How to choose paving slabs - how to determine the quality. Useful tips. Mortar for paving slabs: proportions with a plasticizer What strength should paving slabs have

The quality of manufactured paving slabs depends on the composition of concrete and production technology. There are several types of concrete mixtures that are used for the production of paving slabs. It is necessary to highlight the scale of production and the place of its application. They can be industrial, or they can be small, that is, in the production of tiles at home.

Technological scheme for the production of paving slabs.

The essence of production is as follows. In special forms, which can have a different configuration, the concrete mixture is poured, rammed, held for a certain time, after which the hardened concrete is removed from the forms. After curing for 2 weeks, the manufacturing process is considered complete. In reality, there are some subtleties and dependencies in the production of paving slabs.

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The composition of concrete and its properties

To obtain paving slabs with good strength characteristics, concrete is used, which contains the following proportions of components:

1st option. In this case, Portland 500 cement and sand with a low clay content are used to produce concrete. The proportion of cement and sand is 1:3;!
2nd option. For the preparation of concrete, Portland cement grade 500, sand and screenings of crushed granite are used. The screening fraction is taken 5-10 mm. The proportion of cement, sand and screenings is 1:2:2 or 1:3:1.

In the first and second options for preparing the concrete mixture, it is recommended to use a plasticizer and a waterproofing additive. Also, the solution for preparing tiles is often reinforced with polypropylene fibers to improve strength characteristics. It is advisable to use fibers as a reinforcing material in concrete, which consists only of cement and sand. Concrete obtained with the use of granite screenings is strong enough, and its reinforcement with organic fibers can be omitted.

When obtaining concrete in the form of a conventional cement mortar from sand and cement, it is important to observe the ratio of sand and cement. Quite often, the sand content in the solution is reduced to 2 parts, which ultimately leads to cracking of paving slabs. This happens due to the fact that as a result of the crystallization of the concrete mixture, strong stress states arise in the structure of pure cement in the solution, and since the sand part is not enough, these stresses are not compensated by sand particles, which leads to the formation of bond breaks, i.e. cracks. On the contrary, an increase in the amount of sand (more than 3 parts) can lead to a decrease in the hardness of the finished tile and its gradual destruction.

Adding granite screenings to concrete significantly reduces the likelihood of cracking and increases the strength of products.

In small-piece production of tiles at home, in some cases, reinforcement is carried out. To do this, cut into pieces a wire with a diameter of 1-3 mm and impose it in the middle of the poured form. First, half the mold is filled with concrete, then the wire is laid and the rest of the mold is filled with concrete. The length of the pieces of wire is usually taken slightly less than the length of the diagonal of the product. Reinforcing tiles in this way is relevant if its surface will experience great pressure in the future, for example, a heavy car will drive into the courtyard of the house and so on.

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The process of obtaining finished products

It is best to mix the concrete solution in a concrete mixer: this speeds up the mixing process and improves its quality. Mixing sequence: sand, screenings, cement, water. The plasticizer and waterproofing additive must be mixed in water in advance. To give color to the product, pigment is added. It is important to obtain the required consistency of the concrete mix. The solution must be plastic, but at the same time it is not allowed to spread.

Scheme for determining the mobility of concrete.

One of the important stages in the production of tiles is laying the mixture into molds. The form must be slightly lubricated with a special emulsion or ordinary vegetable oil before filling with a solution. Further, for the correct tamping of the solution in the form, vibrating tables are used. These devices, due to the resulting vibration, allow the concrete to be compacted in the form, as well as get rid of air bubbles in it. At home, the use of a vibrating table is not always possible, therefore, the manual tamping method is used. During the filling of the form with concrete, the contents are compacted with a wooden mallet. After completion, the surface is smoothed. As a rule, when laying the mixture in the form, it is desirable to slightly shake the latter, this will contribute to a denser shrinkage of the solution.

The concrete is left in the molds for two days. Then the finished tile is removed. If the surface of the mold was pre-lubricated with emulsion or oil, then it is possible to easily remove the tile. Sometimes you can simplify this process somewhat by placing the mold under hot water. The water temperature must not exceed 60°C. The process of complete drying and hardening of concrete in the finished tile takes about 2 weeks. In this case, the products should be placed in a shady place, avoiding a temperature drop below 0 ° C or excessive overheating of the room. In hot weather, it is advisable to moisten the tiles with a small amount of water.

In the production process of paving slabs, the quality of cement and its proportions in the finished solution are of key importance. During operation, figured paving elements can be subject to significant loads, so the brand of cement used should not be less than 500. Cement should be used within its shelf life. It is highly recommended not to deviate from the proposed ones. For mixing, it is preferable to use a concrete mixer or make a cement mixture with a drill and a mixing nozzle, since mixing by hand in a trough may not satisfy the results of obtaining a homogeneous concrete mass.

An approximate list of necessary tools for the manufacture of paving slabs at home:

buckets with a known capacity;
Master OK;
level (to check the plane for the installation of forms);
concrete mixer or drill with a mixing nozzle;
molds for filling the required configuration;
mallet or rubber mallet.

Observing the production technology of paving paving elements, it is possible to obtain a quality product at home, the cost of which will be significantly lower than that of finished products.

Paving slabs today are a very popular way of paving surfaces for a wide variety of purposes. It is laid everywhere - when arranging metro stops and squares, entrances in front of offices and shops, areas for the movement of people at sports facilities and business centers, paths in garden plots and sidewalks. Examples of paving with paving slabs are simply inexhaustible.

How to determine the quality of paving slabs

Without special equipment, it is quite difficult to determine the degree of quality of paving slabs. But still, experts give several recommendations to minimize the risk of buying substandard products:

A glossy, mirror-like surface of a tile is not necessarily a sign of its high quality. To achieve this result, manufacturers can go in two ways: either add special additives to the concrete mixture, or an excessive amount of water. The latter has a very negative effect on the quality of the tile, making the product very fragile. Checking compliance with the production technology is quite simple - you need to lightly tap the tiles against each other. A sonorous sound indicates the quality of the product, a deaf sound indicates a violation of its manufacturing technology.
The bright, rich color of the material is also achieved in different ways - either through the use of expensive pigments, or an overdose of dye, resulting in a decrease in the strength of the tile.
On the breaks of the tile, you can check the uniformity of its structure - there should not be any cracks, pores or voids inside.
The production technology of high-quality paving slabs involves the use of sand without clay inclusions. Non-strict observance of this rule leads to a decrease in the quality and durability of products. The presence of clay in the composition of the tile can be signaled by yellow spots or stains on the back of the product.
Don't forget about product certification. Any paving slabs must be produced in accordance with GOST 17608-91, the manufacture of material according to specifications does not guarantee its quality and durability.
Well, about the price. The price of paving slabs from a manufacturing company cannot be lower than the investment costs of acquiring high-quality components for its manufacture. Therefore, the low cost of the product should, at least, alert the prudent consumer.

As you can see, everything is not so complicated, the quality of your coating depends only on your care and adherence to the technique of laying paving slabs. But more about that another time.

Why is this cover so popular?

Advantages of paving slabs

It has a large number of undeniable advantages over other decorative coatings:

the variety of types, shapes and colors of paving slabs is very large, and this makes it possible to give any piece of land its own, unique look and fit it into any designer interior and landscape;
high-quality tiles are characterized by high strength, wear and frost resistance, which has the most positive effect on the durability of the coating;
the area paved with tiles is very easy to repair - a rejected element can be replaced at any time with a quality one without any effort and violations of the quality of the coating;
if it is necessary to lay communications on a given piece of land, paving slabs can be easily dismantled and laid again upon completion of work;
paving slabs do not contribute to moisture stagnation and ensure the complete absence of puddles after rain;
the coating can be completed with additional decorative elements, allowing to give a special completeness to the equipped area. Such elements include curbstones and gutters;
does not require special knowledge or skills in building craftsmanship - even a beginner can handle it.

As for the shortcomings of paving slabs, no serious shortcomings have been identified in it. Another issue is when the tile was laid illiterately, in violation of the paving technology, in which case the coating becomes unsafe, you can stumble on the protruding edges of the tile, slip on staggering elements.

Technologies for the production of paving slabs and their features

Most consumers are wondering what technology - vibrocasting or vibrocompression - is used to produce better quality paving slabs. In fact, these two technologies cannot compete with each other, since each of them is designed for different places of operation.

So, to cover areas of large volumes, as well as in places where heavy vehicles can pass, vibrocompressed paving slabs are more suitable. Products made using vibrocompression technology have higher strength characteristics, and automation of the entire manufacturing process makes it possible to set up the production of tiles on a huge scale.

Those who want to stand out from the monotony of the city equip their territory with paving slabs made using vibrocasting technology. Cast tiles have an exclusive appearance, rich color shades and original texture, and are produced in limited quantities. Due to the fact that the vibrocasting technology is less automated, this affects not only the volume of products, but also its geometry and, of course, the price. Cast tiles are mainly used for laying out pedestrian areas or places for people to relax.

The solution for the proportions of which will be presented in the article can be prepared independently. The need for this kind may arise after you complete the construction of the house and start arranging the surrounding area. You can make it without using expensive equipment, in addition, you will not have to attract additional labor, and not so much of your own labor will be spent.

Preparatory work before mixing the mixture

In order to prepare a mortar for paving slabs, the proportions of which will be described in the article, you need to do some preparatory work, which is to take care of the availability of the entire set of tools and materials. Thus, a concrete mixer is useful, but if necessary, it can be replaced with a container and a shovel. Among other things, it will be useful:

modifier;
cement;
water;
sand;
gravel;
plasticizer;
coloring pigment of the desired color.

In order to achieve a positive result, it will be necessary to follow the recommendations. It must be remembered that the quality of the mixed concrete largely depends on the correctly selected components, in addition, there is a need to accurately observe the proportions. For this reason, it is necessary to buy Portland cement of the M500 brand, in which there should be no extraneous additives. There are also requirements for crushed stone, expressed in fractionation within 5-10 mm. In addition, crushed stone must be washed. As for the sand, it should be coarse-grained river sand. In order for the tile to have color, it is necessary to prepare a high-quality pigment dye. A plasticizer will also be needed. But mixing should be done using exclusively clean water.

The composition of the concrete mixture

The mortar for paving slabs, the proportions for which the master must know before mixing, must correspond to the qualities of frost resistance. You should not replace M500 Portland cement with M400, since the first of them belongs to the group of cements that are characterized by significant strength and early setting when compared with M400 concrete. may contain mineral additives, the volume of which does not exceed 20% of the total amount, but sometimes such an amount is not contained in cement. Thus, PC II / A-Sh 500 has mineral fillers, but PC I-500 has a pure composition, and products made from it are able to withstand a load that reaches 500 kg / cm 2.

A mortar for paving slabs, for which it is important to keep the proportions, must be prepared using crushed stone with abrasion resistance in the minimum range equal to M800, this implies a high or normal level of strength. It is important to pay attention to the frost resistance index, which should be in the range of F300-400, while this material will correspond in terms of characteristics to crushed granite. The sand should not contain more than 3% impurities.

Additional components

The use of plasticizers, as well as superplasticizers, makes it possible to manufacture products that, after pouring into molds, do not need to be subjected to vibration. If you reduce the volume of water in the composition, then you can get a solution that will differ in the qualities of self-sealing, in addition, it will be characterized by high strength. In order to obtain a product of the desired shade, it should be used that perfectly resist the effects of ultraviolet radiation, water and high temperatures. Strengthen concrete can be reinforcing which can replace metal reinforcement.

The proportions of the mixture for the preparation of paving slabs

A mortar for paving slabs, the proportions with a plasticizer for which are presented on the packaging of the last ingredient, can be used during work. So, for mixing, you can apply the following proportion: 1: 2: 2 (the first component is water, the second is cement, the third is crushed stone). Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare the required amount of cement. So, if you take 50 kg of a mixture without additives, then 15-20 liters of water will be needed for it, which is approximately two buckets. The liquid must be poured into the concrete mixer. The plasticizer should be dissolved in a small amount of water, the temperature of which should not exceed 50 °C. After the mixture is to be added to the concrete mixer and mix well.

Paving slabs, the composition of the solution, the proportions for the preparation of which are mentioned above, are made quite simply. At the next stage, it is necessary to fill in the pigments, which should be used at the rate prescribed by the manufacturer. Now crushed stone comes into play, it must be used for the above-mentioned volume of the components of the solution in the amount of three buckets per 12 liters. Crushed stone should be poured into the mixer. Now you can add a bag of cement, the volume of which is 50 kg. It is necessary to add in buckets, mixing thoroughly after each. Then you can add another bucket of rubble and knead. After that, four buckets of sand can be added to the mixer and mixed. In conclusion, one more bucket of crushed stone is to be added, the mass is mixed well and poured into molds.

The mortar for laying paving slabs, the proportions of which make it possible to obtain durable products, must be mixed according to the recommendations presented here. In order to prepare a plasticizer solution, it is necessary to use the composition in dry form in a volume equal to 0.7% by weight of cement. Water for dissolution should be warm. After the plasticizer, a pigment dye can be added to the composition, it should be used in a volume equal to 2-5% of the total mass of cement.

Changing the proportion to increase the strength of concrete

If you wondered what proportion of mortar for paving slabs is needed, then you will certainly be interested in the fact that glass alkali-resistant or polypropylene fibers can be added to the composition, which are necessary to increase the durability of the product, in addition, if you add such ingredients, then the tile will have the qualities of impact resistance and wear resistance, which is very important. It is necessary to choose fibers whose length varies from 10 to 20 mm, while the diameter should be 10-40 microns. They must be used in an amount of 0.8-1 kg per cube of concrete mix. If such reinforcement is applied, then it is possible to achieve an increase in the strength qualities of the finished product.

Finally

If the proportions of the solution for were chosen correctly, then after preparation the solution will be held by a slide on the working surface of the trowel, however, if it is easily shaken, the mixture will immediately blur. In the absence of a concrete mixer, the desired effect may not be achieved, in addition, it will take much more time to mix the composition, but it is advisable to use this approach in individual construction.

Tiles are a modern building material. At the same time, laying paving slabs is used with great success when covering streets, paths and approaches to buildings. Generally speaking, the materials used to manufacture such products may be different. The most common material is concrete, but natural stone and special fired clay are also very popular.

Physical characteristics of paving slabs

The main quality parameters that you first need to pay attention to when choosing, buying and laying paving slabs are:

The strength of the material of the product. This parameter characterizes how durable the tile is, and how well the product will withstand loads and not break. Strength should be at least 30-40 MPa.
Material water absorption. For modern products, this parameter should be minimal. After all, the less moisture a product can absorb, the better for its performance. And excess water in paving slabs can freeze and significantly damage the internal structure. The water absorption index should not exceed 6%.
Abrasion. This property directly depends on the method of manufacture. Often, in order to reduce the price of products, the manufacturer adds dye only to the top layer of the product. Such material will quickly lose its original appearance. At the same time, a coating made from a material of the same color will retain its color during its entire service life. The abrasion resistance should be about 0.7 g/cm2.
Frost resistance brand. This parameter is one of the most important indicators that you should pay attention to when buying and laying paving slabs. Products of good quality should be designed for a period of about 250-300 cycles (1 cycle - freezing and subsequent thawing). Usually there are about 5 such cycles during the winter. And based on this, the full life of the tiles, professionally and efficiently laid by the specialists of the company "BiK", is 50-60 years.
Product surface characteristic(glossy or matte). Laying paving slabs with a glossy surface looks more beautiful, but the gloss indicates a large amount of water in the product, which is a negative factor for the overall service life.

Tile application

When decorating park paths, alleys, playgrounds, city squares or bus stops with tiles, these places immediately acquire attractiveness and reliable protection. It is much more pleasant to walk along a multi-colored path that imitates pavements than along black faceless asphalt. Neat sidewalks and areas with tile patterns have firmly entered our lives and have become the hallmark of respectable areas and recreation areas. The company "BiK" produces the highest quality paving tiles of varying complexity.

Getting ready to move.
From May 9, the liquidation of the warehouse of paving slabs!
Honest discounts up to 50% on all tiles in stock.
Specify availability and prices by phone 987-76-41

Consider the main questions that you need to know the answer to before buying paving slabs:

Which is better: vibrocasting or vibropress?
There are those who confidently declare that one or another type of paving slabs is better. This is fundamentally wrong. Each type has its pros and cons. We produce both types of paving slabs. We conducted comprehensive tests of our tiles and samples of competitors for compliance with GOST. According to the main parameters, such as compressive strength, fracture strength, abrasion, frost resistance and light resistance (that is, the ability to maintain bright colors), it did not reveal the advantages of vibrocasting or vibropress. Another thing is that tiles from different manufacturers showed a very large variation in all indicators. Vibropressed paving slabs are made automatically and are much less demanding on the quality of the components. Due to this, it is slightly cheaper than vibrocast paving slabs. The disadvantages include a small number of shapes and colors. High-quality vibrocast paving slabs require the use of only expensive components, such as washed graded sand, crushed stone of fraction 5-20, without additives of Portland cement grade not lower than 500 and high-quality additives. This makes it more expensive to manufacture, but the appearance and surface quality compare favorably with the brick making machine. BUT, ignorance of technology and savings on raw materials will inevitably lead to its rapid destruction.
Buying tiles from us, regardless of the type of production, you can be sure that it complies with GOST in all respects and will serve you for a long time.
Why is there such a variation in prices on the market and why should we not chase cheapness?
The price of paving slabs consists of the main components: the cost of raw materials, the salary of workers and the profit of the manufacturer.
The manufacturer's profit in this segment is low and amounts to 10-15%, regardless of other parameters.
The salary of workers depends on their qualifications and the level of production automation. Many firms make their paving slabs cheaper by optimizing the workflow and using professional equipment. Others go through the use of low-skilled labor. Which option is preferable, no need to explain.
The cost of raw materials directly depends on its quality. Unfortunately, unscrupulous manufacturers often save just on raw materials. From experience I can say that savings can reach 3000-3500 thousand rubles per cubic meter of concrete, which is 200 rubles per sq.m of production. And the buyer learns about it only after the winter, looking with horror at his "beautiful paths." So try to demand, in addition to documents for products, certificates for raw materials. Cement from the nearest store and sand from a “familiar dump truck”, unfortunately, have a very sad effect on product quality.
Here, as nowhere else, the saying "the miser pays twice" is true.
What thickness of paving slabs is needed?
Construction GOSTs also regulate this issue. When laying on a sand and gravel cushion (the most optimal and common type of laying), it is quite enough
- for footpaths 30-60mm
- for car parking 60mm
- for places with constant passage of freight transport (gas stations, car depots, etc.) 80mm
High-quality paving slabs have a compressive strength of 400 kg / sq. cm with a thickness of 60 mm, and this is a load of 80-200 tons per tile. In the entire history of our work, there has never been a single case where a 60mm thick tile has broken, for example, when hit by a car (even a truck).
There is no point in overpaying when buying 80mm thick tiles for a suburban area. But you should not put 30mm tiles under the car.
What is the total cost of pavement?
The tile itself - for 2012 it is 450-700 r / m 2
Delivery - individually, somewhere around 100-150 r / m 2 (when delivered by a manipulator)
Laying - 600-800 r / m 2
Borders - individually, let another 100 r / m 2
Materials for laying (crushed stone, sand, geotextile) - 200-350 r / m 2
Total at average prices 1825 r / m 2
Cheap pleasure. Now think again: do you still want to save 100 rubles on paving slabs and 100 rubles on laying with the prospect of re-laying in a year?
What color to choose?
Subject to the use of high-quality dyes (pigments) for concrete and full-volume painting, you can choose any color. The only exception is green and blue. Their light fastness is lower. We offer you coloring tiles in red, black, brown (several tones), beige. Also, customers really like the coloring under the stone, when incomplete mixing of concretes of 2 different colors is used. This does not affect the quality of paving slabs. Often the question arises why the colors are not bright? To obtain a bright color, either white cement or a high pigment content (more than 5%) must be used. White cement gives efflorescence and reduces frost resistance (the main parameter in our strip). Increasing the amount of pigment has an extremely negative effect on strength and greatly increases the cost. Brighter and more saturated colors can be easily obtained by coating the tiles with concrete impregnation.
What is the service life of paving slabs?
The service life directly depends on 2 indicators - compressive strength and frost resistance. For our strip, with a compressive strength of 300 kg / sq. cm and frost resistance of 150 cycles, the service life of paving slabs is from 10 years (regardless of the type of production). Our tiles have the following options
Vibropress strength - 350kg / sq.cm, frost resistance 180 cycles
Vibrocasting strength - 400kg / sq.cm, frost resistance 220 cycles
According to construction calculations, the service life of our tiles is 20-25 years.
Do not believe when you are promised a strength of 600 kg / sq. cm and a frost resistance of 300 cycles. It is impossible to achieve such parameters in production conditions with adequate financial costs. Demand test reports from accredited construction laboratories!
Can you install paving slabs yourself?
Can. Moreover, there are no special secrets here. The laying process is described in detail on our website in the laying section and on other building resources. The only thing you need is a vibrating plate. Without it, it will be difficult to seal the pillow with high quality.