Among the owners of country houses and summer residents, paving slabs are especially popular. Paving slabs are used in paving not only access roads, but also in paving garden paths, car parking areas.
The main advantage of such a coating is its resistance to temperature extremes, precipitation, withstands high mechanical loads. Quick installation and dismantling of tiles is also a big advantage. This is especially evident in the possibility of quick repair of communications lying under the bed paving slabs. Many configurations and the ability to choose the thickness, color, shape of the tile.
Laying of paving slabs is carried out with the involvement of specialists or on their own. The difference between the methods of laying tiles depends on the financial costs and laying time. For people who know how to do something with their own hands, there is an affordable and relatively simple way to lay paving slabs. This method will help you save money.
You need to start with the right choice of paving slabs.
First of all, determine for yourself the shape, thickness, color of the future coating.
It is important to remember that cheap material is not of high quality!
A small cost indicates the use of inexpensive components in the production of obviously worse quality than required. Failure to comply with the necessary norms and rules of production also takes place.
The smooth surface of paving slabs does not indicate its high quality, on the contrary, some technologists provide for a rough surface of the tile. Special components can be added to the mixture for manufacturing to give the desired appearance and achieve the necessary characteristics, both external and internal.
The easiest way to determine the quality of a tile is to hit two tiles against each other. When a clear ringing sound is achieved, a sufficiently high quality of the material can be stated. This suggests that the strength of this material is at a good level, the production was carried out in compliance with the technology and the use of high-quality components.
The tile must have a sufficiently uniform and saturated color. This effect can be achieved using expensive quality pigments.
The advantage can be given to tiles in which there is a cement component, and there are no clay inclusions. Clay inclusions are easy to detect by visible stains on the back of the tile.
If a tile is split, it should look uniform on the inside. There should be no voids in the cavity. Uniform painting over the entire surface. But at the same time, a high content of the dye harms the material and weakens its strength, especially the top layer.
After choosing the material, you need to prepare the right tool.
You will need:
- Rubber mallet
- Rammer
- Building level
- Construction lace
- Wooden stakes
In addition, you will need a hose for watering with a diffuser, a rake, a metal channel.
Further building materials:
- paving slabs
- Cement grade 500
- Sand
Next is the order of laying the tiles.
We determine the place of future installation. Directions of water flow. Hammer the stakes along the edges of the laying area and mark the laying level. We level the surface, using a rake, adding or removing soil. Further, it is recommended to thoroughly pour the soil with water and compact it with a rammer.
We pour a layer of sand about 7 centimeters thick. We pull the cord on the previously clogged stakes according to the level. We add sand according to the level and carefully fill the surface with water. Let it dry and level the surface. In the warm season, about 3 hours is enough, in the cold, at least one day. We prepare a mixture of cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 8.
The prepared mixture is scattered over the surface of the site with a thickness of up to 4 centimeters. We level all this with a rake and perform a screed using a channel. To ensure the evenness of the surface, you need to use beacons, installing them along the edges of the track we are working on. The first row of tiles is laid out along the cord, laying from oneself. Lay the tiles diagonally, try to lay them as close to each other as possible.
In case of uneven surfaces during laying, you need to put a small amount of sand under the tile with a trowel. In this case, it is necessary to tamp such places with a rammer. You can try to level the protruding places with a rubber mallet, going from the center to the edges. After completion of laying, it is necessary to fill the seams with a mixture of sand and cement. Remains are removed with a brush. In the process of work, do all the work carefully and slowly, to obtain the best quality of styling.
After laying the tiles, fill the seams with a mixture of cement and sand, sweep away the remnants with a broom or brush.
When doing work, take your time, carefully laying and tamping down each tile.