What to look for when choosing paving slabs
Today, paving slabs are produced at many enterprises, but their quality is sometimes so-so. Is it possible to choose a durable and reliable material that will delight your guests and you for many years?
Paving slabs in a country house are often one of the main building materials, thanks to which the site is transformed, looks updated and modern. The tiles are used to make paths and blind areas around the house; they are laid in parking areas, on patio areas and other areas. In order for such a building material to last a long time, you need to be able to choose the right tile from hundreds of options offered on the market. Read on to find out which paving slabs to choose for your dacha.
The shape and color of the tiles are selected to match the facade of the house
Laying paving slabs in the country – advantages and disadvantages
Owners of country houses often use paving slabs, as they have the following advantages:
- durability – high-quality tiles are highly wear-resistant, especially to such natural phenomena as precipitation, ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes;
- environmental friendliness – good tiles do not contain harmful components, for this reason they do not cause allergic reactions and do not provoke diseases of the respiratory system;
- ease of installation – this factor depends on the final shape of the selected tile, but as a rule, you can lay the tiles yourself;
- a wide variety of shapes and colors – the tiles fit well into the style of any garden and make it possible to realize any design idea.
An important role in the durability of the tile is played by the base layer and the correct slope of the tile.
The disadvantages of paving slabs usually include the following:
- in winter, the tiles become covered with ice and turn into a dangerous skating rink;
- poor installation leads to the appearance of holes and dips and sagging of the tiles in certain areas.
Methods for making tiles
Currently, paving slabs are made in 2 ways:
- vibration casting;
- vibrocompression.
colored tiles
Vibratory casting produces beautiful and fairly durable tiles, which, however, do not withstand significant weight loads. In other words, it is more suitable for paving paths on the site, small areas and decorative finishing. Paving stones can be of different shapes, have different patterns and differ in surface color: most often it is blue, red, green, pink, etc.
Vibration pressing is used to create durable tiles that can withstand the weight of a car, loaded wheelbarrows and carts, gazebos, etc. Such paving stones are produced in a factory using a vibropress; for this reason, they are resistant to mechanical damage and have increased reliability. Pressed tiles are given the simplest shapes – circle, square, rhombus, however, their cost is relatively low. The standard color of this tile is dirty gray.
Choosing a tile shape
Shapes for paving slabs come in a variety of shapes – from simple quadrangles to polygons of complex configurations. The main rule for selecting the shape of a tile is: the easiest way to lay tiles is in the form of a cube or parallelepiped. Each piece of tile must be identical to the rest, for this reason the best choice for those who are paving an area with tiles is vibration-pressed tiles. Parts cast in a factory according to a template are usually the same in size, for this reason they do not need to be additionally “adjusted” in width and height.
Even a non-professional can handle laying rectangular tiles
Hand-made paving stones usually amaze with their variety of shapes and colors. However, elements with irregular shapes and patterned edges are more difficult to lay and adjust to one another. If you plan to first pave a small area (literally 5-10 sq. m.), then in this case use figured tiles. For large areas and parking spaces, it is better to choose simple and durable paving stones.
Parameters of paving slabs
The quality of paving slabs can be judged by several indirect criteria, which should be clarified with the seller or identified during inspection of the tiles. Here are the main ones:
- frost resistance – previously, serious requirements related to frost resistance were imposed on paving slabs manufactured in accordance with GOST. It had to withstand at least 200 freeze/thaw cycles. Such parameters were provided by Portland cement M500D0 or its analogues. For this reason, check with the seller what brand of cement is used in the manufacture of tiles, and how many freezing/thawing cycles it is designed for;
- the weight load that a tile can withstand depends on its thickness. For garden paths, paving stones 4-5 cm thick are sufficient. And tiles 7-9 cm thick will withstand vehicle traffic. The most durable tiles are considered to be those with a thickness of over 10 cm – they are designed for heavy truck traffic;
- tile color. If the tiles are too bright and painted in unusual colors, this is a reason to think about it. During its production, too much dye was probably added to the composition. Over time, this will cause the tiles to crack and lose strength;
- drying quality. During production, the tiles must be thoroughly dried. If moisture remains inside, the tile will begin to deteriorate from the inside, and frost will finally “finish off” it. You can determine the degree of drying by knocking 2 tiles against each other. If the sound is clear and loud, it means the tiles are well dried. A dull and quiet sound indicates that the parts were not dried well and moisture remained inside;
- tile composition. Sometimes cheap clay sand is added to the cement mixture. Such tiles cannot withstand severe frosts and crack very quickly. To detect traces of clay, twirl the tile in your hands – yellow spots will be visible on it. Persuade the seller to break one piece of tile of your choice (pay for it if necessary). High-quality tiles should not contain pores and voids, cracks and chips.
Poor quality tiles may crack during installation
Recommendations for laying paving slabs
Paving slabs can be laid in several ways:
- “herringbone”;
- in the shape of a circle;
- in a checkerboard pattern;
- in the form of a random pattern.
For installation you will need:
- cement;
- sand;
- strong twine and pegs;
- curbs, or sidewalk sides;
- mallet or hammer with a rubber base;
- level;
- shovel;
- tamping;
- level;
- broom and buckets;
- wheelbarrow;
- trowel;
- grinder with a disc for cutting concrete;
- a pair of steel pipes.
When laying irregularly shaped paving stones, pay special attention to filling voids
The step by step guide is as follows:
- Determine the zero mark. The tiles should be laid on a slope so that after heavy rain, water flows into a ditch or onto the street. Accordingly, the level of the ditch or street will be considered the starting point.
- Fix the installation height. Determine the “horizon” of the zero mark and install a metal clamp near it. Place another column in the installation location. Stretch a string between them and check the slope using a level, placing it on the underside of the thread.
- Installing the remaining pegs. Tie another string to the peg installed at the “zero” level and stretch it perpendicular to the first. Wrap the free end around the third peg, which should be installed slightly higher than the first. The distance between the pegs should correspond to the width of the masonry. From the third peg, extend the string upward and install the fourth peg. The resulting fence should be rectangular with a slight slope.
- Zone division. The entire area to be paved should be divided into small sections using a straightedge. The width of these sections should be selected based on the maximum length of the straightedge, leaving a small margin for laying sand. Measure the required distance from the zero line and drive in the peg. Then measure the same distance from the highest point and also secure it with a peg. This divides the entire area into strips marked with string, each 10-20 cm narrower than the straightedge. Level the area. Level the soil where the tiles will be laid to a uniform level. Add the required amount of soil where needed, or remove excess soil. Use a tamper to level the area.
- Prepare a sand-cement mixture. Pour a mound of sand and gradually add cement. Maintain the ratio of six parts wet sand to one part cement. Spread the mixture evenly over the area and compact it.
- Lay the steel pipes. Lay the steel pipes under the strings marking the area’s boundaries. Leave a small gap of approximately 1 cm between them and the string. Then, run a straight edge over the surface of the pipes. This will determine how much cement and sand still need to be added.
- Lay the tiles carefully. Begin laying the tiles, adjusting them to the markings and tapping them with a mallet until they are level. Lay them from the highest point down to the ground. Fill the gaps with a sand-cement mixture. This technique for filling the spaces between tiles is called sweeping. Mix sand and cement in a 6:1 ratio and sweep it over the surface of the masonry using a broom.
- Finishing the job. Trim the edges of the tiles with a grinder if necessary, and align the masonry to the correct length, width, and height. Install a border along the edges and sweep away any remaining sand-cement mixture from the surface.
- Therefore, when choosing paving slabs, consider your needs and the area you need to pave. The most important thing is that the slabs are made of durable cement and fit perfectly with the overall style of your property. Currently, you can purchase paving slabs in Tula
- from the Zvezdny concrete-pressed product manufacturer.
What to look for when choosing paving slabs What to look for when choosing paving slabs
what to look for when choosing paving slabs
