Pleasure is not cheap, but everyone wants to make their yard clean and pretty, so I had such a great desire.

I couldn’t buy paving stones in the required quantity - it turned out to be too expensive, but it’s easy to do it on my own :) It’s about how to make paving stones on my own that I will tell you in this article, fully illustrating the manufacturing process.

Required materials and fixtures

The technology for the production of paving stones, as well as its recipe, was found by me on the Internet, since there is more than enough information, and I set to work.

For the manufacture of such paving slabs, it is necessary to buy a superplasticizer and, if desired, a dye.

In the store, I bought several bags of 500 grade cement and a superplasticizer: it will increase the strength of the paving stones and increase its resistance to low temperatures.

Not a huge, of course, but quite a decent pile of sand, brought about a year ago from a local quarry, we left after the completion of the house.

And I decided not to buy a colorant-dye. To be honest, as for me, the difference between colored and gray paving stones is small, the color still turns out with a shade of gray!

As a vibrating table, without which the production of high-quality paving stones is simply impossible, it was decided to use an old Siemens washing machine, which has long served its time, but is still very much in working order. If anyone does not know what a vibrating table is for, I explain - with its help, the maximum compaction of the forms of any concrete elements is achieved, in our case paving stones, which become more homogeneous and, accordingly, strong.

I will tell you about the forms separately and in more detail :)

About forms for self-production of paving stones

When I shared the idea of ​​making paving stones on my own with my friends, some of them suggested that I make the molds myself. Some offered to put them together from old boards, the second advised to use unnecessary containers - trays, vessels, and so on, and others persuaded them to be made from a special polymer. Of course, I am a girl with “hands”, but I did not dare to do this, I decided to purchase ready-made forms. They are quite diverse, so you can choose a shape with a beautiful pattern that will be printed on the surface of the finished product, giving it a special charm and chic.

To make paving stones with your own hands or not, everyone decides for himself, and I can only say that it is exciting, easy and profitable. I hope my little master class on making paving stones will be useful for you, try it and brag about your results!

A platform covered with paving slabs or paths lined with this material look very presentable. However, the cost of such coverage makes the owners of suburban areas think three times before choosing a finishing method. Therefore, in this article we will consider the process of self-production of such a coating. With this information, you can save on the purchase of tiles.

How are paving slabs made?

In industrial conditions, the tile production process is organized using two technologies:

• Vibrocompression - filling the matrix with a working mixture with simultaneous exposure to pressure and vibration.
• Vibrocasting - filling the mold with a mixture, followed by vibration exposure.

In the first case, a particularly durable tile is obtained that can withstand any operational loads. In the second case, a tile of acceptable quality is obtained, but without extreme strength characteristics.

Moreover, the vibrocompression technology involves the use of such expensive tools as a vibrating press and a drying chamber. The technical process of vibrocasting requires the use of only a vibrating table that distributes the solution over the matrix and squeezes out air bubbles from the hardening mass.

An experienced home master can assemble a vibrating table from improvised means, saving on equipment, and a well-ventilated room can be used instead of a drying chamber. Therefore, in most cases, for the manufacture of tiles at home, it is the vibrocasting process that is used, which will be discussed below, along with a description of the design of the vibrating table.

Choosing the size and making the shape

The production of paving slabs begins with the manufacture of a mold. However, before making the base for casting, you need to determine the size of the tile. Moreover, the optimal thickness of the finished product can be equal to both three and five centimeters.

It is more difficult to determine the width and length, since tiles that are too small complicate the laying process, and large and heavy elements suffer from soil heaving deformation and force the use of professional vibrating tables that can withstand significant weight loads.

Sizes and shapes

However, the optimal dimensions in width and length have long been known and are equal to 20 × 20 cm. Such tiles are easy to lay - only 25 elements are placed per square meter, and its weight allows you to do all the work yourself, without attracting people from outside. In addition, it is much easier to assemble a square formwork for casting than a triangle or hexagon.

For the manufacture of three formworks for tiles for garden paths, we need nine meter pieces of wooden beam with a section of 4 × 4 centimeters, a square meter of galvanized sheet and a roll of adhesive tape. Well, the process itself looks like this:

1. 1. We take two meter lengths as is, and cut the third one into five bars of 20 cm each.
2. 2. We knock down a 100 × 28 cm rectangle from two meter and two 20-centimeter segments (short bars are inserted between long ones and fastened with nails at the end)
3. 3. We lay the three remaining short bars inside the rectangle, placing them in increments of 20 centimeters.
4. 4. We wrap all the bars with tape, forming three or four layers that isolate the wood from moisture in the cement.
5. 5. We cut off a strip with dimensions of 100 × 28 cm from the galvanized sheet and stuff the “ladder” obtained from the bars onto it. So you can make the bottom of the form and finally fasten the wooden bars.
6. 6. We repeat all the above steps two more times, getting three forms.

With the help of one such base, four products up to 4 cm thick can be made at once. Moreover, on a square meter of the table top of the vibrating table, all three manufactured forms can be laid, obtaining 12 tiles with a total area of ​​0.48 "square". At home, this performance will be more than enough.

Preparing the mortar - the starting point for making tiles

To prepare a mortar for pouring tiles, we will need not a classic 4: 1 sand-cement mixture, but a slightly different composition, which will include the following components:

• Cement brand 400 or 500 (the latter is preferable to the first) - 1 part.
• Washed fine gravel with a grain size of 1.0-1.5 cm - 2 parts
• River sifted sand without clay and organic impurities - 1 part.
• Reinforcing fiber made of basalt or polypropylene fibers or chopped fiberglass - 1/1000 part of the cement weight.
• Plasticizer (substance that increases the strength of the tile) - up to 1/100 of the weight of the cement.
• Pure water - from a quarter to a half of the mass of cement.

All of the above materials are loaded into a concrete mixer and mixed. In addition, a barrel and a construction mixer can be used to prepare the solution. In this case, water with a plasticizer previously diluted in it is added last.

Stirring solution

The readiness of the mixture is checked with a trowel - the solution should drain, but not drip.

The volumes of the tile solution are determined by the area of ​​the finished surface or by the number of tiles. The dimensions of one finished product are 20 × 20 × 4 cm, so the volume of one do-it-yourself paving slab is 1600 cm3 or 1.6 liters. And for the manufacture of one square meter, we need at least 40 liters of ready-made concrete.

Moreover, the solution should be prepared last, immediately before pouring the tiles. After all, the homogeneity of the finished mixture is maintained for 10-15 minutes and the filling should be completed during this time.

Filling and subsequent processing of tiles

The manufacturing process (pouring) of paving slabs can be divided into five stages. On the first of them, the preparation of the mold is carried out - its inner surface is lubricated with a special compound that facilitates the extraction of the finished product. Moreover, such a composition can easily replace any oil - from sunflower to engine oil (including mining).

At the second stage, the solution is mixed, and it is better to place the mixing container or concrete mixer near the vibrating table. This will help reduce the time for the next step, when the mixture of water, cement, sand, gravel and additives move into the molds.

The third stage begins with the fact that the greased mold is placed on a vibrating table, covering at least 70 percent of its area. Otherwise, the manufacturing process will be delayed for a long time. Next, with a trowel or ladle, the solution is scooped out of the concrete mixer or container and poured into the mold. Moreover, in the process of pouring, the mass must be bayoneted. To do this, use a trowel, immersing the nose of the tool into the poured form.

Some masters advise putting a reinforcing mesh of steel wire with a diameter of up to 2 mm into the mold (before pouring). But if a reinforcing fiber was used when mixing the solution, then the use of a mesh can be abandoned.

After filling the form, a vibrating table is launched, which will squeeze out all air bubbles from the mass and compact the filling. At the same time, the mass in the mold may settle, therefore, as it shrinks, the master will have to add a little concrete to each cell and continue vibration processing.

The fourth stage is devoted to drying products. I remove the molds from the table, lay them on a flat surface and wrap them with plastic wrap. In dry weather, they will have to be moistened, compensating for the lack of moisture in the hardening concrete. Moreover, the street temperature at this time should not fall below 10 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the strength of the product will be clearly insufficient. In addition, the place for drying will have to be protected from direct sunlight and rain, so the best option in this case would be a horizontal platform under a canopy.

At the fifth stage, the product is removed from the mold. Before this, the tile should lie in the film for at least a week. After removing the product, they put it under a canopy for another two weeks. However, the concrete casting gains 100 percent strength only on the thirtieth day. After this time, it can be used as a finishing material, which is used to decorate areas in the yard and in the adjacent area, as well as paths in the garden.

The extraction itself involves the following actions: an old blanket is sent out on a flat surface, the form is turned upside down and gently tapped with a mallet. Dried tiles easily come out of their sockets and fall onto a soft surface. At the end, loose molds should be placed in the sun and dried during the day.

We assemble a home-made vibrating table - improvised means help save the budget

To make the frame of a homemade vibrating table, we need 4 m of a corner with sides of 5 cm, 8 m of profile molding with sides of 25 × 25 mm, a steel 5 mm plate 1.2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide.

As a source of vibration, we will use a sharpening machine for kitchen knives and other household edged weapons, on the shaft of which we will put a grindstone with a segment selected at half the radius. Moreover, four shock absorbers from the scooter will be used to amplify the vibrations.

The very manufacture of a vibrating table begins with cutting blanks for assembling the base (frame). To do this, cut the corner into four meter racks. Next, we cut eight meter sections of the profile pipe (four each for the upper and lower trim).

The next step is to assemble one frame segment. To do this, you need to take two corners and weld two meter lengths of a profile pipe between them. The first segment will be located flush with the end of the future legs (upper trim), and the second - at a distance of 20 centimeters from the free end. The second segment is assembled in exactly the same way. Then these segments are interconnected by the lower and upper crossbars, forming the frame of the vibrating table.

Next, you need to prepare the countertop. To do this, a grinding machine is fixed in the center of the steel plate using screws or bolts inserted into pre-drilled holes. Then the plate is installed on the table frame (grinding machine down) and the location of the legs is marked on it using chalk (to do this, you need to outline the corner mate in the upper trim area). After that, a 5-centimeter piece of pipe is welded in the marked place, forming cups for the springs. The inner diameter of the pipe should be 2-3 mm larger than the dimensions of the shock absorber.

At the next stage, you need to fix four shock absorbers from the scooter in the corners of the bed and put the tabletop on them, placing the upper coils of the spring in the support cups. In the final, grinding wheels with selected segments are put on the shafts of the grinding machine and the start button is fixed.

After the plug of the machine is connected to the outlet, its shaft will begin to unwind the cut circles, creating vibration, which will go to the tabletop and amplify due to springs (shock absorbers). The length of the latter can be selected based on the operational load, at which the cups of the tabletop should not touch the upper strapping of the frame.

How to tint cement?

A standard set of components for paving slabs allows you to obtain products with high strength characteristics and zero aesthetic merits. To eliminate this skew, you will need a cement dye that changes the color of the finished tile.

The staining process itself involves two approaches. The first is the addition of pigment to concrete at the stage of mixing the solution. The second is a layered fill, when 2/3 of the depth of the tile is made of gray mass, and the remaining volume is topped up with a color composition.

Technically, they are implemented in approximately the same way - the pigment is dissolved in hot water, in a mass fraction equal to five percent of the total weight of the solution. Only in the first case, we need to paint over the entire concrete, and in the second - only a third of the composition. Accordingly, all the advantages and disadvantages of the first and second methods emerge from this.

The first method has the advantage of coloring the entire tile evenly, so it won't change color as it wears. But the plate painted in this way loses its strength characteristics. In addition, a limited palette of colors can be applied to the gray mass. And painted boards cost significantly more than ordinary (gray) products.

Casting in layers is another matter. In this case, the high strength of the base is maintained and the homeowner's money is saved - only a third of the volume of the tile gets painted. In addition, the colored part of the pour can be mixed on the basis of not gray, but white concrete, which accepts any color.

Every person who has his own private house knows about cement and concrete production technology. Based on this, the manufacture of paving slabs at home will not be an innovation for him.

Since there are several types of manufacturing, the vibration casting technique will be the most profitable and simplest for self-manufacturing. In this case, the solution is placed in molds and compacted on a special vibrating table.

Technology of home production of paving slabs

The production technology of paving slabs is very simple. But you need to know some points when planning the production process. To carry out the manufacturing process, you need to know 2 main areas:.

Scheme vibropress

They have some differences from each other. Subsequently, this is reflected in the prepared products.

The technology for making paving slabs at home will require the purchase of an expensive unit, namely: a heat chamber and a vibration process.

The solution with water is poured into the mold, then compacted using vibration and pressure. At the end of these procedures, the workpiece is sent to the drying chamber. The fortress is obtained due to the rather high humidity and temperature, which is great for laying in places with a powerful load.

Making paving slabs with your own hands helps to compact the mixture under vibration, that is, it spreads evenly in shape and is compacted. There is a movement of the form for drying on the racks.

The workpiece is dried in molds

After two days, the finished tile is pulled out.

Vibrocasting at home

Vibrocasting is suitable for the production of paving slabs at home. To do this, you need to purchase inexpensive equipment and tools. As for the vibrating table, it is not difficult to build it yourself. To start making tiles, you must follow these steps:

• mold preparation;
• mixing the solution;
• molding in a vibrating table;
• aging and drying in molds;
• stripping tiles.

Paving slabs, which were made using vibration technology, are great for garden paths. When it comes to car parking, it is best to use pressed products.

Pressed tiles are best used for laying in car dealerships

Equipment and tools for the manufacture of paving slabs

At the beginning of work, it is necessary to prepare equipment and tools. If a person can make a vibrating table on their own, then a vibropressing machine must be bought ready-made.

Then you need to choose a shape for the tile. According to the standard, it is a square or in the form of a brick. For this type, it is necessary to make formwork from plywood or wood. If we consider the production of paving slabs at home with more complex options, then it is better to use polyurethane or silicone molds. With their help, tiles are obtained, as in a store. It is also possible to make tiles similar to natural stone.

Material for manufacturing

The basis of any technology is concrete. This requires the following components:

• water;
• cement;
• crushed stone;
• river sand;
• slaked lime or other plasticizer;
• additives and colors.

To end up with a homogeneous mass, you need to use additional tools: a concrete mixer or a construction mixer. The first tool is designed for large volumes.

Before preparing concrete, you need to prepare the dye. It is necessary for the manufacture of colored tiles. If ordinary gray paving slabs are made, then the color scheme does not need to be used.

Manufacturing instructions

The walls of the concrete mixer must be slightly damp, so inside it is rinsed with water, and then it is drained. The proportion of water and cement to obtain the required solution must be accurate, otherwise the concrete product will be fragile.

Proportions for the manufacture of paving slabs

Do-it-yourself paving slab production requires mixing half-wet concrete. This is done as follows: water must be 30% less than cement. For example, 2 buckets of water are poured into 3 buckets of cement.

Water is first added to the concrete mixer, and then the required amount of cement. After that, the components must be mixed and brought to a homogeneous mass. Screening is added, then a ready-made solution is obtained. After thorough mixing, slaked lime, previously well mixed, is poured in, as well as a dye, if necessary.

It is necessary to mix until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Mixing the solution is easy to do on your own by hand. This requires good physical preparation, as well as a margin of time.

So that subsequently cleaning and stripping does not bring additional fuss and does not take time, it is necessary to lubricate the form with a special lubricant.

Be sure to lubricate the mold for further easy extraction

The layer thickness must not be too large, as the product will deteriorate due to bubbles. For the successful implementation of the process, it is better to use aerosol lubricants.

A faster and better do-it-yourself tile is carried out if a person uses the help of another assistant. It will help to quickly bring the necessary tool or thing.

As for the dye, it must be dissolved in advance in hot water.

It is possible to make paving slabs at home without a vibrating table, only in this case the quality will not work.

After the molds are filled with the solution on the vibrating table, they must be removed and placed on the rack. Freezing occurs within 2 days. When heat sets in, molds must be moistened with a spray gun to prevent the concrete from setting prematurely.

The process is completed by such a stage as stripping.

It comes three days after pouring. Accuracy must be present here, because the tile has not yet completely dried out and has not gained sufficient strength.

To make the product as strong as possible, it is recommended to dip the molds in hot water with a temperature of 50 to 70 degrees. After 5 minutes, the paving slab is removed, but before that it is necessary to knock on it with a rubber mallet.

After the process is completed, the tile should dry and lie for another 7–8 days. This is what shrink wrap is for.

The nuances of do-it-yourself paving stones tinting

To paint a tile, it is necessary to use organic or mineral pigments. Artificial colors have a fairly high coloring ability, resistance to temperature extremes. With the help of natural pigments, you can make muted natural tones.

There are 2 color options:

• dilution of the dye in the wet mass;
• painting on the finished product.

Painting paving slabs

The first method will require a lot of money. The price of dry dyes, which have a water-repellent property, is quite high. And in order for the color to exceed all expectations, you will need to add 7% of the total mass of concrete.

The second way is more difficult. The quality of painting depends only on time. To make it easier for yourself, it is recommended to use a spray gun. In this option, there is one drawback - uniform coloring will be very difficult to obtain.

The form is filled with colored concrete, but only up to half. Above is ordinary cement. The time between fillings should not exceed 20 minutes.

Advantages of paving slabs

At this point, paving slabs are in great demand. It has some advantages:

• vapor permeability and moisture permeability of the coating;
• the implementation of the construction of tracks by a more complex method independently;
• suitability of repair;
• aesthetics. It appears due to all sorts of colors and shapes. If desired, the craftsmen can lay out an ornament or some kind of pattern on the path in the garden or cottage.

Schemes for laying paving slabs

Decorative tiles with stone

Paving stones with stones in the landscape style of a private house looks quite interesting. The method of making paving slabs at home is quite simple. To build country paths attractive will help the usual composition of the solution. It is often used in combination with natural materials.

To carry out the manufacture of decorative tiles with stone, it is necessary to prepare forms of various sizes. Boards will help to make large squares, and plastic containers will work great for miniature tiles. River stones must be thoroughly cleaned and all the necessary components must be prepared to prepare the mixture.

It is very important to observe the ratio, mixing sand with concrete, water and dye. After preparing the solution, you should take up the form. It is required to lay out a horizontal platform from the boards, put polyethylene under the formwork.

Thoroughly grease the mold itself with machine oil. The mixture should be evenly distributed over the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe mold, for this a trowel is useful. Then the stones are laid out, they must be selected by color and size, and then placed over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe mixture. Upon completion, the stones must be added to the solution.

Forms are covered with cellophane and dried for 4 days. Workpieces must be sprinkled with water 2 times a day. At that moment, when the tile begins to move away from the formwork, it should be pulled out and dried out without a form.

Making paving slabs with your own hands is quite an exciting process. With the help of precise guidance, each person can easily make high-quality and original tiles. It will serve for a long time in the garden or in the yard. If a person is unsure that the product will be durable during the manufacturing process, then the topic should be studied in more detail.

Video: DIY paving slabs

It is hard to imagine a personal plot without paths lined with concrete tiles, which has recently become more and more popular. Do-it-yourself paving slabs can be made by anyone, even those who do not have skills in construction work. The manufacturing algorithm is quite simple and does not require expensive equipment and materials. Do-it-yourself paving slabs as a material for paths, alleys and parking spaces for cars compare favorably with asphalt, concrete or gravel.

Bulk (gravel) paths are not very comfortable to use, asphalt requires the use of special equipment, and concrete involves the use of reinforcement and pre-prepared formwork. The production of paving slabs at home will significantly save money and give your site a unique look.

Required Tools

In the production of concrete tiles, two methods are used: vibrocasting and vibrocompression. The latter method requires the use of expensive equipment (vibropress) and is justified mainly for commercial purposes. The production technology of paving slabs by vibrocasting is most suitable for home production. In this case, you will need:

• A concrete mixer (mechanical or electric), which is often already in the household of many homeowners.
• In the absence of a concrete mixer, you can get by with a construction mixer or an electric drill with a special nozzle and any container (basin, trough, part of a plastic barrel) of a suitable volume that will be needed to prepare the solution.

• Vibrating table, which you can buy or make yourself.
• Forms for tiles.
• Trowel or picking spatula, brush and bucket.

Important! How to safely make paving slabs at home - for this you must definitely use personal protective equipment: rubber gloves, goggles and a respirator!

Making a vibrating table with your own hands

How to make a device for vibrocasting yourself? The easiest way to make a vibrating table is to use an old washing machine, on top of which a sheet of chipboard, fiberboard or MDF of a suitable size is attached, with slats or bars fixed at the edges. Turn on the machine in the "spin" mode and the vibrating table you made is already functioning. The sides will not allow the workpieces to fall off the table during vibrating. The efficiency and productivity of such an installation is quite suitable for making paving slabs at home.

Your vibrating table can be made from a conventional sharpener, which, as a rule, is always available on the farm, or any other electric motor of suitable power. A wooden shield is made, it fits on several car tires. With the help of bolts in the center of the shield from below, we fasten the grindstone. We install a heavy metal disk with a displaced center on the pin (it is easy to make from a lid from a pot of the right size). The photo will help you understand the details.

A device for a vibration process to make paving slabs with your own hands is ready for use. The process of dismantling the structure will not be difficult and will not take much time.

Manufacturing technology

The whole process of manufacturing paving slabs can be divided into several stages, each of which is equally important and affects the quality of finished products. The production of tiles is not too labor-intensive and tedious, and perhaps even gives you pleasure.

Form preparation

How to make paving slabs and save money at the same time? You can make do-it-yourself molds at home from wood, polyurethane or sheet metal.

Wooden forms are made according to the formwork principle. Suitable for the bottom of the tank, and it is convenient to use wooden bars for the sides. The blanks are fastened together with metal corners and screws. But this method allows you to make forms only in the form of simple geometric shapes.

To make molds from sheet metal, you will need a welding machine. If you already have it, then this method will allow you to create the most durable containers for casting pavers.

A very economical solution is to use food containers of suitable sizes and volumes. Plastic bottles for drinking water (capacity 5 or 10 liters) can be successfully used for self-production of square, rectangular and round shapes. Carefully cutting off the bottom, we get the finished shape.

Making polyurethane molds for homemade concrete paving slabs is quite difficult and takes a lot of time. A sample is taken as a basis (finished tile or paving stones, a piece of board, gypsum or metal blank). From improvised material (plywood or hard cardboard), a formwork is made that exceeds the size of the sample by 10-15 mm. The two-component polyurethane compound is poured into the formwork and the sample is lowered there. The drying process usually takes about 24 hours. Then the sample is carefully removed, and after that the finished form is also removed from the formwork.

But if you do not have the time and desire to make molds for paving slabs on your own, then you can purchase them at hardware stores. On sale there is a wide variety of these products made of plastic, rubber and polyurethane of various configurations.

So that further work and the demoulding process is not difficult, before pouring the mold solution, it is recommended that it contains fat, using a brush or spray gun. As a lubricant, you can use vegetable oil, a solution of laundry soap or a special liquid (for example, tectol Supercast ES 100).

Important! Do not apply liquid in a thick layer - this can lead to the formation of bumps, pores and shells on the surface of the finished product.

Preparing a solution for filling forms

According to the technology for manufacturing concrete paving slabs at home, for the production of 1 m² with a thickness of about 4-5 cm, you will need:

• 20 kg of cement grade M500 (in extreme cases, M400);
• 30 kg of sifted sand;
• 30 kg of small crushed stone or gravel (fraction size from 3 to 8 mm);
• plasticizer (for example, MasterGlenium 51; 0.6% by weight of cement), which increases frost resistance, facilitates the process of mixing the mixture and accelerates drying;
• 0.3-0.5 kg of reinforcing fiber (polypropylene fiber), which significantly increases strength and, as a result, service life;
• 700 grams of powder dye (the amount depends on the desired color saturation), if you want to make paving slabs in various shades;
• 15-17 liters of water, with a plasticizer previously dissolved in it.

The sequence for preparing the mixture is as follows:

• carefully sift the sand;
• mix sand with cement;
• add fine gravel and fiber;
• Pour water in small portions, continuing to mix constantly.

The consistency of the mixture should be quite thick, but easily spreadable in shape. The solution for paving slabs is completely ready for use.

Attention! If you strictly observe the technology and proportions of the preparation of the mixture, paving slabs will not yield to factory samples with their quality characteristics.

If you want to make colored tiles, powder dye must be added at the initial stage, mixing it with sand. You can also paint on the finished tile using an airbrush, since it is he who allows you to apply paint evenly.

Compaction of the mass and initial drying of products in molds

We place the prepared and lubricated forms on the vibrating table, fill them with the finished mixture (the excess can be removed with a trowel) and begin the vibrating process, which lasts exactly as long as it takes until the air (voids) is completely removed from the solution (approximately 5-10 minutes).

After the concrete mixture has been compacted, we remove the products in the molds in a dry place under a canopy and cover with plastic wrap to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture. Pre-drying of paving slabs takes 1-2 days, provided that the air temperature is at least 15 °C.

Product extraction and final drying

After the initial drying, the finished products are carefully knocked out of the molds with a rubber mallet on a pre-prepared soft surface (for example, a tourist rug or an old blanket). To facilitate the process of stripping the form for 2-3 minutes, you can lower it into a container with hot water at a temperature of about 45-50 ° C.

Then we place the blanks in a dry and protected from sunlight place for one to two weeks (the longer the better).

The whole cycle is repeated many times until you make the required amount for your project. Now you understand that making paving slabs at home is a fascinating, uncomplicated and low-budget process.

In custody

The quality of the work performed will depend only on the materials used and strict adherence to the sequence of the process. Proven for decades, the manufacturing technology of paving slabs allows the owners of suburban areas not only to significantly save money when arranging paths, recreation areas or parking spaces, but also to give the site a uniqueness in accordance with personal tastes and preferences.

Paving slabs (paving stones, figured paving element) are one of the best solutions in the design of sidewalk and landscape gardening paths, playgrounds and places for recreation. This durable and non-toxic building material allows paving in areas of all sizes and shapes, gives the suburban area a well-groomed look and acts as a high-quality and affordable alternative to asphalt pavement.

High-quality paving slabs withstand more than 200 freeze / thaw cycles, when heated, harmful substances do not evaporate from it.

is a creative, uncomplicated and financially affordable process, even for people who are unfamiliar with construction.

Home production allows you to save money, get a quality guarantee (subject to technology) and create an exclusive version of the track on the site. High-quality can withstand more than 200 freeze / thaw cycles, when heated, harmful substances do not evaporate from it. Simplicity, affordability, abundance of shapes, sizes and colors make this type of material popular for making at home.

Choice of production technology

The vibrating table includes a movable table with a vibrator. All this is rigidly fixed on the frame. The unit is operated by 2 people.

Adjustment of own technological is based on the application of technologies of specialized plants. There are two production methods:

1. Vibratory pressing of concrete mixtures of high rigidity with low water content.
2. Vibration casting with the addition of plasticizers.

These methods help to produce a variety of concrete elements, which are characterized by low porosity and an ideal front surface. Such characteristics are achieved due to the low water content in the concrete mixture, which is tightly packed due to vibration or vibrocompression.

None of the methods have any fundamental advantages. To comply with the vibratory pressing technology, the manufacturer must have special expensive equipment available. It is easier to achieve a guaranteed quality of paving slabs using the vibration casting method and the use of plasticizing additives. This method is best suited for self-production of tiles.

The essence of the vibration casting method is that the concrete mixture is compacted in molds on special tables under the action of vibration, which is caused by electromechanical vibrators. This production technology is used everywhere in construction (vibrated reinforced concrete slabs, poles, supports, curbs, etc.). Depending on the operations performed, single-layer and two-layer production technologies are distinguished.

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What will be needed?

The quality of raw materials, the correct proportions of the components in the composition of the concrete mixture and the organization of drying in natural conditions affect the reliability of the tiles produced.

The quality of raw materials, the correct proportions of the components in the composition of the concrete mixture and the organization of drying in natural conditions affect the reliability of the tiles produced. For the production of paving slabs, you will need simple and affordable equipment, as well as raw materials. The following equipment is used:

1. Concrete mixer. It is recommended to use not a gravity concrete mixer, but a forced action.
2. Vibrating table. You can buy ready-made or assemble yourself.
3. Forms for tiles. Manufacturers offer ready-made forms of various sizes and design styles. You can make your own mold.
   Pick-up shovel, bucket (volume 10 l), rubber gloves.

The components of the concrete mix for the production of paving stones are:

• crushed stone of a fraction of 3-10 mm, better than hard non-metallic rocks (an alternative is gravel or granite screenings);
• sand;
• cement without additives grade 500 (in extreme cases, not lower than 400);
• chemical additives (plasticizers, concrete modifiers, etc.);
• dry pigments (dyes);
• grease for molds;
• pure water.

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The production cycle

The whole process of manufacturing paving slabs can be divided into several stages:

1. Preparation of forms.
2. Preparation of concrete mix.
3. Shaping on a vibrating table.
4. Exposure in forms (1-2 days).
5. Demoulding of finished tiles and new preparation of moulds.

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Preparation of molds for the production of vibrocast products

The materials from which the molds are made allow them to be used several times. Rubber molds can withstand up to 500 times of reuse at home, plastic - up to 250, polyurethane - up to 100. Silicone, fiberglass and other primary raw materials are also used for the production of tile molds. You can make your own molds from wood or galvanized metal.

Rubber forms can withstand up to 500 reuses at home, plastic - up to 250, polyurethane - up to 100.

To facilitate further work with forms and the process of stripping, before pouring the solution, the “templates” must be lubricated with a special compound. The lubrication prolongs the life of the molds and makes it easier to clean before the next use. The coating layer should be thin, from excess fat on the surface of the finished tile, pores may form. Do not use lubricants containing petroleum products.

Home conditions allow you to prepare the lubricant yourself. To do this, 50 g of engine oil is diluted in 1.5 liters of water and mixed for a long time. Experimentally, it is important to choose the ideal balance of fat content. As a lubricant, vegetable oil or laundry soap dissolved in water is often used. When working without lubrication, new forms are treated with an antistatic agent, and after stripping, if necessary, they are washed with a 5-10% hydrochloric acid solution.

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Mixing concrete composition

Pigments, as well as a plasticizer, are added to concrete from the mass of cement, but not more than 3%. The pigment color used is the one you want to make your paving colored tiles.

You must first prepare additional components - plasticizer and concrete dye. The dye will be needed in the case of the manufacture of colored paving slabs; in the production of ordinary gray products, there is no need for it.

The plasticizer should be about 0.5% of the amount of all components of the mixture in dry form. To knead 40 liters of concrete, you need 200 g of plasticizer. You can not add it in dry form, 200 g of the substance is diluted in small portions in 1 liter of water at a temperature of 70-80 degrees Celsius. At least 2% of all components in dry form should be the dye. 800 g of dye are gradually added to water (3 l) at a temperature of 40-50 degrees Celsius, stirring thoroughly.

The walls of the concrete mixer must be wet, to do this, rinse the machine from the inside with water and drain the water. The strength of concrete products depends on the ratio of cement and water. To mix half wet concrete. To obtain this effect, it is necessary to add 30% less water than cement. For clarity: 3 buckets of cement (including plasticizer and dye) take 2 buckets of water.

Water is first poured into the concrete mixer, then a portion of cement is added, screenings are added to the homogeneous emulsion obtained after mixing and a solution is obtained. It is well mixed and poured in pre-diluted plasticizer and dye. It is necessary to knead until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

You can prepare the concrete mix at home by hand mixing. This requires a lot of physical effort and extra time.

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Shaping, curing and stripping

Ready-made concrete mix has workability OK = 3-4 cm. Therefore, short-term vibration treatment is used to compact it.

Forms are filled with ready-mixed concrete and placed on a vibrating table. The height of placing concrete in the mold should not exceed 4 cm. To save money, the concrete mixture can be laid in layers in the mold. In this case, the concrete for the outer (colored) and the main layers are mixed separately.

If for some reason gravel or crushed stone is not used in the concrete mixture, for the strength of the product they must be replaced with metal reinforcement (reinforced mesh or wire). It is laid in the process of filling the forms with concrete between the first and second layers.

The intensity of the vibration largely depends on the number of molds placed, it is impossible to overload or weaken the table springs too much. After turning on the vibrating table and the beginning of the influence of vibration on the forms filled with the solution, a free space appears in them, it must be additionally filled. The duration of the vibration is 4-5 minutes until a white foam appears on the concrete, which indicates the completion of the air release process.

Forms must be removed from the vibrating table and placed on a flat surface in a room protected from direct sunlight. The low water content and the presence of a plasticizer allow the tiles to dry quickly. After 1-2 days, you can make stripping. Before “knocking out” the tiles, it is necessary to lower the mold into water with a temperature of about 50-70 degrees Celsius for a couple of minutes. Then place the mold on the vibrating table and lightly tap the sides with a rubber mallet to prevent the mold from cracking. The service life of each form is shortened by approximately 30% when stripping without preheating is used. Such extraction of products is especially dangerous for thin tiles, it can lead to marriage.

After the formwork is completed, leave the finished products to “rest” for 5-6 days on pallets, having previously covered them with a polyethylene shrink film for further hardening. Prepare forms for the next cycle.