Technology of laying paving slabs. Methods for laying paving slabs on different grounds Preparing a site for paving stones

Similar to the foundation of a building, the foundation under paving slabs serves as the basis, the reliability of which determines many things - durability, stability, integrity of the structural part held on itself. In this case, we are talking about pavement.

The unevenness of the tile laying creates a lot of inconvenience, not counting the spoiled appearance. Notches, dips, bumps and other errors are a vivid example of the fact that the base was made of poor quality, in violation of the technological process. Therefore, the installation of a base for paving slabs requires care, knowledge of the basics of the whole process and the intention to do the job carefully. Most owners do not even try to make the base for paving slabs with their own hands, rushing to immediately invite a team of finishers. Although it is not difficult to do it yourself if you know how.

What is this article about

Preparing pillow materials

Paths or platforms on the adjoining or backyard territory are then created to provide an opportunity to move comfortably along a stable, grassy and dirt-free surface. Properly organized preparation of the base for laying paving slabs is the secret that ensures the creation of an even and durable coating. Before you start making a base for paving stones, you should clearly decide on the option building material. It is he who will serve as the so-called pillow for the future laying of the pedestrian pavement. What are usually attracted components such as:

cement and sand;
screenings;
pebbles, gravel;
rubble, slag.

Rationale for the choice of gravel-sand-cement base

The concrete base for paving slabs is nothing more than soil uniformly filled with cement composition, the top of which is covered with tile material. Pillow concreting is used in situations where it is necessary to provide the coating with increased stress resistance against heavy loads from machinery and transport. On a concrete pad, it is much easier to level the elements. The solution, when solidified, does not shrink, and also levels out all soil errors, such as subsidence, dips due to weak tamping.

This type of base is rarely used due to the problematic creation of moisture removal devices. The concrete layer does not allow water to move deep into the soil, which cannot be said about the gravel-sand cushion. As a result, moisture collects in the spaces between the layers, in the pores and crevices. When severe frost sets in, the water expands and can deform the coating, forming splits and cracks on it. In this connection, for this kind of footpaths, some devices for drainage are being created - storm drains, moisture collectors, etc. Gravel-sand and cement layers do not need such methods of removing moisture. And this is despite the fact that technologically they are much easier and less costly to implement. What explains the feasibility of arranging exactly this option pillows.

Sidewalk platform installation

The very first thing that involves the preparation of the base for paving slabs is the preparation of the site for subsequent work. The soil is the base on which the entire set of coating layers will be organized. It is this base that seems to be the most dangerous place, providing a lot of difficulties. Often, the deformation of the laying of paving slabs occurs due to subsidence of the soil. For this reason, measures to increase strength characteristics earthen surface.

Why remove all the garbage, mow all the green shoots. Then the target area is rammed with periodic watering. The soil surface should be compacted and leveled. It is these qualities of the soil that will be responsible for the stability of the foundation. To give it evenness, the soil is analyzed for the presence of tuberosity and depressions. The former are cut with a shovel, the latter are filled with rubble, slag or soil.

Further, preparation for laying paving slabs involves the application of markings on the working site and the installation of guide beacons, referred to as "red marks". These marks are strings of twine tied between stakes driven into the ground. Having chosen the appropriate level of pavement height, the thread is attached according to this future level of pavement elevation. When planning the installation of water inlets, take into account the angle of inclination of several degrees. The red marks contribute to the most even laying out of the plates.

At the same time, reinforcing borders are placed on the sides of the site. It is not forbidden to do this even after the arrangement of the foundation layer, which will require the construction and installation of formwork devices that protect against soil shedding.

The optimal curb height is 50 cm. In this case, the set of steps is as follows.

Tear off a trench 30 cm deep;
A layer of rubble is laid on the bottom (about 10 cm);
A layer of cement is laid on top of it - a thickness of 2 cm;
Curb plates are mounted in the recess. For high-quality drainage, the curb is placed so that with its edge it does not reach the level of the paving stone surface.

Arrangement of the base layer

An adjustable cushion for paving slabs can take on a different internal structure. In this case, the options for the materials used and the number of layers are different. However, the formation of two base layers is mandatory. These are the fundamental and surface layers.

The first layer under the tile is made to give evenness to the surface, to eliminate its curvature. It is appropriate to choose two opposite types of materials - gravel or concrete. Concrete pouring is more suitable for areas where the absorption of loads is increased (for roads, for example). Gravel dressing is often used for sidewalks. In some cases, a combination of two materials is chosen.

When choosing gravel, it is important to consider that the embankment from it requires careful compaction. The height of the layer can be from 15 cm and above. This value is quite significant, and therefore the procedure for compacting the material is quite laborious. In this connection, it is recommended to lay the gravel pad in thin layers in several passes, successively ramming each layer.

It is very effective to involve a special road-building mechanism - a vibrating plate, which is designed to impart density to bulk materials. In the absence of such a specialized device, you can use a manual rammer, which is much worse than the first option.

The surface layer of the base for paving slabs is created from sand or cement-sand carving. Sand can be selected if the foundation layer has been completed to the highest quality possible with heavy compaction of gravel. For other situations, a carving composition is prepared. Why combine cement grade M 400 and purified sand in a ratio of 1 to 5, using a concrete mixer.

The layer of carving acts as a corrective pad for paving slabs, its thickness can be 5-10 cm.

When choosing concrete as a fundamental basis, some explanations of a recommendatory nature should be taken into account.

When the cemented curb slabs harden, the next day they start filling with concrete mix. If a platform is created to move large-sized equipment along it, then the concrete base is supplemented with reinforcement with a cell size of about 20 cm. When creating sidewalks for pedestrians, such a measure is not provided.

Drainage holes are made to provide access to soil moisture. Why use pipe segments (20 cm each - the length of each), while their length should be comparable to the height of the concrete thickness.

Such pieces are installed with distribution over the entire area (one piece of pipe per square meter). After that, a typical concrete mortar is mixed from cement M 150–200. The concrete is poured into a thickness of 15 cm. With reinforcement, the concrete layer should be at least 20 cm. When the concrete sets, the drainage holes are covered with rubble.

Knowing the main points of how to prepare the base for paving slabs, your choice must be made reasonably both in relation to the purchased materials and in relation to the planned work technology.

There are three types of bases for the subsequent laying of paving:

sandy, for fixing the coating on a compacted pillow without additional materials;
sand-cement, obtained by preparing a mixture of dry sand and cement for the purpose of its further laying as a top layer;
concrete, for laying tiles on adhesive mortars on a prepared hard surface.

Base options: sand, sand-cement and concrete.

It does not rot, does not decompose over time, has good strength and provides reliable protection from water. If you could not buy geotextiles, then the waterproofing layer can be laid from a polyethylene film folded in half.

The waterproofing layer should have a slight slope for more efficient moisture removal. This should be foreseen at the stage of installing a drainage cushion.

Three types of bases

As mentioned above, three types of bases for tiles are used for arranging paths and platforms. The choice depends on the thickness and type of tile. The sand base is used with a large thickness of the tile, which is also called paving stones.

The sand-cement base is prepared for paving slabs of medium thickness. In turn, the concrete base is well suited for thin paving slabs, which are glued to it using adhesive solutions.

sand cushion

After the backfilling of the drainage layer and the waterproofing device are completed, you can start backfilling the final sandy layer. The best material to use here is sifted river sand.

To ensure good stability of paving stones, the thickness of the bearing layer must be at least 7 cm. It should be borne in mind that when laying the tile will partially sink into the sand, and pour a layer that will ensure that the upper level of the path or platform is 2-3 cm above ground level.

Backfilling of sand should be done in three layers of 2-3 cm. Each prepared layer, after backfilling, is poured with water and rammed.

For high-quality tamping, it is better to use a construction vibrator, but if it is not available, this work should be done manually, more actively spilling sand with water.

The top layer of sand must be carefully leveled using a plaster rule. It will be possible to start laying paving stones only after obtaining a perfectly flat surface.

The scheme of the sand-cement base for laying.

The device of such a base for paving slabs is carried out in the same way as a sand cushion, but a dry sand-cement mixture must be used as the top layer. To prepare the mixture, take one part of cement and three parts of sand by volume. This layer is also rammed like the previous layers.

Laying this layer should be done in dry weather, immediately before laying the tiles. Most often, they fall asleep and ram the lower layers, and the third, sand-cement, fall asleep small areas immediately before laying paving slabs.

Concrete, as a base, is used for laying thin paving slabs on adhesive cement mortar. This preparatory work is carried out after you have been able to prepare a waterproofing layer, and consists of four stages:

formwork installation;
reinforcement;
installation of beacons;
pouring concrete.

pouring concrete on reinforced mesh, alignment.

The formwork device is necessary in order to prevent the spreading of concrete during pouring, if its upper level exceeds the ground level.

The installation of the formwork allows you to leave gaps for the subsequent installation of the curbstone and provides a smooth edge of the concrete layer.

As a formwork material use any flat material having at least one smooth side. These can be boards, chipboard, sheet plastic, etc. Sheets are fixed with the help of stakes hammered into the ground or by installing struts.

If you have wire, pieces of old pipes, rebar, steel strip, etc., then they can also be used for reinforcement.

best material for reinforcing concrete is a finished welded wire mesh with a diameter of 6 mm and a mesh size of 100x100 mm.

All metal parts will need to be tied together with knitting wire. The mesh is laid on the bottom of the trench. It will be even better if you raise it a little by placing stones or pieces of brick from below.

lighthouses

After installing the reinforcing materials, you need to set the beacons. These are longitudinal metal slats, the upper level of which will indicate to you at what height the base will be located under the laid paving slabs. As beacons, it is very convenient to use a galvanized steel profile for installing drywall.

Lighthouses are fixed in hills from cement masonry mortar at the required height, parallel to each other. Gypsum mortars cannot be used to fix beacons.

Pouring concrete

Before across the tracks and platforms it is necessary to install inserts from sheet material 3-4 mm thick. After the concrete has set, they are removed and technological seams remain in the monolith to compensate for possible thermal expansions.

Accurate pouring of concrete on a reinforced mesh.

Concrete for pouring the base for laying paving slabs can be ordered ready-made, with delivery to the place of work. It is advisable to do this if the amount of poured concrete exceeds 3 cubic meters. With a smaller amount, you can prepare concrete yourself. This will require the presence of cement, sand, gravel and a mixer-concrete mixer.

The ratio of the components directly depends on the brand of cement. If you purchased M400 cement, then for each volume part you need to add 4.2 parts of crushed stone and 2.5 parts of sand, and for M500 cement, 4.9 parts of crushed stone and 3.2 parts of sand are required. As a result, you get M200 concrete, the strength of which will fully ensure the durability of your path or site.

First, all components are loaded into the mixer in a dry form, mixed, and only then water is gradually added until the required density of the mixture is obtained. Pouring is done in such a way that there are no voids left in the concrete mass. Surface leveling is carried out with a plaster rule or a solid wooden lath, by pulling it along the installed beacons.

Finally

No matter what kind of base for paving slabs you make, you must strictly observe technological process when performing the work described above. The quality of laying paving slabs and the durability of the coating depend on the quality of the foundation of the track and the platform.

High-quality preparation of the surface for laying paving slabs with your own hands is quite possible, but this work requires the application of great physical strength and the precise implementation of instructions.

The base for paving slabs, like the foundation of a house, is the support on which stability and durability depend pavement. Paving slabs are successfully used for paving paths and playgrounds. It is found everywhere: both in urban areas (for example, near shops and shopping centers), and in suburban summer cottages. This material differs from analogues in its aesthetics, variety of shapes and sizes..

But uneven masonry and protruding or sunken tiles are unlikely to make the road beautiful and comfortable. The occurrence of pits, dips and other deformations is a consequence of a low-quality foundation, which was carried out in violation of technology and existing recommendations. The formation of the basis for paving slabs requires special attention, some knowledge and an elementary understanding of the process. Therefore, many owners are in a hurry to immediately call specialists, without even trying to cope with the matter with their own hands. By doing this, they only increase their costs, because the same work can be done independently. The main thing is to know how to do everything right.

The choice of material for the base

The point of creating a path or platform on a piece of land is to get a smooth, stable, devoid of dirt and grass cover. It should be comfortable to walk or ride on it. The whole secret of a durable coating without holes and potholes lies in a well-made base that lies under the tiled canvas. But, before laying the foundation for paving slabs, you should decide on the type of building material. A special “cushion” will be formed from it in the future for the subsequent laying of the road surface. For this purpose, materials and their combinations are often used, such as:

gravel, pebbles;
concrete, cement;
sand, screenings;
slag, rubble.

The concrete base is a piece of land evenly filled with a cement mixture, on which tiled elements are laid on top. This method is used when increased strength and resistance to the impact of massive objects, such as machinery and vehicles, which can exert strong pressure on the sidewalk plane, are required. On a concrete base, it is much easier to align the slabs to a single level. Hardening concrete does not shrink and hides all soil imperfections, including dips and subsidence due to insufficient compaction.

However, this type of foundation is used less frequently than others due to problems with moisture removal. A layer of concrete, in contrast to the sand-cement base, prevents the penetration of water through the paving into the ground. As a result, moisture accumulates in tile gaps, crevices and pores. In severe frost, expanding, it is able to split or deform the paved surface. Therefore, for this type of sidewalks, such methods of drainage as storm drains, moisture collectors, etc. should be provided. Gravel and sand-cement layers do not need such devices, and the process technology is much simpler and more affordable, which causes its comparative advantage.

Preparatory work

Preparation of the base for paving slabs begins with the arrangement of the site on which the work will be carried out. The entire structure of the coating will be based directly on the soil, which is the most vulnerable layer that creates the most problems. It is because of the subsidence of the soil that the deformation of the surface of the tiled masonry often occurs, therefore, first of all, it is necessary to improve the strength and stability of the land cover. To do this, you need to mow all the vegetation, remove debris, and then tamp the selected piece of land, periodically flooding it with water. The soil should become even and dense: this will provide the necessary stability. It is better to cut off excess hills and ledges with a shovel, and fill holes and recesses with earth, slag or rubble.

The next stage of preparation is the breakdown of the working site into sections and the installation of guides, called "red marks". These marks are strands of twine, tightly stretched between stakes driven into the thickness of the earth. The thread is attached at a certain height corresponding to the future level of the pavement surface. A slope angle of several degrees should be taken into account if the use of water inlets is planned. Red marks are needed so that the laying of the plates is carried out as evenly as possible.

Fixing curbs should be immediately installed along the edges of the site. This can be done after the formation of the fundamental layer, but then it will be necessary to construct protective formwork that prevents the soil from shedding.

It is best to choose a border about 50 cm high, then the sequence of actions will be as follows:

Dig a ditch 30 cm deep.
Cover the bottom with a layer of crushed stone 10 cm thick.
Apply a layer of cement about 2 cm from above.
Install the curb slabs in the trench. For better drainage, the curb is laid so that its edge is below the level of the paving stone surface.

Formation of the base layer

The base for the tile can have a different configuration. As a rule, the number of layers and types of materials used vary. It is recommended to create two key layers: fundamental and surface. The first layer is created in order to make a flat surface that hides the curvature of the soil. Here you can use two fundamental different material: concrete or gravel. Filling with concrete is recommended for roads and areas with increased traffic, and gravel is recommended for ordinary sidewalks. If necessary, their combination is allowed.

If gravel is chosen as the foundation, it should be borne in mind that it requires careful compaction. The height of the layer can reach 15 cm or more. This is a fairly significant value, and compaction of such a foundation will be difficult, therefore it is recommended to line the gravel in thin layers in stages, tamping each one in turn. The most effective way to use this is a vibrating plate - a special road-building device for compaction bulk materials. But in the absence of such tools, you will have to wield a manual rammer, and this is a significant minus.

The surface coating of the base is formed from sand or sand-cement carving. Sand is used only if well-compacted gravel is used as a foundation. In other cases, a dressing mixture is prepared from purified sand and M-400 cement in a ratio of 5: 1 (it is recommended to use a concrete mixer). The carving layer forms a special corrective cushion for the paving cloth, its thickness varies between 5-10 cm.

Features of pouring concrete

If concrete was chosen as the foundation layer, there are a number of recommendations. Filling with concrete should begin the day after the cemented curb slabs have hardened. When creating a site on which the movement of massive large-sized machines is supposed, concrete foundation it is necessary to reinforce using reinforcement with cells up to 20 cm. For pedestrian sidewalks, this procedure is not required.

To ensure the free passage of moisture into the soil, drainage holes must be provided. They can be made using a pipe cut into pieces of about 20 cm (the length of the segment must correspond to the height of the concrete layer). These pieces are distributed over the entire area (one per square meter).

Many owners of private houses are interested in how to lay paving slabs. This finishing material is now very popular for the design of local areas. Paving slabs allow you to create not only ordinary masonry, but also a kind of multi-colored mosaic of irregularly shaped elements.

The main advantages of paving slabs

Not everyone knows how to lay paving slabs correctly. After all, it is relatively new material. However, paving slabs have already become more in demand than the well-known paving stones.

Among the main advantages of paving slabs, one should name such properties as:

low cost;
simple laying technology;
durability;
environmental friendliness;
resistance to aggressive influence environment;
variety of shapes and colors;
the ability to create bright and original elements of landscape design.

To lay out a path or a platform with paving slabs yourself, you do not need special technical skills and knowledge, only the ability to handle conventional tools. If during the installation process you strictly follow the procedure and try a little, everything will definitely work out.

How to choose a tile

Thick tiles (more than 60 mm) can withstand the weight of a truck with a full body. Such tiles are usually in the form of small bars. This gives the cladding additional strength.

It is not difficult to figure out how to properly lay paving slabs. The main condition for a novice master is to choose a small area for the first experiments. Best fit garden path. It is better to choose a tile in one color, square or rectangular.

Site marking and base preparation

First you need to calculate the area of \u200b\u200bthe track or area. Based on it, it is calculated required amount tiles. You need to purchase material with a margin of 10-15% in case of damage to the material. In order not to be mistaken in the calculations, you can draw a plan for the future site. This will facilitate the necessary calculations and calculations.

Curbs are needed along the edges of the path. This will help maintain the integrity of the structure. The border should be several times thicker than the selected tile. It is necessary to lay tiles only on a properly prepared base, not only the appearance, but also the strength of the structure depends on this.

The right base for paving slabs

To fulfill all necessary work you will need the following tools:

shovels - shovel and bayonet;
grinder saw;
spatulas;
rule;
building level;
roulette;
rubber mallet or mallet;
twine or cord, woods;
Master OK;
rake;
mixing container.

First you need to outline the location of the track or platform. To do this, pegs are driven into the ground on both sides of the track. A cord or twine is tied to them. You need to walk along the marked area in different directions in order to determine the correct marking and the optimal location of the site or track. In the course of work, the markup can be adjusted.

drainage system

Do-it-yourself technology for laying paving slabs requires drainage works. On clayey swampy ground with a high location ground water internal drainage required. For this, in the process earthworks the required slope is formed, drainage pipes are installed to drain the water.

On dry soil, it is enough to arrange external drainage. To do this, paving slabs on the path are laid with a slope of 2 or 3 ° towards the curb. Some of the water will seep through the seams between the tiles.

Foundation construction

Under the foundation you need to dig a ditch. The top layer of soil is removed to a depth of 20 cm. Remains of vegetation must be removed. The bottom must be leveled and compacted. If the soil is very weak, a concrete screed is laid under the future construction of paving slabs. This will strengthen the foundation and ensure the longevity of the walkway or playground.

Reinforced concrete base under paving slabs

Then the curbs are installed. Between them, a pillow of fine-grained (10-20) crushed stone or gravel is poured. Bulk material must be leveled and slightly compacted.

Borders on both sides of the track must be installed in parallel. Inner space between them should accommodate the required number of tiles. In this case, it is necessary to take into account mounting gaps of 2-3 mm. Then a mortar for concreting curbs is prepared. Cement grade M300 or higher and sifted sand are taken. Proportion 1:2.

The gravel pad at the bottom of the trench is covered with coarse wet sand, which must be leveled. The thickness of the sand cushion after sand compaction should be at least 3-5 cm. To control from the top edge of the curb down, you need to measure 1.5 tile thicknesses.

Tiles are laid on top. If its position exceeds the desired level by 1 cm, the sand can be compacted. To do this, the finished pillow must be moistened abundantly and left for several hours. Tamp tightly. A day later, you can start laying tiles. The main thing is that the concrete poured under the curbs is completely frozen.

Laying tiles on sand and gravel

Tiles are laid in clear, dry weather. Wind, rain, dampness complicate the installation process and can worsen the result, especially if the master does not yet have the necessary skills. The path is laid out in the direction away from you, it is impossible to stand on a sand and gravel cushion during work.

Before laying paving slabs with your own hands, you need to prepare the mounting mixture. For it, dry, sifted fine sand and cement are taken in a ratio of 3: 1 or a ready-made composition purchased at a building materials store.

Laying tiles on cement-sand mixture

So that the track can be dismantled later, the tiles need to be laid only on the sand. Dry mix or sand is poured to a thickness of not more than 4 cm, you need to level the pillow. When backfilling, you can use guides from reinforcing bars, tubes, etc. The mixture is distributed over the working surface with a trowel or rake and leveled using a rule.

If the path is narrow, sand is poured between the curbs and leveled with a trowel. With the help of the level, you need to arrange a drainage slope. During work, the master moves along the length of the path, holding a bucket of sand and tools at hand. On a wide path, the dry mixture is poured over the beacons. The height of the beacons is reduced by 1 cm every meter of the width of the future track to ensure water flow.

Alignment of the base on the beacons

On top of the finished masonry, you need to fill in the sand and grout the laid out surface with a hard mop. Instead of sand, special grouts can be used. The order of work with them is indicated on the packaging.

Laying tiles on a concrete base

Preparatory work for laying paving slabs on a concrete base, they are carried out in a similar way. First, the tile is laid on a work surface covered with sand.

To prepare the mortar, use M500 cement. It must be diluted with water to the desired consistency. It is better to mix the solution with an electric drill or a construction mixer. Gradually add sand to the mixture of water and cement. It should be 4 times more than dry cement.

When laying on concrete, a strict sequence must be observed. Tiles are removed one by one from the sand cushion. For 1 time, you need to remove 4 elements of preliminary masonry. A solution is applied to the vacated area. It needs to be evenly distributed. Having laid the tiles on top of the mortar, it is necessary to trim and lightly press down with a mallet. When laying between the tiles, special spacers made of wood are installed to obtain the necessary gap. When the entire track or platform is laid out, the remaining solution must be removed from the surface.

Some rules for laying tiles

In order for the laid material to be even and beautiful along the entire length of the track, it is necessary to carefully lay out the initial row of tiles. Across the track, you need to stretch the fishing line with a drainage slope towards the curb. The first tile is installed 0.5 cm from the curb. In the longitudinal direction, laying is controlled by the level.

On the path, the tiles are laid diagonally and rammed with a mallet. Between the elements you need to leave a gap of 2 mm. The laid out row must be carefully examined and all errors immediately corrected. It is usually enough to correct the amount of sand under protruding or sinking elements. An evenly laid initial row is a guarantee that the entire path will turn out neat and beautiful.

Rammer will speed up the work of laying paving slabs

If non-whole tiles are supposed to be laid out in the masonry, they should be laid out last. To correctly outline the cut line, the tile must be attached to the installation site. A hacksaw is good for cutting tiles, but the work will go very slowly. Therefore, you need to cut paving slabs with a grinder. A diamond disc is installed on it. You can use a special knife. You need to work in protective glasses.

Sealing seams and cracks

When the installation of paving slabs is completed, it is necessary to close up small gaps. To do this, you need to prepare a cement solution with a high content of liquid glass. This will give the structure resistance to aggressive environmental influences. A mixture of sand and cement or sand is poured into the assembly joints between the individual elements.

Sand for filling cracks and assembly joints can only be used clean. Minor amount organic elements or salts will subsequently lead to the appearance of small flora on the paved area. Plants will spoil the appearance of the structure and reduce its strength.

Compaction of sand is carried out with a hose with a narrow spray. The procedure must be repeated several times. Bulk material is added each time. The density of the backfill of the assembly joints will ensure the strength and durability of the entire masonry.

Options for laying paving slabs

Paving slabs allow you to create various shapes and ornaments on adjoining territory. You can use ready-made laying schemes or come up with your own version of the design of the track or platform.

The most common options for laying paving slabs:

herringbone;
network;
checkerboard;
random mix;
circular pattern.

Using multi-colored elements of different shapes, alternating styling options, you can create interesting compositions based on the principle of ordinary mosaics or puzzles.

Geometric laying of paving slabs

Curly masonry is best done first on a site near the work site. This will allow you to correct individual errors or change something in advance. When the work surface is ready, the tiles are gradually transferred to it and stacked in the desired order.

To tile a round area, you need to make a primitive compass from wooden slats with pointed ends. With its help, a circle is drawn on the prepared area over the sand cushion. Next, the tile is laid out from the outer edge to the center of the site.

Use and care

A freshly laid paving slab path will be ready for use 2-3 days after all work is completed. To remove dust and debris, the path is usually swept with a broom and washed with a stream of water from a hose. Deep patterns with bright colors need to be cleaned more often and more carefully than ordinary masonry.

The sand laid in the tile joints is gradually washed out as the path or platform is used. Therefore, it must be topped up as needed. Damaged structural elements (such as cracked tiles) are easily replaced with new ones.

Paving slabs are unstable to mechanical stress, so they cannot be cleaned with abrasive powder. It is better to use sifted river sand.

Do not use strong chemicals to remove stains. A mild soapy solution is sufficient. It is applied with a soft brush and then washed off with a hose.

In winter, snow and ice must be carefully removed without using metal tools. Can be used with rubber tip. This will save decorative tiles. So that the path is not slippery, it must be sprinkled with ordinary clean sand.

Publication date: 13-05-2015

- Site leveling and embankment
Borders for finishing the site for paving slabs
paving tiles

When arranging any site for paving paving, it is necessary to ensure a properly prepared base. It is a flat base that largely determines the correct laying, decorative appearance. If the ground is not leveled, the tile will lie unevenly, its corners will protrude above the surface, and when used, rapid shrinkage and deformation of the entire path are possible, which reduces paving efforts to nothing.

An even base is the key to proper styling and aesthetic appearance.

We will find out how to properly prepare the base for the tracks, what stages of work must be observed.

Site preparation for paving

In order to properly and efficiently prepare the site for paving with paving slabs, you must first purchase all the required tools and materials:

Use regular twine when laying out the tiles for a more even lay out.

paving slabs and borders for it in the estimated amount;
wooden or metal stakes and pins;
the usual building level (it is necessary to adjust the horizontal position of the paving stones);
a hose with a divider or a regular watering can for moistening the base and sand cushion;
broom;
a rake, a metal corner and a channel for leveling the backfill of the base of the paving site.

For marking, you will need an ordinary string, a shovel and other garden tools for removing the fertile turf layer, constructing a trench for a curb stone. Only after all the materials and tools are ready, you can start working.

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Before paving tiles, it is necessary to perfectly level the surface of the soil.

What should be the basis for paving slabs? First you need to properly prepare the area. To do this, first mark the area where the paving stones will be laid. After that, it is necessary to completely remove the fertile soil layer so that the surface of the paving slabs is not subsequently damaged by germinating plants. This is easy to do with the simplest garden tools: the earth is simply removed to the required depth.

If necessary, the base is poured to level the site, since paving is possible only on a perfectly flat ground surface. If the soil is too soft, that is, loads in the future can lead to deformation and strong shrinkage, it is necessary to moisten the earth, and then carefully compact it.

Further work involves two options:

base in the form of a layer of cement and reinforcing mesh. It is arranged when heavy loads are planned, there is a possibility of strong shrinkage or spreading of paving slabs;
a simple base without cement and reinforcement, only on a sand and gravel cushion.

After that, it is necessary to make a gravel filling with a thickness of 7 cm. Before laying the tiles, it is necessary to make the filling strictly according to the level; before further paving of the paths, such an embankment is carefully compacted and leveled.

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The curb is laid at the stage of arranging the base under the tile, and not after the pavement has already been paved.

Before filling the sand cushion and laying paving slabs, curbs must be installed. To do this, along the perimeter of the site, it is necessary to prepare a trench with a depth depending on the height of the curb stone, on the bottom of which approximately 5 cm of sand is poured. It is necessary to dig such a trench with the expectation that approximately 60% of the curb is under the level of the track. This is what will ensure the reliability of the entire installation, prevent the spread of tiles. Paving in this case is carried out in such a way that the base can withstand not only such loads as steps, but also the arrival of a car.

The border itself can be made from various materials, it is best to make it from the same as the laid paving slabs. But granite and other natural stone are distinguished by a high price, although their strength is high. Most often, borders are made from simple or reinforced concrete.

It is necessary to arrange trenches in exact accordance with the dimensions of the curb, so that it fits tightly, and the foundation is not broken.

It should not be forgotten that the curb is laid at the stage of laying the base under the tile, and not after the pavement has already been paved. It is in this case that all work will be done with high quality, the path itself will turn out not only beautiful, but also resistant to many loads, including a collision with a transport site.

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Using a rake, carefully level the mound of sand.

The last stage of preparation before paving with paving slabs is the embankment of a layer consisting of cleaned, sifted sand. This stage of work is carried out in the following way:

it is necessary to carefully level the previous layer, and then check the horizontalness with building level;
now the sifted sand is poured onto the site in an even layer. According to the stretched level from ordinary twine, it must be carefully leveled with ordinary rakes. Next, you need to bring the surface to the ideal level, because otherwise the paving slabs or paving stones will not lie so neatly, some of its edges can protrude strongly above the level of the track. Leveling should be done using a conventional metal corner or a piece of channel.

After the entire surface is leveled, it is necessary to start moistening the sand cushion. To do this, using a conventional watering can (if the surface is small) or a garden hose with a sprayer (for large areas), the sand is moistened, but it should not be too wet. It is impossible to give pressure when moistening, since the sand will be easily washed away. A pillow of sand is thus compacted to required level.

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Each element of the tile should be compacted with a rubber mallet.

Laying paving slabs is the final stage of work, its quality largely depends on how correctly all the preparatory work was carried out on the foundation of the site. Laying should begin by determining the correct angle to start work. Experts recommend starting to do this from the corner closest to front door home, or from a major element of the surrounding landscape.

The paving stone or tile itself must be laid, pressing it tightly to the base. Each element is sealed with wooden block and a rubber mallet. This is done in this way: the tile is laid in the right place, after which it is necessary to compact it with a rubber hammer, tapping through the bar. After the final laying of paving slabs, it should be processed with a vibrating plate so that the finishing material finally falls into place. After that, the surface of the tile will become very even and smooth, water will no longer accumulate on the track.

When laying, one should not forget about some of the nuances, for example, how to correctly lay out the corners and turns, the bends of the paths, which ornament to choose. It is necessary to leave gaps between the individual elements, but with a width of up to 0.8 cm. When buying, you should ensure the presence of special corner tiles with rounded edges, the usual rectangular one is completely unsuitable here. After installation, the finished tile is covered with sand, often for this purpose special colored sand is used to match the color of the tile or with contrasting shades. This allows you to give the coating a greater decorative effect.

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When laying paving slabs, it is important to pay great attention to the preparation of the base, that is, the site where the paving will be carried out. To do this, it is necessary to carefully level the surface, ensure the presence of a gravel and sand cushion. In this case, the tile will lie flat, the paving itself will not cause any trouble, it will take little time.

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Base for paving slabs: preparation steps and materials

Preparing the base for paving slabs is perhaps the most important step in the entire cycle of work on arranging paths and areas near the house. The quality of the future masonry and the durability of the coating largely depend on how correctly the foundation is made. In order to prevent serious errors, you need to consider this process in more detail.

The most important step in laying paving slabs is the preparation of the base.

There are several basic technologies for laying paving slabs. At the same time, the list of preparatory work and materials used depends on the composition of the mixture on which it is planned to lay paving slabs.

The following methods can be distinguished:

Sand. The tile is fixed on a sand cushion without auxiliary materials and is fenced with curbs for greater reliability.
Sand-cement mixture. Dry cement is added to the sand and placed on a sand-cement cushion. After filling with water, the mass seizes.
Solution. The tile is laid on a liquid mortar. In order for the masonry to be even, you need to prepare a concrete base.

Options for laying paving slabs

Despite the difference in approaches, the initial stages practically do not differ from each other in terms of the technology of work.

In order for the final result to satisfy you, and for the pavement itself not to deteriorate over time, you must follow some requirements that are mandatory for laying such material. Most of them relate directly to the quality and degree of preparation of the surface itself.

The following basic requirements can be distinguished:

Drainage. Removal of accumulated water and prevention of its destructive effect on the pavement.
Waterproofing. Prevention of excessive accumulation of moisture due to the use of a special substrate.
Gutter. Water drainage through the arrangement of the slope and special drain grooves.
Evenness. The surface must be leveled almost perfectly in order for all the elements to fit properly.
Sustainability. Lack of movement of individual elements and deformation during subsidence of the soil.
Deepening. It is necessary to dig a hole for arranging drainage and deepening the path itself.

Foundation preparation is an important stage that requires compliance with certain rules.

Often the question arises - is it possible to lay new paving slabs on old tiles or asphalt? The answer depends on the condition of the base under the work platform. If there is a risk of ground subsidence, you need to radically rebuild the sidewalk, starting work from scratch. If the old coating has simply outlived its own, and the base remains in good condition, you can install on top of it. When doing this, keep in mind that the level of the track will increase. This may require additional registration of adjacent territories.

gravel pad

The first thing on which paving slabs are laid in the future is gravel and crushed stone. It is from this that you need to start work on the arrangement of the site. First you need to prepare a sufficient recess. In most cases, it is enough to remove a layer of soil up to 25 cm. If you are planning to create a parking lot or an entrance to the house, due to the significant load, you can increase the depth by another 10 cm.

The earth is removed in such a way that it is possible to fix the curbs and lay out the drainage. To prevent subsidence, the soil is carefully compacted using water. After it dries, you can fill up the gravel. The thickness of the drainage pad should be approximately 2/3 of the total thickness of the pavement with the base.

Schematic representation of the base device for paving slabs

Since crushed stone contains particles different size and shape, to compact the substrate, the mass must be vibrated. This will prevent further shrinkage and make the shock absorber cushion more resistant to stress. Sand is additionally used to fill the voids. It must be spread over the surface and poured with water. Further, the procedure is repeated until an even base is created. Further work should not violate the integrity of the drainage layer.

Drainage and insulation

It is very important to protect the base from water, which can eventually wash out some of the material and lead to the destruction of the site. Among the whole list modern materials for laying paving slabs, geotextiles should be selected. This material provides reliable waterproofing. It is also used for arranging garden ponds. It does not rot and has high strength, besides, it prevents the germination of plants in the joints between the tiles.

In order for the waterproofing to be carried out in accordance with all the rules, and in the structure of the sidewalk moisture does not accumulate after precipitation, it is important to provide for a slope for water flow. On average, it is 2 degrees per meter of track. You need to plan such a slope even at the stage of removing the soil layer, but if you forgot about it, the situation can be corrected by laying gravel in a layer of different thicknesses.

To drain water, it is also necessary to additionally provide for the presence of drain grooves, they are mounted together with the tile itself.

In order to prevent moisture from accumulating under the tiles, it is necessary to provide a waterproofing layer and water outflow

sand cushion

After the basic work is done, you can proceed to the design of the final layer. It consists of pure sifted river sand. In order for the sidewalk to be stable, but at the same time depreciation is maintained, it is necessary to fill up the sand with a layer of about 7 cm. It is best to navigate by the thickness of the tile itself, because it will be partially deepened into it.

Such a thick layer of sand is necessary for the implementation of the first two laying methods. For the second method, it is necessary to additionally fill up about a third of the total layer with a mixture of sand and cement powder. A little more mixture should be left for further processing of the seams.

The base for laying on the sand is prepared in several stages. First you need to fill in dry raw materials and carefully compact it. For best effect vibrators are used. In addition, it is recommended to sprinkle the surface with water to compact the material. It is better to repeat this procedure several times until it is reached. desired thickness layer.

Before laying, it is necessary to level the dried sand. To do this, you can use the rule and guides. Only after reaching a perfectly flat surface in compliance with the specified slope, you can proceed with the installation of the sidewalk.

To level the layer of sand, guides and a rule of the required length are used.

concrete base

Another way of laying - on the solution. In this case, you need to take care of the construction of a reliable concrete base. Since the base will take up some space, you need to go deeper into the soil 5-10 cm more than usual.

First stage the arrangement of the site or track, in fact, completely coincides with the activities already described. However, you do not need to fill in too thick a layer of sand. Only a couple of centimeters will be enough to fill the voids in the gravel. The rest of the space will be filled with concrete mass.

When laying paving slabs on the mortar, it is necessary to prepare a solid concrete base

The solution can be prepared by various methods. The most popular method is the combination of sand, cement and fine screenings, as well as the addition of slaked lime as a plasticizer. It can be replaced with PVA glue or detergent. Concrete must be poured in such a way that it can be leveled with a rule. In order to preserve the contours of the sidewalk, formwork is installed on the sides wooden planks or plywood. It is recommended to lubricate it with grease to prevent concrete sticking.

You can lay tiles on the subfloor without prior screed after drying. Some craftsmen lay the pavement directly on the liquid mass. In this case, care must be taken to ensure that the layer thickness is sufficient to fit the elements.

It is quite difficult to answer unambiguously what exactly is better to lay paving slabs. It all depends on the specific conditions and capabilities of the master. If heavy load not planned, you can get by with sand and cement, but if we are talking about a parking space, it is best to pre-fill the concrete pad.

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How is a pillow for paving slabs made?

The pillow under paving slabs acts as a reliable base, which will become a support for the tile and protect it from destruction. The manufacture of such a pillow is the most important part of the work, on which the effectiveness of the entire installation depends. If you approach this matter carelessly, soon pits and other irregularities will begin to appear on the surface of the tile. Preparing a pillow for paving slabs is a few mandatory steps.

Foundation preparation process

Preparation begins with determining the location for paving slabs. The site is marked with ropes and pegs so that you can lay a path without deviating from the intended line. The first stage of work is the creation of a trench. The top layer of soil is removed: if it is planned to lay a conventional pavement for a footpath, then the thickness of the pillow under the paving slabs should be 15-20 cm. If it is planned to create a base for the roadway, then its thickness should be at least 50 cm.

trench preparation

Creating a pillow for ordinary paving slabs is done as follows:

Places of water drains are determined. Drainage is mandatory for the adjacent blind area so that moisture does not accumulate near the foundation, which leads to its gradual destruction. In addition, it is desirable to make drains across the tracks so that water does not stagnate at the base of the tile.
The soil at the site of the future track needs to be leveled, it is advisable to additionally tamp it, then the base will be more dense. Crushed stone becomes the bottom layer of the pillow, the thickness of this layer is 13-15 cm. It must be compacted.

Note!!! Crushed stone is the most reliable base that will provide the tile with sufficient support.

rubble layer

The next layer is screening, the thickness does not exceed 7 cm. It also needs additional tamping.
The last layer is sand, which provides drainage excess moisture. It is poured in a thin layer and leveled.

Sand leveling

The resulting base can already be covered with a cement-sand mixture and tiled on it. Curb stones will be installed on the sides of the walkway or platform, which will prevent erosion and spreading of the coating. For the curb, in addition to the standard base of crushed stone and sand, a concrete foundation is required, which will make it as strong as possible and allow it to withstand significant loads. As a result, the border should rise above the base by about 15 cm.

Important points when creating a foundation

Before laying the base, it is desirable to level the surface of the soil. The pits need to be filled up; in sharply elevated areas, the top layer of soil is previously removed. It is difficult to find completely flat areas, so it is rarely possible to do without excavation. If the soil is too soft, water it before tamping. This will immediately make the base denser, which will have a good effect on the strength of the finished coating. Before backfilling the sand layer, geotextiles can be laid. This simple action will get rid of weeds between tiles, which quickly destroy the coating with their roots.

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How to make a base for paving slabs?

The base for paving slabs, like the foundation of a house, is the support on which the stability and durability of the pavement depend. Paving slabs are successfully used for paving paths and playgrounds. It is found everywhere: both in urban areas (for example, near shops and shopping centers), and in suburban garden plots. This material differs from analogues in its aesthetics, variety of shapes and sizes.

Scheme of the base for paving slabs.

But uneven masonry and protruding or sunken tiles are unlikely to make the road beautiful and comfortable. The occurrence of pits, dips and other deformations is a consequence of a low-quality foundation, which was carried out in violation of technology and existing recommendations. Forming the basis for paving slabs requires special attention, some knowledge and an elementary understanding of the process. Therefore, many owners are in a hurry to immediately call specialists, without even trying to cope with the matter with their own hands. By doing this, they only increase their costs, because the same work can be done independently. The main thing is to know how to do everything right.

The choice of material for the base

Scheme of the device of the gravel substrate.

gravel, pebbles;
concrete, cement;
sand, screenings;
slag, rubble.

Preparatory work

Foundation scheme with concrete screed.

It is best to choose a border about 50 cm high, then the sequence of actions will be as follows:

Dig a ditch 30 cm deep.
Cover the bottom with a layer of crushed stone 10 cm thick.
Apply a layer of cement about 2 cm from above.
Install the curb slabs in the trench. For better drainage, the curb is laid so that its edge is below the level of the paving stone surface.

Formation of the base layer

Preparing the sandy surface for tiles.

The base for the tile can have a different configuration. As a rule, the number of layers and types of materials used vary. It is recommended to create two key layers: fundamental and surface. The first layer is created in order to make a flat surface that hides the curvature of the soil. Two fundamentally different materials can be used here: concrete or gravel. Filling with concrete is recommended for roads and areas with increased traffic, and gravel is recommended for ordinary sidewalks. If necessary, their combination is allowed.

If gravel is chosen as the foundation, it should be borne in mind that it requires careful compaction. The height of the layer can reach 15 cm or more. This is a fairly significant value, and compaction of such a foundation will be difficult, therefore it is recommended to line the gravel in thin layers in stages, tamping each one in turn. It is most effective to use a vibrating plate - a special road-building device for compacting bulk materials. But in the absence of such tools, you will have to wield a manual rammer, and this is a significant minus.

Features of pouring concrete

If concrete was chosen as the foundation layer, there are a number of recommendations. Filling with concrete should begin the day after the cemented curb slabs have hardened. When creating a platform along which the movement of massive large-sized machines is supposed, the concrete foundation must be reinforced using reinforcement with cells up to 20 cm. For pedestrian sidewalks, this procedure is not required.

Then prepare the standard concrete mix from cement brand 150-200. The thickness of the poured mortar must be at least 15 cm, and when reinforcing - 20 cm. After hardening, all drainage holes must be filled with gravel.

A high-quality base for tiles is a guarantee of the beauty and durability of paved areas and sidewalks.

Now everyone can handle the formation of the base from any material.

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