life and make it easier to remove tiles, the surface can be coated with varnish.

It is convenient to disassemble the wooden frame to remove the tile. This will avoid damage and cracks.

. iron mold

The iron version of the form is one of the most durable and relatively easy to manufacture. You can create such home-made forms for paving slabs from remnants of reinforcement or other similar materials. The slats are selected, which are cut into right amount pieces of a certain size. Next, the corners are verified and all parts are welded together. Handles are welded for ease of use.

. Polyurethane mold

Polyurethane is one of the varieties of polymer masses. Forms from it are best suited for the production of paving slabs, as they are distinguished by a combination of strength and flexibility.

When creating such a form for paving slabs with your own hands, be sure to take into account security measures. You have to work with gloves. If the processes take place indoors, then good ventilation is required. The container with polyurethane must be tightly closed. Immediately before pouring the polymer, a rubberized apron is required in addition to gloves.

To create a polyurethane mold, first prepare matrix. This is a product that should look like a future tile. First, a master model is prepared, i.e. sample made from any material. Starting with clay and ending with plasticine. You can take as a basis a ready-made tile.

The sample is washed and dried, and then applied to it adhesive compounds. It is better to take wax-based options. With this composition, it is necessary to treat all surfaces with which the polyurethane will come into contact during pouring. The adhesive composition dries for about twenty minutes.

make formwork in which the sample will be placed. She should be three centimeters taller than him.

The polymer mixture is made in compliance with clear proportions. The prepolymer and hardener are heated to room temperature and then mixed in equal proportions. The finished composition should be homogeneous, without air bubbles.

The composition is applied to the surface of the stone with a brush, and only then it is completely poured. The matrix is ​​ready. The next step is to create the mold itself.

Further, the manufacture of a mold for paving slabs with their own hands is carried out in a day. The matrix is ​​placed on a flat surface and gradually poured two-component polyurethane, lifting one of the edges of the matrix. The mixture will spread on its own. Ready-made forms are taken out after a day and left to dry for another two days.

. Silicone molds

The silicone version is highly flexible. This is convenient for removing tiles, but when wrong location the shape of the product may be skewed.

They make such a form for paving slabs with their own hands from three-component silicone mixture. You will need a base, catalyst and hardener. They are mixed in specific proportions.

A container is prepared in which the form will be created, it is degreased. At the bottom, you can lay out a pattern with sculptural plasticine. The entire surface of the mold is smeared with a thin layer vegetable oil. After that, the silicone mass is poured in a thin stream, trying to avoid air bubbles. The form is completely ready for use in a day.

Paving slabs may have different shape, they lay out paths in the garden with it, use it for playgrounds, parks, in summer cottages and so on. This material is environmentally friendly and durable, gives the site a beautiful neat look. Tiles can be made independently, if you follow the technology, it turns out high quality and originality. With self-production, you can significantly save money, such a tile is resistant to temperature changes and withstands various loads. A variety of colors will help to make the surface original.

What tools and materials should be used to make paving slabs at home?

In order for the tile to turn out to be of high quality, it is necessary to properly prepare the composition, in compliance with all proportions, and also ensure natural drying products. For the manufacture of tiles, you must use:

• concrete mixer;
• vibration table, it can be purchased or made independently;
• special shapes, they can also be bought at construction stores or do it yourself.
• auxiliary materials are: a bucket of 10 liters, gloves and a shovel. For the manufacture of tiles use the following components:
• crushed stone, which has a fraction of up to 10 millimeters;
• cement 500, water and sand;
• additives chemical origin, that is, a plasticizer and others;
• if necessary, then dye;
• You will also need a mold lubricant.

Technology of independent production of paving slabs

Making paving slabs at home is divided into several points:

1. First you need to prepare the forms.
2. Then prepare a solution for pouring.
3. Formation of material using a vibrating table.
4. Freezing time.
5. After hardening, the tiles must be removed from the molds, this is called stripping.

How to prepare molds for making tiles?

Molds can be rubber, plastic or polyurethane and can be used multiple times. Independent production of molds can be made of wooden or galvanized material. In order to get the finished plate without problems in the future, the mold is lubricated special means. At the same time, the forms serve for a long time, and are well cleaned of excess solution. The product is applied in a small layer so that subsequently no pores remain on the plate due to excessive application of fat.

Such a tool can be prepared independently from 50 grams engine oil and 1.5 liters of water, it must be stirred for a long time. Oil can also be used to lubricate molds. plant origin or laundry soap diluted with water.

If a lubricant is not used, then a special antistatic agent is used before pouring the molds, and after pulling out the plate, the container is treated with hydrochloric acid.

Preparation of filling for plates

First, you need to prepare all the materials for the preparation of the fill, including the plasticizer and paint products, if the tile is colored. The additive of the plasticizer should be 0.5 percent of all constituent dry elements. For example, for 80 liters of a solution, 400 grams of a plasticizer is needed, it is first diluted with water, and then added to the solution. In the same way, the coloring agent is diluted.

The concrete mixer must be wet, for this it is pre-rinsed with water. During the mixing of cement, more than 30 percent of the liquid is taken. For example, 4 parts of cement and 3 parts of water with the inclusion of a plasticizer and a coloring element, then the fill will be strong.

Water is poured into the concrete mixer, then cement and screenings are poured, and a diluted plasticizer, if necessary, then a dye. Mixing is carried out until homogeneous. In the absence of a concrete mixer, you can mix the filling manually, but this will require considerable effort.

Form filling, curing time, and demoulding

After preparing the mixture, it is poured into molds, and a vibrating table is used to compact the concrete. The form should be filled to a height of up to 4 centimeters, to save money, the mixture can be laid out in layers. But at the same time, the fill for the outer color layer must be made separately.

If crushed stone is not used in the solution, then it is necessary to reinforce with a special mesh to increase the strength of the product. It is laid between layers during pouring.

After filling the forms, they are placed on a vibrating table, under its action the solution is compacted, so the resulting free space is filled. It is necessary to keep the molds on the vibrating table for up to 5 minutes, when a white foam forms on top, which means that the air has escaped and the tile can be removed.

Then the forms are removed from the vibrating table and set on a flat surface so that direct sunlight does not fall on the product. After two days, the tile can be removed by first immersing the mold in hot water. You can remove the plate with with the help of a lung tapping with a rubber mallet on the walls of the container, this must be done carefully so that cracks do not appear on the product. If you do not do heating, then the tile may become defective or have a short service life.

After the plates are pulled out, they are placed on pallets, covered with polyethylene, and left for a week for complete hardening.

During solidification, all forms must be located strictly vertically, otherwise the tiles will be uneven, that is, defective.

How to make a vibrating table yourself?

By making a vibrating table yourself, you can save money on its purchase. For its construction you will need:

• a surface that can play the role of a tabletop, you can take a metallized sheet up to 5 millimeters thick;
• any kind of engine, it is possible from a washing machine;
• tire, 4 shock absorbers can be used or rope.

The engine is fixed at the bottom of the tabletop, and an eccentric is installed on the shaft. The flat surface is laid on the tire, mounted on shock absorbers or suspended by ropes in the form of a swing. The tabletop must be placed strictly horizontally. In order to create vibration, prepared weights are suspended from the eccentric.

You can also build such a table in another way, for this you need:

• Chipboard, the sheet must be even;
• Electrical engine;
• tires from the car.

An electric motor is screwed onto the extreme part of the sheet using large bolts, then a grinding wheel is fixed in the same way, which, when rotated, creates vibration over the entire surface. Along the edges, bumpers are installed so that the forms do not fall down from the equipped table. The plane is mounted on tires, and fixed on all sides with pipes.

The main advantages of paving slabs

Paving slabs have various advantages:

• It is resistant to temperature changes, and also has high rate quality.
• Paving slabs have a long service life.
• Due to the precise geometry, subsequent laying is carried out without much effort. Small areas can be laid independently.
• The product is made from natural elements, therefore it is considered environmentally friendly, does not emit toxic substances. The coating does not have a negative effect on nearby plants. It freely passes moisture and steam, so the soil under the tiles retains its original properties.
• The tile can be made in any desired shape, with the addition of the desired dye, this allows you to make the coating original.
• Such a coating has affordable price, and if it is made independently, it allows you to save on costs.
• Tile repair is not required special costs and effort, it is enough to remove the damaged area and replace it with new material.

Basic rules for the manufacture of paving slabs

• It is necessary to strictly observe the entire number of added elements in order to improve the quality of the product.
• Inside the mold must be smooth, then the tile will be made without chips and cracks. If they are reused, processing and purification from the previous solution is necessary.
• If the solution is prepared using a concrete mixer, then it must be moistened before starting work.
• Cement should not be below 500 grade, otherwise the quality of the product will decrease.
• Plasticizer and paint are not added in dry form, but are preliminarily diluted in water.
• It is necessary to control the amount of liquid when preparing the mixture, it should not be too much, this will reduce the quality of the product.
• Forms must be lubricated before pouring, in order to further simplify the removal of tiles.
• The surface of the vibrating table must be flat so that the solution does not drain into one place where air will accumulate.
• For solidification, the molds are also placed strictly horizontally in order to avoid marriage in the product.
• Before removing the tile from the mold, the bottom of the container is heated, then lightly tapped on the walls with a rubber mallet, the blows should not be strong so as not to damage the product.
• At the end of all work, the tiles are laid on pallets, and covered with polyethylene, left for a week for complete hardening.

Basic rules for laying paving slabs

First you need to mark the tile laying area, put the stakes, and pull the rope, if this is not done, then you can get an uneven coating. When constructing a path, you must first walk along it to determine whether it will be comfortable.

It is also important to properly prepare the main surface for laying, the quality of the surface will depend on this. First, crushed stone is laid 15 centimeters high, then geotextiles, and sand, each material is rammed. After that, the dry mix is ​​\u200b\u200bdispersed, and the tiles are laid.

Tiles can be laid on dry cement or on thin layer applied solution.

When performing work, it is necessary to use a level to make sure the surface is even.

When laying tiles, they knock them out with a special mallet made of rubber or wood; heavy objects cannot be used for this, as the product can be damaged.

During laying, you need to make a slight slope so that the water from the precipitation can freely leave, and not stagnate in the middle part of the coating.

When preparing the base for tiles, it is necessary to take into account the load that will be exerted on the surface during operation.

So that the tiles do not move out, and the surface has a finished look, a border is installed, it should not be located below the level of the main coating.

What can ruin the finished tile

During the hardening of the mortar or due to acid precipitation, white deposits may appear on the tile, and this can also happen if poor-quality cement was used. You can fix this problem with special formulations for this material.

If the concrete has a low resistance to frost, then cracks may occur on the product. This is due to the addition of the wrong amount of constituent elements, a violation of the technology for preparing the mixture, and also if the conditions for solidification are not met. Do not leave the product in direct sunlight.

If the vibration mode is set incorrectly, pores may form in the plate and the appearance may deteriorate. If the composition is hard, then the vibration must be produced longer.

By using high-quality materials and performing precise technology, a durable product is obtained that has a long service life, is resistant to temperature changes, and its surface is not erased.