Paving slabs in the courtyard of a private house or in the country have two functions - aesthetic and utilitarian. The key to high-quality implementation of both, is the correct laying of paving slabs.

Many people trust this to professionals, relying on the fact that they know their business. Is this so? Will the hired worker always do the installation better than the owner himself?

The main thing is to know how to lay paving slabs with your own hands.

A good help will be a step-by-step instruction, in which, in addition to the order of work, all the nuances of this rather simple and exciting process will be revealed. Where the result is shown with the first tile laid.

Preparation for laying paving slabs

Planning is the key to ensuring that your homemade track won't let you down for a long time.

• Site planning... Few people decide to lay out all the space on the site with tiles, in the same way it is difficult to do without paths, at least from the gate to the cottage and outbuildings. The ideal option is to think over the paths to and from the house to the main buildings on the site. So the lawn is preserved, and it is not necessary to knead the mud in the rain. In addition, you do not have to uproot trees and other perennial plantings.

• Material selection... Paving slabs are gradually gaining ground from other types of road surface. The main advantages: ease of operation, the ability to dismantle the coating, does not "float" like asphalt from heating, does not burst from the cold (frost-resistant), and is not demanding to maintain. The path, lined with paving slabs, allows moisture to pass through, thereby, does not harm the soil and ground (environmentally friendly).

• Tile... When choosing a tile, you need to know that according to the manufacturing method, it is vibrocast (possible independent production) and vibropressed (made in an industrial environment). Differs in color, thickness and shape. Requires a device with a different composition of the base. All these factors determine the technology of paving slabs laying.

Tiled paths and areas - parameters

Comparative analysis of tiled road surface is provided in the table

The choice of base for paving slabs is also influenced by the type of soil. Moving soil requires a concrete base even under a footpath, while dense soil allows you to get by with a sand-cement pad and under a car.

Laying paving slabs with your own hands - step by step instructions

General tips and rules on how to lay paving slabs correctly:

• provide drains for water drainage... If paving slabs are laid on sand, then the water will go into the gaps between the tiles, and if on a concrete base, then a transverse, longitudinal or transverse-longitudinal slope is required. This way, water, rain or melt, will not collect between the concrete and the tiles. Therefore, the possibility of swelling of the track sections is excluded. The optimal slope of paving slabs is 1 cm by 1 meter. Please note: the gap for water drainage must be located between the curb and the tile floor;

• correlate the size of the tiles with the dimensions set aside for the track... The wider the track, the larger the tiled elements should be (subjective opinion), or vice versa, from small tiles. It would seem that a large tile will make the layout quick and simpler, but in reality, it may turn out differently. The large dimensions of the tiles are directly reflected in the mass, the weight of paving slabs 40x40 cm - 15-16 kg (depending on the thickness). As a result, such plates are difficult to lift, move, level. While you adjust the height, you will have to lift the weight several times to add sand;

• lay (bring) communications before laying paving slabs... Otherwise, it will need to be dismantled and reassembled. If there is no need for communications yet, then conditions can be created for their laying later. To do this, it is recommended to lay plastic pipes with a diameter of 50 mm under the path in the most likely places for future communications;

• installation of paving slabs is not performed during rain or immediately after precipitation... The soil and the laid cushion should dry out. The optimum moisture content of the base is a guarantee that the tiles will not creep over time;

• the base for laying paving slabs must be perfectly flat... The sand used for backfill should not contain clay or other impurities;

• choose the optimal track size... It is reasonable to select the width of the path, based on the size of the paving slabs, plus a value equal to the sum of the gaps between them. Thus, it will be possible to avoid time-consuming and not always beautiful tile cutting. The same applies to patterned layout. However, this approach is only possible when the tiles are laid with the correct geometry. The use of imitation of natural stone, circular pattern, complex geometry does not always make it possible to do without cutting. In this case, you need to think over the exact location of the individual whole and trimmed elements.

Stage 1 - Layout of paving slabs - schemes, patterns, drawings

To create a beautiful tile path, you need to make the right sketch. A drawing or scheme for laying paving slabs will help not only visualize the project, but also calculate the required amount of material.

The choice of laying scheme is influenced by the shape (geometry) of the tiles (see photo) and the planned layout design.

Considerable room for maneuver is created by the use of rectangular paving slabs with standard dimensions of 100x200 mm, such as "paving stones" or "brick". They provide the greatest number of styling options.

Traditional options for laying paving slabs:

1. Geometric styling... It can be represented by colored canvases or illusions.

By playing with colors and laying out tiles, you can create a unique design for garden paths. Examples in the photo (rhombus, square, circle, new and old town, parquet, chess, fan, coil, butterfly, wedge sheet, hexagon or honeycomb).

2. Illusions 3D - paving slabs with 3D effect... Laying tiles with a pattern that creates a three-dimensional stereoscopic (three-dimensional) image is a clever technology of optical illusion.

An example of which is provided below, does not have a schema in the classical sense. It involves laying out the tiles in an artistic mess. If the tile is monochromatic, then the size of the tiles varies during the layout, if it is multi-colored - the colors.

4. Artistic layout of paving slabs, the photo of which is provided below, gives an idea of ​​the variety of different styling options. The complexity of the drawing is determined by the skill or perseverance of the master.

Stage 2 - Preparation of material and tools for laying paving slabs

For work you will need: sand, cement, tiles, curb. Useful from the tool: nylon thread, pegs, rubber hammer, long rule, level, rammer, trowel, broom. In case of undercutting, you need a grinder with a concrete cutting disc. A handy thing is knee pads, because the work takes a lot of time with an emphasis on these parts of the body.

Stage 3 - Layout for laying paving slabs

Plotting is to define the contour of the future track. The place along the entire perimeter is indicated by pegs, between which a nylon thread is stretched. Due to the fact that it serves as a guide for laying out the tiles, it must be pulled strictly according to the level.

Stage 4 - preparation of the base for paving slabs

For the base device, you need to remove the top layer of turf, level the bed, pour water on it and compact it with a tamper. Dense soil does not need such work. There are stones, roots of trees and shrubs in the soil - all of this should be removed.

Note. You can leave the soil, but then the track will be much higher than the rest of the cover on the site, which can lead to its erosion by melt or rain water.

The resulting bed is covered with a drainage carrier layer, for example, crushed stone or gravel with a height of 150-200 mm. For an automobile path (platform), the layer thickness increases to 400 mm. Many are laid under gravel and geotextiles on top of it in order to exclude the possibility of erosion of the cushion by groundwater. On top of the crushed stone, 20 mm is poured. sand to level the base.

Stage 5 - Technology of laying paving slabs

Step-by-step instruction

1. Installation of a curb for paving slabs or curb

The purpose of the curbstone is to mark the path and protect the tiles from sprawling. But there are examples of laying out paving slabs without a border.

The curb is installed on a leveled base. For greater reliability, it is laid on a concrete base (concrete lock).

Can install a plastic tile border

The curb can be installed flush with the tile or protrude a few cm. It is recommended to lay the tile just above the curb (curb) by 5 mm, this is a shrinkage gap.

There are three types of bases:

Laying paving slabs on the sand.

In this case, the distance between the curbs (or a stretched thread if they are absent) is filled with sand. The height of the sand layer is 50-60 mm. Before work, the sand is poured with water using a sprayer and left to dry a little. Then it is leveled and rammed. Laying is done on wet, but not wet sand.

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On the base prepared at the fifth stage, the second layer of sand (30-40 mm) is laid, on which the reinforcing mesh is laid. From above, the mesh is covered with a mixture of sand and cement in a ratio of 1: 4.

Laying paving slabs on a concrete base.

The composition of the "pie" is shown in the diagram.

Note. Laying tiles on concrete is not the best option. This is due to the fact that the concrete base does not allow moisture to pass through. Water is retained between concrete and tiles and at subzero temperatures leads to deformation of the walkway.

3. Layout of tiles

Simple rules for quality and efficient work.

How to properly lay paving slabs:

• the tile is laid out from the bottom point upward;

• the laying is carried out by the method from oneself. That is, while performing the work, the master moves along the already laid track, so as not to damage the tamped and leveled base;

• installing tiles in a circular manner starts from the center of the picture.

• the beginning of installation falls on the optically visible boundary, i.e. the place where the eye first falls: the front door, porch, veranda, gazebo, etc.

• the tiles are not laid out in even rows, but diagonally. It's easier to align the horizontal line this way.

Getting started laying, first of all, pull the cord along the width of the path, and align the first row of tiles along it. The horizontal should be checked with a level every 2-3 rows.

"Planting" paving slabs The tiles are placed in their intended place and set precisely by lightly tapping on them with a rubber mallet. If the tile falls through, sand or mixture is poured under it.

The gap between the paving slabs is usually 2-3 mm (enough for the water to escape). Exact gaps are maintained using crosses (but, this is theory, it does not occur in practice).

Some manufacturers have provided for the presence of limiters (remote locks) on the tiles, which allow laying without the use of additional devices at the same distance from each other.

Material prepared for the site www.site

A new technology has appeared - paving slabs that glow in the dark. Installing such a tile will allow you to mark the boundaries and secure movement along the path at night. The glowing paint is applied over the tiles and is completely safe for users and the soil.

Another option for decorative illumination of the path is LED paving slabs. In this case, during the installation process, brick blocks are mounted - LED lamps powered by electricity or solar panels.

Stage 6 - Grouting paving slabs

In addition to understanding how to lay paving slabs, you need to know how to seal the joints. Filling the joints between paving slabs is done in two approaches. To begin with, a thin layer of clean, sifted, dry sand is poured onto the laid tiles. With a broom or brush, the backfill is spread between the seams. Then a layer of sand (if there is a sandy base) or a sand-cement mixture in a ratio of 1: 1 (for a cement-sand or concrete base) is poured onto the path and also, using a broom, the seams are filled (sprinkled).

You can purchase a ready-made dry mix for filling the joints of paving slabs: M150 (120 rubles / 25 kg) and Quick-mix PFN (1650 rubles / 25 kg).

At the end of the work, the path is watered with water using a spray. Watering is carried out until puddles form on the track.

Important. The distance between the curb and the tile is not concreted, and also covered with dry mix.

Note. Professionals advise to perform vibration compaction of the seams with a special board, but users argue that this is unnecessary in private construction.

Paving slab care

It is not enough to know how to lay paving slabs, you also need to provide it with constant care so that it will serve the billing period. Simple maintenance consists of periodically sweeping and washing the paving slab walkway (to keep the colored tiles as beautiful). In winter, you should not use metal shovels to remove snow, but for icing crowbars, ice axes, and sprinkle the track with anti-ice compounds containing salt.

Water repellent for paving slabs

The porous structure of concrete acts like a sponge - it absorbs water. Hygroscopicity plays its detrimental role precisely in winter, when water penetrates the pores of the concrete, freezes, expands and destroys the structure of the concrete base. As a result, the appearance of microcracks, dents, shells, discoloration.

To prevent this, use protective impregnations - water repellents for paving slabs.

Hydrophobic compounds (materials, additives, liquids) do not protect the tiles from burning out in the sun and abrasion, but only impregnate the concrete surface and thereby prevent "saturation" with water (impart a water-repellent property).

INSTRUCTIONS of JSC "Stroy-Planeta" Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan for the laying and operation of paving slabs produced using vibrocompression technology Our manufacturer - JSC "GlavBashStroy" Combine of reinforced concrete and aerated concrete blocks The production line is represented by European equipment of the company "MASA" Record 9001 (Germany)

2 It is used to cover sidewalks, park and pedestrian paths, courtyards, playgrounds, lining flower beds, flower beds, strengthening slopes and lawns. Physical and mechanical properties of the material: Frost resistance - F300, Abrasion - 0.7 g / cm 2, Specific radioactivity - 72 bq / kg. The production line is equipped with European equipment from MASA Record 9001 (Germany) - one of the leading manufacturers of equipment for concrete products and stone-forming. Production technology - vibrocompression method. Advantages of using paving slabs made by vibrocompression: heavy concrete of class B30 used in manufacturing has a low water-cement ratio, which reduces cement consumption, provides high strength and frost resistance, products have strict geometry of shapes and parallelism of surfaces, because all are produced in 1 (one) form (matrix), the durability of the coating (surpasses asphalt concrete pavement, tiles (production by casting technology) by several times), the absence of harmful fumes under the influence of sunlight, the level of radiation background is 3 times lower (compared to asphalt pavement). Paving slabs. GOST

3 Preparatory work A high-quality coating system largely depends on proper preparation before the laying stage. The first step is to use the control "beacons" to mark the territory allotted for the track or site, while taking into account the corners of the territory and observe both longitudinal and transverse slopes. Note that you need to decide on the slopes in advance. Arrangement of the base After marking the territory, we proceed to the preparation of the base, which can be made of sand, crushed stone or concrete, depending on the purpose of the path or site. Arrangement of the base takes place in several stages: Planning. During this stage, you need to remove the top layer of soil, remove the roots of plants and tamp the bottom. Note that in some cases it is necessary to level and compact the bottom using gravel or crushed stone. The result is a kind of bed, which is subsequently filled with materials for organizing the base of the track or platform. Drainage and slopes are necessary so that water does not accumulate on the surface. In no case should the slopes be directed towards the foundation of the building, since it is thanks to these differences in the height of the coating that most of the rainwater is removed. A smaller part of it goes into the ground through the seams of the surface. For this reason, waterproof materials such as gravel or crushed stone are often used as the supporting drainage layer. Laying the base layer. Various materials are used as a supporting layer, from sand (in the case of laying tiles for pedestrian areas with low traffic) and ending with concrete, which is used to equip areas with high traffic and problem soils. Regardless of which material is chosen for the carrier layer, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules: the thickness of the layer depends on the expected load on the coating: the higher the permeability, the more material will be needed to form the base. At very high loads on the surface, the supporting base is laid in several layers; the bearing layer is laid evenly, but taking into account the slopes; each layer is compacted using a vibrating plate, roller or manual compaction. Laying paving slabs Preparatory work

4 Arrangement of curbs. Curbs or curbs are installed on M100 mortar in pre-prepared trenches located around the perimeter of the base (in the case of sand or gravel base). If the supporting layer is made of concrete, then trenches are not required. Also note that curbs and curbs reach half the height of the tiles or paving stones. Laying a sand or cement-sand layer under paving stones. This stage cannot be avoided if materials such as sand or crushed stone act as a supporting base. In the first case, the additional sandy layer acts as a continuation of the sandy base. In the second case, the layer laid directly under the tiles or paving stones is a dry mixture of cement and sand. However, regardless of the material of which the leveling layer consists, the following recommendations should be observed: first, it is necessary to set the guide rails in accordance with all slopes and fix them; the underlying layer is leveled using a rule so that it is about 1 cm above the tile level. This is done so that the tile remains at the intended level after leveling the pavement and slight subsidence of sand or cement-sand mixture; in order to get a flat surface, subsequently the leveling strips must be removed and the resulting pits must be filled with sand or dry mixture. At this stage, the preparation of the base ends. Additional recommendations before starting work on laying tiles Naturally, there is no point in laying paving slabs "by eye": you first need to pull the cord along the entire length and width of the site. This will allow you to accurately observe the geometry of the lines of seams and slopes. We recommend that you check the position of the joints every 2-3 rows of tiles. Laying should start from the lowest point to a higher one or from some important element of the exterior (for example, from the front door). The tiles can be leveled with a rubber mallet or vibrating plate if the tiles are above the set level. It is also allowed to add dry mix or sand under the coating if, after laying, the tile has dropped lower. It should be noted that the surface is considered level if the deviations are 0.5 - 1 cm for every 2 meters. If necessary, an additional device, the tile can be cut with a "grinder" saw, equipped with a special saw blade with diamond dust. This will make it possible to obtain the material of the required size without much labor and money costs: on an object with an area of ​​up to 100 m 2, on average, up to two discs are consumed. Laying paving slabs Preparatory work

Tools required for laying work: shovel and bayonet shovels, paving cutter, grinder with diamond discs for cutting paving stones, vibrating plate with a pad, a rule for leveling sand and a sieve, wheelbarrow, stretcher, guides, level, leveling cord, brush, rubber mallet , water supply hose. 1.Prepare the bed by removing the top layer of soil over the entire area of ​​the future sidewalk path or site. In this case, it is very important to remove the roots of the plants in order to avoid their germination and to compact the bottom. 2.Pour sand into the prepared bed with a layer of cm and carefully level it with a rule or a rake, taking into account the slopes for water flow (at least 0.5 - 1 cm per meter). 3.Pour plenty of water from a watering can or hose onto the base, observing a minimum water flow of 10 liters per square meter. 4. Tamp the sandy base with a manual rammer in order to avoid subsidence of the base during operation of the sidewalk (Fig. 2). Rice. 2 For pedestrian and low traffic areas. The type of installation is recommended for private estates, cottage settlements, inner courtyards 5 Fig. 1

Fig In order to set the curbs, dig trenches to the required depth along the edges of the base. Plant the curbs with M100 mortar, then spill concrete and fill with sand. (Fig. 3) 6. Lay the tiles according to the chosen laying method, leaving small gaps of 0.5 - 0.7 cm. 7. When laying, use a level regularly, not forgetting about the slopes. In order to ensure even laying, use vibrating plates and massive rubber mallets if the tiles are above the required level. If, on the contrary, it is lower, then you can add additional sand under one or more stones. 8. Fill the gaps between the tiles with sifted sand or dry mix. The easiest way to do this is as follows: pour sand onto the sidewalk and use a brush to move it over the entire surface. (Fig. 4) 9. Remove excess dry mix or sand with a gentle jet of water. At the same time, pay attention to the fact that the filler does not wash out of the gaps. Brush off any remaining dirt and mixture from the pavement surface, and installation is complete. Rice. 3

1.Prepare the bed by removing the top layer of soil over the entire area of ​​the future sidewalk path or site. In this case, it is very important to remove the roots of the plants in order to avoid their germination and to compact the bottom. 2.Pour crushed stone into the prepared bed in a layer of cm and carefully level it, taking into account the slopes for water flow (at least 0.5 - 1 cm per meter). 3. Tamp the crushed stone with a manual rammer (Fig. 6) 4. To set the curbs, dig trenches to the required depth along the edges of the base. Plant the curbs on M100 mortar, then pour concrete and fill with sand (Fig. 7) Fig. 6 Fig. 7 7 Recommended for areas with moderate traffic and parking lots. Laying is carried out on a crushed stone base with a dry mixture. Fig. 5

5.Pour a cement-sand mixture on top of the crushed stone with a layer of 5 - 10 cm. If, according to the plan, it is necessary to install a reinforcing mesh, then lay it (Fig. 8) 6. Lay the tiles in accordance with the chosen masonry method, leaving small gaps of 0, 5 - 0.7 cm. 7. When laying, use a level regularly, not forgetting about slopes as well. In order to ensure even laying, use vibrating plates and massive rubber mallets if the tiles are above the required level. If, on the contrary, it is lower, then you can add an additional dry mixture under one or several stones (Fig. 9). 8 Fig. 9 8

8. Spill plenty of water over the sidewalk and wait until the walkway is completely dry, then start filling the gaps between the tiles with dry mix. (Fig. 10) 9.Pour the treadmill again, taking care not to wash the filler out of the gaps. 10.To avoid solidification of the solution on the surface, remove its excess. Make sure the pavement is completely free of mortar and the joints are filled with mortar. (Fig. 11) Installation is completed, the covering is ready for use. Rice. Fig. 10 11 9

1.Prepare the bed by removing the top layer of soil over the entire area of ​​the future sidewalk path or site. In this case, it is very important to remove the roots of the plants in order to avoid their germination and to compact the bottom. 2.Pour crushed stone into the prepared bed in a layer of cm and carefully level it. 3.Ramp the crushed stone with a manual rammer (Fig.13) Note that the boards are fixed with stakes located at a distance of 60 - 100 cm from each other. (Fig. 14) Rice Recommended for the construction of blind areas, zones and areas with high traffic and load, also in problematic soils. Laying is carried out on a concrete base Fig. Fig. 12 13

5. Fill the crushed stone with a layer of concrete 5 - 15 cm. For greater strength of the base, reinforcement with a road mesh is used. In this case, first lay the mortar in a layer of 3 cm and place the reinforcing material on it, then fill it with concrete. It is also worth noting here that with a large installation area, it is recommended to leave expansion joints (0.5 cm) every 3 meters. This way you can protect the concrete base from cracking in winter. (Fig. 15) 5. After placing the concrete, level the surface finally, taking into account the level of the base and the slopes. (Fig. 16) Fig. 15 Rice

7.Fix the curbs with M100 mortar, subsequently pouring them with concrete and filling them with sand (fig. 17) Seal expansion joints with elastic filler to prevent cracking. 10. Carefully fill the gaps between the tiles with grout or mortar, taking care to avoid getting the mortar on the face of the stones. If, nevertheless, this happened, then immediately remove the excess solution. The tiling is completed, after 48 hours the coating is ready for use. Rice. 17 Rice

The pavement does not require any special care or special cleaning equipment. When laying paving slabs in urban conditions, it is recommended to wash the surface every 2-3 days, in high traffic conditions - daily. On the territory of your own property, a cottage or a country house, paving slabs will look neat when washed with water once a week. With soapy water, a mop and a stream of clean water, you can easily get rid of any natural dirt on the surface of the coating. Attention should be paid to the following features of the care and operation of the coating: 1.To avoid damage to the flat surface, it is not recommended to move vehicles along the pedestrian zone with a paving slab thickness of up to 6.0 cm. 2.In the case of using a coating for traffic, the laying technology requires additional reinforcement with a concrete base (see part 3 of this document) 3. For cleaning snow and ice in autumn and winter, it is contraindicated to use metal shovels, scrap and other metal piercing-cutting tools, this can damage the surface of the coating. 4. In order to avoid erosion of the pavement surface, it is not recommended to use: abrasive mixtures, mixtures containing salt to remove ice. In this case, it is recommended to use ordinary river sand. 5.To give the surface of the coating shine, brightness and color saturation, treatment with special hydrophobizing compounds is recommended. They make the surface water-repellent and protect the concrete from exposure to water, water vapor and salt solutions, as well as organic solvents. 13 Sidewalk coverage: care and maintenance

Before purchasing sidewalk coverage, you should decide on several points Composition of the batch: 1. Purpose of the coverage area (pedestrian zone, parking, pedestrian zone and the movement of cars, etc.) 2. Desired pattern, tile shape and color scheme of the pattern, composition, combination with the landscape. 3. The composition of the composition and the need for completions, the presence of curbs and gutters, the dimensions of the site, etc. 4. We remind you that during the installation process, when cutting to size, some of the tiles will go to waste. The amount of such waste depends on the shape, size of the surface to be tiled, and the method of laying (for example, the diagonal method of laying gives more waste than the parallel method). Leave a few spare tiles in stock in case you need to replace something or need minor repairs. Taking into account the waste, it is recommended to purchase the coverage area 5-7% more than the area of ​​the surface to be coated. (The best option would be to purchase 2 square meters more area, because if you make a mistake or want to make a replacement, the tone of the new batch of goods may not exactly match your palette). Color palette: 1. The original color of concrete tiles depends on the dye used, is determined at the request of the buyer and agreed upon upon sale (this criterion is not a characteristic of GOST). 2. During operation, a change in the color of a concrete tile / surface (fading) is not a criterion defined by the requirements of GOST. Drying of the tiles occurs gradually and unevenly - color alignment occurs during its operation. 14 Notes to the Buyer

Salting out concrete *: During use, lime stains may appear on the surface of the tiles. This is due to the natural process of concrete salting out. This process does not reduce the strength characteristics of the tiles and can only affect the aesthetic appearance of colored products. The efflorescence process reaches its maximum after a year of operation and comes to naught two years after the start of operation. The disappearance of efflorescence is due to the fact that calcium carbonate on the surface of concrete enters into a slow reaction with carbon dioxide dissolved in water and turns into bicarbonate, soluble in water, which is washed off by precipitation or in the process of washing the surface. Paving slabs have increased resistance to aggressive environments. So solutions of acid, alkali and other chemically active compounds, when they hit the surface of the coating, do not change its structure, which makes it possible to use paving slabs on the territory of gas stations and other areas of work with aggressive agents. Replacement and repair work: Paving slabs produced by JSC "GlavBashStroy" are distinguished by their durability and resistance to wear due to the advanced production technology of products - the method of vibrocompression. In places of high traffic, heavily abraded tiles can be easily and simply changed, while it is not necessary to completely reposition the entire coating, leaving its integrity and reducing maintenance costs * Lime spots appear on the concrete surface due to the formation of free lime when the cement sets, which, dissolving in water comes out to the concrete surface through capillary pores, forms an insoluble compound in the form of a whitish coating - calcium carbonate CaCO3. 15

For the pavement and covering of garden and park alleys in the last decade, it is characteristic that the most popular type of covering now - paving stones - is laid on them. It is especially widely used in individual construction.

A beautiful view, a simple technology, according to which it fits, a spaciousness of care make this type of coverage in demand everywhere, both in urban and in rural areas.

Paving stones are made from natural stone: granite, quartzite, sandstone or concrete. Its main difference from paving slabs is in geometric shape. It is a three-dimensional rectangle. According to the production method, it can be chopped, sawn-chopped, sawn, tumbling.

The benefits of paving stones include:

• high quality and manufacturability;
• reduction in financial costs, since the care for it is minimal;
• durability - up to 30 years of service;
• resistance to various negative factors: physical, mechanical, chemical;
• environmental friendliness: it does not heat up in the sun and does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere;
• aesthetics: the use of various pigments gives the material a variety of shades, the colors do not fade over time.

Laying this type of pavement requires the correct use of materials, equipment, adherence to the rules and instructions for paving roads and paths, which are spelled out in the technical documentation.

DIY paving

The main attention is paid to compaction of the earthy coma and the correct organization of drainage:

• in wet soil, a geosynthetic canvas is used, which evenly distributes the load on the soil and keeps the drainage system in working order for a long period of time;
• if the main component of the soil is sand, then the supporting soil does not fit additionally.

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Paving tools

The pavement construction involves the use of the following tools:

• rubber hammer and broom;
• wood or metal pegs;
• building level and tape measure;
• brush and wooden block;
• tub and trowel;
• shovel and garden rake;
• wheelbarrow and tamper vibration or manual;
• watering hose with shower device, watering can and sieve;
• grinder and diamond discs for cutting stone blocks;
• gloves, goggles.

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Base preparation for all paving options

The base device consists of several stages:

• control pegs-beacons are placed in the place of the future road surface;
• the water flow is determined, it must be at least 5% or 5 mm per 1 m of the surface;
• at the end of the marking, it is necessary to determine the sufficiency of land on the site: if there is an excess, the soil is removed, if there is a shortage, it is added;
• the platform is leveled with a rake and compacted with a vibrating plate;
• the height of the base is calculated, it should be 1-2 cm higher than the planned level, this is necessary to take into account the shrinkage during compaction;
• measure the height to which the sand will be poured, and fix the cord with the order at this level between the stakes;
• a sand pillow is poured, carefully leveled with a rake and poured with water until puddles form. In sunny weather, the surface is leveled with a profile after a few hours, it should be even and smooth.

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Paving the road surface on a sandy base

The construction of a pavement pavement on a sandy base has the following stages:

• a geotextile is laid on the prepared surface and a sand pillow is poured with a layer of 10-15 cm;
• the pillow is carefully leveled, a slope is performed under the water flow, it is imperative to take into account the "5% rule";
• pour water on the sandy base with a hose or watering can;
• tamp it with a vibrating plate;
• fasten the cord to the height of the curb;
• curbs are installed, a trench is dug under them, which is filled with crushed stone, a cement mortar is applied with a layer of 1.5 cm and a length under the curb, it is prohibited to apply a larger amount at a time using the technology of paving stones. Using a rubber hammer, the curb is leveled until it touches the cord;
• the curb is fixed with a concrete mixture, which is prepared in a ratio of 1: 3, cement and sand;
• according to the paving pattern, using a level and a rubber hammer, blocks of stone are laid out, with gaps between them 2-3 mm, slopes are controlled according to the "rule";
• the gaps are filled with clean river sand with a brush;
• the pavement is compacted with a vibrating plate, cleaned with a weak stream of water so that the seams are not washed out.

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Paving paths on a gravel base

On a crushed stone base includes the following works:

• a synthetic geogrid is laid on a pre-prepared bed;
• a layer of crushed stone with a height of 10-20 cm is poured;
• crushed stone is leveled, the slope is prepared according to the "rules";
• crushed stone is tamped;
• a trench is being prepared for the curbs, which is also filled with crushed stone, the concrete mixture is laid out, the curbs are installed and leveled under the cord;
• the curbs are fixed with cement mortar;
• a dry cement-sand mixture with a height of 5-10 cm is poured, if necessary, a road mesh is laid;
• using a rubber mallet and a level, stone blocks are laid out according to the paving sketch, leaving gaps of 2-3 cm between them;
• the path is watered with a large amount of water from a hose;
• after the surface has dried, the seams are filled with a dry mixture and poured carefully with water from a watering can with a small stream so as not to wash the mixture out of the seams.

Labour Organization. Ceramic tile floors are laid by a tiling team. The quantitative and qualifying composition of the link depends on the characteristics and nature of the work performed.

Single-piece laying of tiles in the floor covering

Two tilers of the 2nd category are engaged in auxiliary operations. One of them sorts it, puts it in containers and brings it to the place of laying (fig. 58). Another prepares the solution in a mortar mixer, brings the ready-made mixture in a cart to the place of laying, unloads it onto the base and levels it with a rake.

Rice. 58. Sorting tiles: 1 - unsorted tiles, 2 - template for sorting, 3 - container for sorted tiles

The third lining of the 3rd category evens out the mortar mixture according to the level of beacons, cleans and moisturizes the base, installs the beacon rails.

The remaining members of the link - two tilers of the 4th grade - are breaking down the floor covering, installing beacons, laying the tiles on the prepared mortar layer.

Tilers work on footpegs on a wider grasp, standing on freshly laid mortar. Laying the tiles using the widened grip method saves labor costs for preparing the mortar layer.

Approximately half an hour before the end of the shift, three tiling tilers of the 2nd and 3rd grade complete the preparatory work and switch to preparing the tiles for the next shift, cleaning the base, cleaning the workplace.

The workplace of the link of the tiled flooring cladders is organized in accordance with standard schemes (Fig. 59), which graphically depict the location of the workers, the location of the necessary mechanisms, implements, and devices.

Rice. 59. Organization of the working place of the link of the cladders for the piece-by-piece laying of tiles: 1 - grout mixer, 2 - vacuum cleaner, 3 - table for sorting tiles, 4 - leveled mortar layer, 5 - lath-rule, 6 - lighthouse lath, 7 - trolley with mortar, 8 - control lath, 9 - container with tiles, 10 - lighthouse tiles; О 2 -О 5 - workplaces of tilers of the 2nd - 5th grade

Batch tiling using templates performed by a link of five people.

Two tilers of the 2nd category on the workpiece table 3 (Fig. 60) sort the tiles and place them in lattice templates. The third tiler-tiler of the 2nd category prepares the solution in the mortar mixer 1; the prepared mixture is transported on a trolley to the place of laying and leveled with a rake.

Rice. 60. Organization of the working place of the link of the cladders in the case of batch laying of tiles: 1 - mortar mixer, 2 - templates with packages of tiles, 3 - blank table for sorting tiles, 4 - vacuum cleaner, 5 - lighthouse tiles, 6 - lighthouse rail, 7 - leveled mortar layer, 8 - rule, 9 - trolley with solution, 10 - template with a package of tiles; О 2 -О 4 - workplaces of tilers of the 2nd-4th grade

The fourth and fifth cladders of the 3rd and 4th_digits make a breakdown of the floor covering, install beacons. The lining of the 3rd grade aligns the mortar layer to the level of the installed beacons. Together they lay the prepared templates with tiles. The 4th grade liner settles the template and, if necessary, straightens the individual tiles.

A significant amount of work on the flooring is performed by a specialized team of tiling tilers, consisting of several units of the same type.

Safety precautions. Before starting work, the tiler-tiler is instructed on safe techniques for completing the production task. The coater inspects the workplace, removes unnecessary materials, checks the serviceability of tools, inventory, devices, puts on overalls.

The tiling worker must wear rubber gloves to protect the skin of the hands from being corroded by the mortar. Sorting of tiles and other ancillary work is carried out in tight gloves, cutting and trimming of tiles - in goggles with shatterproof glasses. It is prohibited to cut and cut tiles on the knees. Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles when handling acid. Rooms where freshly laid floors are wiped with a solution of hydrochloric acid must be ventilated.

When working in darkened rooms (bathrooms, stairwells), temporary lighting should have a voltage no higher than 42 V.

At the end of the work, you should tidy up the workplace, clean tools, remove construction waste (including containers and packaging from tiles). Compliance with these requirements prevents injuries when laying tiled floors.