The production technology of paving slabs is quite simple. You can perform it at home. For the manufacture of paving slabs, you will need fairly affordable equipment. Judge for yourself, the most expensive thing you will have to buy is a concrete mixer. The vibrating table can be made by hand. Tile molds will have to be bought, but they are not as expensive today as they used to be. A good shape made of quality material can be bought at a price of $ 1 apiece. The price of the form is determined by the quality of the material, the size and design style of the form itself. To complete the line, you need to purchase a picking shovel, a good metal bucket of 10 liters, flights that will be filled with finished tiles, rubber gloves for safe work. When you have a complete line for the production of paving slabs, you can purchase and deliver raw materials for production:
The production cycle itself can be divided into several stages:
Preparing molds before manufacturing vibrocast products. Paving slabs are made on simple equipment:
Here detailed instructions for the manufacture of concrete products by vibrocasting. At the beginning of the production cycle, it is necessary to prepare the molds for pouring. It is better to use plastic molds. The technology provides for the nuances in the molding and stripping of vibrocast products. Prior to manufacturing, we lubricate the molds with a special lubricant for high-quality stripping. Lubrication also extends the service life of molds up to 500 cycles and more. Lubricated forms are best washed after stripping before the next pour. This is also very important. For beginners, it is better to purchase a special lubricant. You can make your own lubrication if you wish. But here it is important to clearly guess with the proportions. Grease for plastic molds is done like this. 50 grams of engine oil should be diluted in 1.5 liters of water. It is necessary to shake such a mixture very well and for a long time. Experiment very carefully with the proportions of the lubricant. It is important for you to choose the perfect balance of fat content. Too much grease will ruin your entire batch. After a very greasy lubricant, shells are obtained in the tile. This paving slab is more like a shell. Weak fat content in the lubricant will not give the desired effect when demoulding. After lubricating the molds, concrete can be prepared.
Preparation of composite components for the preparation of concrete. Before cooking concrete mix it is required to prepare the concrete mixer itself. Rinse the nutria concrete mixer with a bucket of water. Be sure to pour out the water. The walls where the concrete will be mixed must be wet. For the manufacture of paving slabs, it is necessary to make half wet concrete. Its strength and the duration of exposure of products in the molds depend on this. Wet walls will mix the concrete composition better and will not allow the concrete mixer to be heavily clogged with mortar deposits. Next, prepare the plasticizer and concrete dye. The plasticizer should be 0.5% of the amount of all components of the solution in dry form. For 40 liters of concrete you will need 200g. plasticizer. In no case can not add a plasticizer in dry form. It must be cooked first. We dilute 200g. plasticizer in 1 liter of hot water 70-80 degrees Celsius. The water must be hot so that the plasticizer dissolves well. AT hot water from a measuring cup, chopping well, add plasticizer powder in small portions. It should not be allowed to precipitate; it should dissolve well. Next, we prepare the pigment dye for concrete. The percentage of dye should be at least 2% of all components in dry form. If you make high-quality paving slabs, you cannot save on dye. You should be able to saturated color concrete that will keep its shade for years. Pigment dye is quite expensive and many are trying to keep the cost of production by saving on plasticizer costs. But this approach is not justified. After a year or two, the tile will lose its color. Two years after the rain, wet tiles will look like new, but when dry, the color is almost invisible. To justify saving the dye, it is better to use the technology of pouring in two layers. Half fill the forms with colored concrete and immediately colorless. Such a tile will be even stronger. Only the intervals between filling the layers should not exceed 20 minutes. So you can save expensive dye by 2 times. Dilute 800 g of dye in a 3 liter jar with water at a temperature of 40-50 degrees. Just mix thoroughly and add in small portions. In no case should precipitation be allowed in the dye. This sediment can reject your tiles. A small lump of dye residue in the face of a tile makes a sink. So paving slabs can lose their presentation and strength due to poorly diluted dye. If the pigment dye is poorly diluted, it will not give the proper color for the tile.
The technological process of manufacturing vibrocast tiles. When our forms are lubricated, the plasticizer and pigment dye are diluted, the concrete mixer is moistened, we can nail the concrete. The manufacturing technology of paving slabs has its own characteristics for the preparation of concrete. This is the low composition of water. The strength of concrete products depends on the ratio of cement and water. It is only necessary to add more liquid by 30% and the concrete will lose its strength by 2 times. The tile mortar, as mentioned above, should be half wet (like wet earth). It may seem too dry to you, but as soon as it hits the vibrating table, it already seems too wet. This is the trick that awaits you in the process of making paving slabs. Therefore, we add water less than cement by 30% of the volume. It takes 2 buckets of water for 3 buckets of cement, and this is inclusive of plasticizer and dye. Such concrete is quite difficult to knead. To do this, you need to pre-moisten the concrete mixer. Well, now we turn on the concrete mixer and, first of all, fill in the measured portion of water while without dye and plasticizer. Then add a portion of cement and mix to get a homogeneous emulsion (people say milk). Then we add screenings and we already get a solution. Mix well and add pre-diluted components: plasticizer and dye. And we knead all this well until we get a homogeneous mass that is beautiful in color.
This semi-dry concrete recipe is intended for vibrocasting thin-walled concrete products or for the production of cinder blocks on a home-made machine.
When we have concrete ready, we fill in the forms and put them on the vibrating table. The number of molds on the table plays an important role in the intensity of the vibration. The table springs must not be too overloaded or too loose. Vibration should be in a certain intensity. As soon as you put the forms with concrete on the table and turn on the vibrating table, the magic begins. Dry concrete begins to turn into liquid. More and more space appears in the forms and more should be filled in. It seems that the forms on the vibrating table already contain liquid concrete, but if you turn the form over, its contents do not fall out, but stick tightly to the edges of the form - which means you are doing everything right. The duration of the vibration should last approximately 4-5 minutes. With proper vibration, do not turn off the vibrating table until white foam appears on the concrete in the forms. This indicates that all the air has come out of the concrete. Then remove the forms and take them to a room replaced from sun rays. The tile dries in just a day. This is helped by the low water content and the plasticizer, which is part of the tile. The plasticizer not only gives elasticity during formation, but also effectively dries and enhances strength. concrete product. The next day, you can do the stripping and you have a finished tile. She needs 5 days to rest before selling. This will give it maximum strength. Molds must be washed after stripping, even though they have been oiled. The concrete is so tenacious that it still leaves marks on the plastic molds. You can't wash them off with plain water. It is better to use a lot of salt. Prepare a high concentration saline solution in advance. So it is much easier and faster to wash plastic molds for paving slabs.
In order to produce 1 square meter of paving slabs, we need: To make paving slabs, you need to buy equipment.
| Name | A photo | Price |
| Concrete mixer. |  |
The price depends on the volume in liters, on average $ 1.5 per liter. Concrete mixer 300 l. will cost $450. The larger the volume, the cheaper the price per liter. |
| Vibrating table. |  |
You can do it yourself, it will cost you $ 180 maximum. A new one will cost from $500. I highly recommend making a vibrating table with your own hands, there is nothing complicated. |
| Forms for the manufacture of paving slabs. |  |
Forms are best taken from good thick-walled plastic. The cost of such forms is from $ 1 per piece. For one square meter of rocky-shaped coverage, 25 pieces will be needed. And for the square of the “brick” shape, you need to buy 50 shapes. It all depends on the size of the tile. |
| Bucket. Shovel. Rubber gloves. |  |
Available to everyone. |
To calculate the payback period, we need the following indicators: equipment cost in dollars productivity square meters per day the cost of production in dollars per 1 sq.m. profitability in percent (%).
Let's say we want to produce 40 sq.m. tiles in the form of "rocky" per day. We will need a 300 liter concrete mixer (this will be about 6 mortar injections) worth $450. Homemade vibrating table $180. Forms 1 $ * 25 pieces per square meter "Rocky" * 40 sq.m. = 1000$. Bucket, shovel, rubber seals = $20. The total cost of purchasing equipment is $1000 + $450 + $180 + $20 = $1650. The selling price of forty squares of the finished product will be 40 square meters. * $7.5 (price per 1 sq.m.) = $300. And the cost of a tile is 40 sq.m. * $3.2 = $128. With an established sales market, the turnover balance (net profit) is $300 - $128 = $172 per day. It is important to note that the cost of production does not include the cost of wages to workers. The plan is designed for the work of one person. So, you will need to prepare 1000 forms. Preparation can take up to 5 days. For this reason, your true balance per day will be $172 / 5 days = $34. Therefore, the fair payback period for the equipment will be: $1650 (purchase of equipment) / $34 (net profit) = 50 days. If you plan to work with holidays, then 50 days / 22 working days = 2.5 months.
In general, the business looks very attractive. Advantages of a business idea: The idea does not require specialized investments to start High percentage of profitability Simple technological process production Short payback period. Of the minuses, it is worth noting. Business is highly dependent on seasonality. A rather long and boring process of preparing forms (all forms must be washed with salt water from concrete and treated with grease). Anyone can start this business. It can be made both the main and additional source of income. Also, the production of vibrocast products can be used to save money. For example, consider as an alternative to buying tiles for laying near your home.
If you have a construction site, then you probably already have a concrete mixer. You will make the table yourself, but you need to buy the forms. In cases of marriage, products can be used for other purposes at a construction site. If you are a very cautious person and are not ready for risks, then get a couple of forms and try your hand at a meager cost. I assure you that everything works out for you. Paving slabs are a sought-after product on the market. building materials. This is a consumable item. This is the most practical cover for the yard. For example, asphalt emits toxic fumes when heated. Concrete cracks at sub-zero temperatures. The mobility of the tile coating allows you to freely replace worn areas. Believe in the product you are selling and people will buy from you.
Paving slabs successfully compete with other types of building materials for covering sidewalks, parking lots and squares in cities, paths, recreation areas, driveways in summer cottages and country houses. The demand for it is growing from year to year. Manufacturers that are sensitive to consumer demands are not limited to the production of the types of paving slabs familiar to us, and bring to the market more and more of its varieties with unexpected and very interesting characteristics: rubber and polymer sand, luminous, and even tiles with a printed three-dimensional image.
Paving slabs manage to maintain their popularity for a number of reasons:
Paving slabs are produced by vibropressing and vibrocasting. The first production method is high level mechanization and high labor productivity, significant volumes of output. In the production of tiles by the method of vibrocasting, manual labor prevails in most enterprises, the products themselves are inferior in terms of characteristics to vibropressed tiles, and the service life is shorter. However, its advantage lies in the variety of shapes and colors. In small-piece production by vibrocasting, it is not a problem to change the mold and fulfill an individual order.
On your site, if you have the desire and time, you need to do it yourself. And to compensate for the lack of experience with accuracy, exact observance of technology and the introduction of a creative beginning into the design of a recreation area or path.
More difficult is the issue of production at home. First of all, you need to decide whether you will make tiles only for yourself or will sell them. "Business plans" for organizing your own production of paving slabs, distributed on the Internet, are very far from reality and do not take into account the most obvious things.
Important! For your needs, it is advisable to make tiles at home. It is a question of economy and quality. The fact is that there are a lot of small manufacturers on the market who do not disdain violations of technology and the use of low-quality raw materials. Defects will “come up” in a year or two, when it will be too late to make claims, and there is no one to complain to. And for yourself you will try to make the best tile in the world.
The organization of a small production for the production of paving slabs only, at first glance, seems to be very profitable business. And main problem sales will become for you - the market is oversaturated and the buyer is very picky. Plus (or rather, this is a big minus for your plans) is not a very favorable situation in the suburban real estate market. The mass of finished objects "hung" and are not for sale. No purchases - no new dacha owners and country houses who urgently need to pave paths and platforms. Without a clear and distinct prospect of selling the products that you are going to produce at your new production, it is hardly advisable to start buying equipment and raw materials. While you are considering this question, let's talk about equipment for the production of paving slabs using the vibrocasting method. For their needs, after all, it is necessary to establish a production process.
For production at home, we need fairly simple equipment and materials for concrete mortar.
Full set necessary equipment consists of vibrating tables for pouring and knocking out, a heat chamber and a concrete mixer. In practice, they are often limited to only a pouring table. It is a metal frame to which a movable table with a vibrator is attached. The working plate of the table is fixed with the help of springs (such are used in Zhiguli). A vibrating table is necessary - it provides compaction and degassing of the solution. Without vibrating table you will get fake diamond rather than dense paving slabs. The vibrating table for knockout has a frame for knockout on the working movable plate finished products. However, you can do without it.
The "canonical" technology of vibrocasting involves the use of a thermal chamber to reduce the solidification time of the mixture in a humid environment at elevated temperatures. In part, the curing time can be shortened by using warm solutions. The thermal chamber is sometimes replaced with a thermal bath - a container in which the water temperature is maintained at 70-80 ° C with the help of heating elements. When producing for your needs, the time factor is not critical. Unlike production for sale, when it is necessary to use all the possibilities to speed up the turnover of forms.
Attention! For the production of a limited volume of tiles, it makes sense to abandon the concrete mixer and limit yourself to a powerful puncher with a mixing nozzle.
However, even with small-scale production, you will need at least one concrete mixer for implementation. The second will be needed to make tiles different colors.
The materials commonly used to make molds are polypropylene, rubber and plastic. The rubber mold is more durable and can withstand up to 400-450 cycles. Polypropylene can withstand about 100, but they are one and a half times cheaper. You will also need molds for the production of curbstones.
At home, after several trial batches, you will determine the best proportions for making a solution. Try to start with the following:
This is based on a batch in a concrete mixer. Check the quality of the solution after the completion of the cycle as follows - the solution should look like a granular porridge, you can take it with one movement of the trowel, while the solution does not break into pieces. For the production of colored products, pigments are added. For one batch, approximately 0.7 kg of dye will be required, however, this value must be checked for compliance with the resulting tone with the intended color in the finished product.
All components are loaded into a concrete mixer. Please note that the plasticizer, which is purchased in dry form, must be diluted with water. The pigment is laid at the beginning of the process of mixing the solution.
Forms are placed on a vibrating table and pre-lubricated with special compounds - so they will not be damaged when removing the tiles (during stripping). It is easier and faster to lubricate the molds from an aerosol can. After mixing is completed, the vibrating table is turned on and the solution is poured into the molds. Within about 4-5 minutes, starting from the moment the forms are filled, the solution is compacted and degassed. Watch for the appearance of foam and do not let the resulting foam settle. This is a signal that the solution is ready. Overdo it, the composition will begin to exfoliate. Next, the vibrating table motor is turned off and the molds are sent to dry.
Very important! It is required to carefully monitor that the forms to dry were in a strictly horizontal position. Otherwise, you will receive a defective batch of tiles, which you will no longer be able to use for its intended purpose.
For storage it is convenient to use ordinary wooden pallets.
The mixture in the molds will dry for at least a day. Much depends on temperature and humidity. environment. After the mixture has set in the mold, the heaters in the bath are turned on and the mold is placed in the water heated to 70-80 ° C for five minutes. This procedure facilitates the removal (dismantling) of the tile. The removed products cannot be used immediately, they must “rest” for at least a week and gain strength. Organize a place under a canopy for soaking finished products during this time.
Important! Consider the work done only when you have washed the molds with brine (a solution of 30 g table salt in one liter of water), rinsed them with water and set to dry.
We examined the production process of paving slabs using the vibrocasting method at home. It should be noted that another production method - vibrocompression - is associated with significantly higher costs for the purchase of equipment, primarily a vibropress. A vibropress is a much more complex and expensive equipment. Yes, and in this case you can’t do a thermal bath, you will need to buy a thermal chamber.
Now it has become very fashionable to lay out paths and recreation areas with paving slabs, however, not everyone is able to purchase ready-made material because of its high cost. It is possible to make this finishing material on one's own. In addition, it is possible to make tiles according to your personal requests and needs.
Making pavement tiles with your own hands has many advantages, since the finished product: has original design, can be absolutely any color, strong enough and hardy. The production of pavement tiles is considered quite complex and laborious process, especially given the lack of experience in its manufacture. In addition to preparing molds and tools, it is important to correctly calculate the proportions of the solution for pouring.
There are only two types of manufacturing of these products, namely, vibrocompression and vibrocasting.
The manufacture of tiles by vibrocompression involves the use of thick cement mixture with the addition of a small amount of water. The manufacture of tiles by vibropressing implies the preparation of a mixture in a vibropress. For homemade tiles most suitable method of vibrocasting. To produce tiles using this method, you will need a concrete mixer, a vibrating table and molds for casting.
Paving slabs are considered simply ideal option for landscaping and country house. Its affordable cost and ease of installation make this material ideal for creating beautiful and comfortable walking paths. This coating has long been considered one of the most beautiful and durable. However, due to the high cost of the finished tile, not many people decide to purchase it. To ennoble your summer cottage or country house, you can make tiles yourself. To make a tile yourself, you first need to prepare the mixture, observing all the required proportions. The recipe for the mixture is quite simple, however, you definitely need to know which components to add and what proportions should be.
To make a mixture you need to take:
Cement is used as a binder. The brand of cement is selected depending on the degree of compressive strength of the component. It is best that the brand of cement is M500. The aggregate can be sand and gravel, or just clean sand is used.
As special additives, a plasticizer or dispersant is used. These mineral additives must be used, as they increase frost resistance and give products greater strength. In addition, they increase the elasticity of the finished tile and give its surface a beautiful glossy sheen.
In the production of tiles, a dye is definitely needed, since with its proper use, the durability and attractiveness of the finished product increases. As a percentage, the amount of dyes used should be no more than 4-5% of the total mass of the concrete mix.
The dyes used should preferably be lightfast, resistant to adverse weather conditions and also insoluble in water. When preparing a concrete mix, it is imperative to distribute the dye evenly. The recipe for preparing a mixture for tiles varies depending on the requirements for the resulting product.
When making tiles on your own, it is important not only to make the product correctly, but also to determine the composition of the solution, which is often quite difficult to do. When preparing a solution, factors such as the type of raw materials used, as well as the conditions for pouring and drying products, must be taken into account. Before you start making tiles, you need to prepare the ingredients, a vibrating table with an ideal flat surface and forms.
Sand-cement mixture is made from such components as:
The technology for preparing the mixture is quite simple. Initially, you need to mix the sand well with cement and the prepared plasticizer, and then add crushed stone, which, if desired, can be replaced with screenings. At the very end, in small portions, you need to pour in the liquid. The consistency of the resulting mortar should be strong enough so that it can be easily held on the trowel, however, the mixture should not crumble or crack when lightly tapped on the mold. The consumption of components largely depends on the required characteristics of the finished product, which is why it is calculated separately. Important! Subject to all the required conditions, you can get paving slabs High Quality, which will be distinguished by high strength and durability.
The most demanded element for paving tracks in country house or at suburban area, central squares and city streets are considered to be paving slabs or curly paving elements.
The main advantages of FEM are:
The manufacturing technology of the tiles implies that after preparing the mixture, it must be poured into molds located on the vibrating table. Before pouring the mixture, the molds must be lubricated with an oil. The vibration process lasts only a few minutes and its duration depends on the thickness of the tiles.
Excess concrete must be removed with a spatula, and if the mixture drops heavily in the molds, then you need to add concrete mortar and continue vibrating.
The surface of the mortar is then smoothed out and then the filled molds are transferred to pallets. Depending on the air temperature and size, it is necessary to dry the tiles for 2 to 4 days in a special drying chamber. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a certain humidity and air temperature. After drying, the molds are placed in an evaporating bath. When carrying out heat-steam treatment, it is necessary to set soft curing modes and the temperature should not exceed 70 ° C. The removal of finished products is carried out on a special table or manually. It is worth remembering that maximum strength occurs only after 28 days.
Now there are many options for paving slabs, thanks to the use of special forms in its manufacture and dyes of different colors. Many people prefer to make tiles on their own, but you need to know how many components to take in its production. In addition to the main components, plasticizers are also used.
These substances help:
In the production of tiles, the plasticizer must be prepared in advance. To do this, dry plasticizer is poured into water heated to 40 ° C in a ratio of 1: 2. Then for 15 minutes the mixture must be mixed using a mixer nozzle. When the solution is ready, it must be left for a while. It is best to prepare the plasticizer in the evening, and in the morning it will only need to be mixed for 15 minutes.
To make the product durable and resistant to negative atmospheric conditions, it is imperative to comply with all the required conditions for the manufacture of tiles and use only high-quality materials.
For many owners of suburban real estate topical issue there remains the technology of making paving slabs with their own hands.
Indeed, if you acquire certain skills in working with paving stones, then household territory you can transform beyond recognition, make a hard surface in the yard or mount garden paths.
In practice, two main methods are used. To begin with, let's get acquainted with the nuances of obtaining the material in question by vibrocasting. This method is characterized by comparative cheapness and the possibility of obtaining high-quality building materials even by inexperienced workers.
The production technology of the material is as follows. The prepared working solution is poured into molds greased with processing. Then they are installed on a vibropress and compacted until air bubbles come out. Next, the raw material is placed on special racks for drying. After about two days, tiles are knocked out of the molds and reused.
Paving stone made by vibrocompression differs from its analogues in improved indicators of resistance to mechanical influences and high strength values. Such materials are intended for laying coatings in critical places, for example, in car parks.
Note: with your own hands, you can only make vibrocast paving stones, which can be used for garden paths. Homemade Materials cannot be used for a long time as a coating in places of movement or parking of vehicles.
The technology for producing vibropressed tiles is somewhat reminiscent of the production of tiles using the vibrocasting method. Ready solution passes through a special press, so the products have improved strength indicators. At the final stage of the work, the material is dried in special steaming chambers.
According to the majority of consumers, approximately 80% of the total number of respondents, materials that were obtained in the factory by vibrocompression have the best performance.
Such products are slightly more expensive, by about 20%, but they are much more durable.. The concrete mixture has a denser structure, it contains fewer pores, which improves the frost resistance and abrasion resistance of the surface.
It's important to know: pressed paving stones, which is present in construction stores, limited in shapes and shades, cast tiles, on the contrary, have a wide variety of shapes and colors.
The maximum destructive effects occur with the coating in winter time year, when water enters the concrete, it expands and destroys its structure. The surface of materials made by vibrocasting can be protected by introducing special water-repellent substances into the base composition, but such elements will not make it eternal, but will only increase its service life.
To obtain the materials in question, the following tool is required:
Good to know: a similar aggregate is used to remove air bubbles from the concrete mix during compaction.
One of the most popular forms for paving stones is silicone. Such products are used to create complex shapes. Such formwork allows you to get a pattern with a different textured surface.
The disadvantage of the product is limited use (no more than 50 cycles). In the future, the form loses its original geometric dimensions.
The next variety, plastic formwork, is used to obtain simple products. The main advantages of such structures are considered to be high rates of durability and strength. Such products can withstand up to 800 cycles of filling and solidification of the working mixture.
Forms based on polyurethane are somewhat similar to silicone formwork, but they are more expensive and have a long service life (up to 100 cycles).
Many private developers are interested in the question of how to make a form for paving stones on their own. The most popular option is wooden formwork made from pieces of plywood or thin boards.
Take note: are taken into account when making the form. inner dimensions, which will correspond to the dimensions of the finished product.
Such forms are made in the form of a square or rectangle, as well as a hexagon. Metal corners are fixed at the joining points of adjacent elements.
The following components should be present in the basic composition of the mortar for paving stones:
To obtain a high-quality mixture, it is necessary to mix all these raw materials in a concrete mixer. First you need to dissolve the plasticizer with a small amount of warm water and pour it into the mixer. The rotation of the drum of the unit occurs until the plasticizer is completely dissolved in the liquid.
The pigment dye is also mixed with water heated to 80 degrees until completely dissolved, these components of the mixture are taken in a ratio of 1 to 3. After pouring the required amount of water into the concrete mixer, sand and crushed stone are added in turn, then the binder (cement). For effective mixing, water is periodically added to the composition of the raw components. The last time this is done at the end of the batch.
First you need to properly prepare the forms. For this they inner surface smeared with mining or other type of lubricant.
At the stage of formation, it is necessary to pour the prepared solution into molds. If there is a need to produce a material with a colored surface, then 75% of the formwork is poured with ordinary gray concrete, the remaining 25% is colored. In this case, the decorative part of the product should be at the bottom.
Forms filled to the top with a solution are gently shaken and placed on a vibrating table for about 5 minutes. Products are taken from the table after the appearance of a white film on the surface. Whiteness usually indicates the release of air bubbles from the concrete. In the manufacture of two-color paving stones, each layer is compacted separately.
Expert advice: with abundant application of oil, small depressions may form on the surface of the tile, but if there is not enough lubrication, then it will be problematic to pull the paving stones out of the mold.
The next stage of work, drying, involves laying products on racks for a period up to three days. The drying room should be equipped exhaust ventilation. In addition, the sun's rays should not penetrate into the warehouse for storing finished products. To reduce the intensity of evaporation of moisture from the surface of the material, the form with concrete is covered with a transparent polyethylene film.
The final stage is the removal of the tile from the mold. This process is carried out in a special container with water heated to 60 degrees. Under the influence of heat, the mold expands, as a result of which the tile is removed without any problems. The product is knocked out on a soft bedding and placed to dry for another month (for final hardening).
A price calculation is necessary if this material is to be used for resale, and also to determine the savings between handmade paving stones and factory products.
The main money will have to be paid for the raw components of the concrete mix and formwork. Here are some examples:
Price ordinary tiles with a smooth surface starts from 200 rubles / m2, textured one costs even more - about 450 rubles / m2. If you carefully calculate all the costs, then home-made paving stones will cost 10-30% cheaper than factory products. .
There are several ways to make colored paving stones at home. Let's describe the most popular of them:
Keep in mind: when mixing several colors, a more interesting texture of the products is obtained.
As we can see, the process of making paving slabs at home is quite simple. If you get acquainted with the production technology and have at least a little desire, you can make a hard surface in the courtyard of a private house and even make money selling paving stones.
For detailed instructions for making paving slabs with your own hands, see the following video:
Paving slabs - simple and reliable way arrange a garden path, path, driveway in the country or lay out a platform in the courtyard of a private house. Depending on the place of application to tiled flooring paths have different requirements regarding strength and laying method.
One of the factors that determine the durability of a tile track is the laying mortar. At the same time, many people prefer to make paving slabs with their own hands.
In terms of technology industrial production, tiles can be made in two ways:
Vibrocast paving slabs(costs less, is used in private construction).
Manufacturing technology: concrete mortar is poured into molds that are placed on a vibrating surface. In the process of vibration, the solution evenly fills the mold and air bubbles come out of it. After, the molds are placed on drying racks. After 2-3 days, the tiles are removed and dried.
Vibropressed paving slabs(more resistant, designed for use in places with heavy traffic). The production technology is similar, but the solution is additionally pressed down with a press (vibropress). The result is a more compacted mixture and, accordingly, a stronger material structure. The tiles are dried in special chambers.
You can only make vibrocast tiles for paths and paths on your own. We immediately focus our attention - home-made paving slabs are not intended for laying in places of heavy traffic, but will become indispensable for the formation of garden paths in the country.
According to reviews on the forums, 80% of users agree that the best paving slabs are those that are manufactured in the factory by vibrocompression. It is more expensive (~20%), but more durable. The point is that more dense concrete is obtained, which has fewer pores, respectively, the tile absorbs water a little, does not crumble and is resistant to abrasion.
But, pressed tiles have a limited choice of colors and shapes, while cast tiles, on the contrary, are easy to manufacture, which means they are more affordable, plus, you can cast almost any shape, and a large selection of shades.
The tile is subject to the greatest destruction in winter, when the water that has got inside the concrete freezes and expands. Of course, it is possible to protect a vibrocast tile with hydrophobic compounds, but this will not make it eternal, the service life is less than that of a pressed one. However, for private use on a tight budget, homemade paving slabs can be perfectly fine.
Visually. The first will have an inhomogeneous smooth structure, the second - a homogeneous, rough one. Paradoxically, the vibrocast one is more beautiful in appearance (at the time of sale) - bright, smooth (examples in the photo). The difference shows up during operation.
Why did paving slabs become popular, leaving asphalt, concrete and bulk far behind? Because paving slabs for paths in the country have a number of advantages over other types of coverage:
- moisture and vapor permeability of the coating. Under the path, laid out of tiles, the natural microflora is preserved, and the evaporation of moisture occurs as when loosening the soil, i.e. more uniform. This does not interfere with the growth of the roots of shrubs and trees, but growing along garden path plants go longer without watering;
- aesthetics. Thanks to the various shapes and colors of tiles, you can make beautiful drawing(lay out an ornament, pattern) on cottage path;
– maintainability and the possibility of replacement, relocation concrete tiles if necessary; 
- longevity. Cooked and 
- the possibility of arranging tracks of complex configuration with your own hands. There are two ways to get tiles for sidewalks and paths.
You can't make a quality product out of anything. Therefore, in the process of enumeration, we will focus on the properties of the material and the requirements for them.
Determines the quality of the tile. What kind of cement to use for paving slabs? To make the mortar, high-grade cement is needed (M400 - minimum, ideally M500). The brand of cement indicates its compressive strength. Accordingly, the higher the brand of cement, the stronger will be the concrete solution, which underlies the recipe for the production of paving slabs. The use of M-500 cement will give the tile such properties as frost resistance, strength and water resistance.
Only fresh cement is suitable for making tiles (cement loses 5% of its properties during a month of storage). You can check the quality of cement by squeezing a handful of powder in your fist. If it seeps through your fingers - the material is fresh, if it gets into a lump - it's better not to buy.
Note. You should not try to save money by purchasing the M 300 brand, because. in this case, the consumption of cement will increase significantly.
Used for solution drinking water room temperature.
Sold as a powder or ready mix. What is a plasticizer for? Designed to communicate additional properties to the mortar, reduce the consumption of cement and water, increase the density of concrete, and facilitate the process of mixing the mortar.
Which plasticizer is best for paving slabs?
Good reviews deserved: Westplast, PLASTIMIX F, POLYPLAST SP-1, Master Silk. But, the best (popular among users) is the S-3 Superplasticizer additive.
The addition of a plasticizer to the concrete solution guarantees low abrasion of the tile, its moisture and frost resistance.
Paint allows you to create tiles of different colors. It is important to coloring pigments were lightfast. Given the high price of dyes (from 1500 to 8600 thousand rubles), two-color paving slabs are in demand. Dye is added to the top layer, the bottom remains gray.
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Fiber for concrete is needed to increase the strength of the tile. For reinforcing concrete, polypropylene fiber is used (fibers up to 20 mm long and 10-50 microns in diameter).
For example, polypropylene fiber Micronix 12mm. (165.00 rub/kg), chopped glass fiber (145.00 rub/kg) or MicronixBazalt 12mm basalt fiber (98.00 rub/kg) (pictured in order).
Note. The length of the fiber should not exceed the diameter of the largest aggregate in the concrete solution.
A well-oiled mold will make it easier to remove the tile.
You can buy a special lubricant for molds, for example, Lirossin (Ukraine, 210 rubles / 5 l.). This is a concentrate that is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Or Emulsol (Russia, barrel 175 and 40 kg, sold for bottling at 38 rubles / l).
Users are advised not to spend money on industrial lubricants, but to use analogues (substitutes):
Some masters use a salt solution, but after it salt stains remain on the tile, and silicone and plastic molds quickly become unusable. Others suggest covering the form with two coats of varnish. Such a coating will ensure easy sliding of the tile. But, this method is applicable only for plastic molds, plus, the varnish is quickly deformed, which will affect the quality of the sides and front surface tiles.
Depends on the number of tiles produced.
The simplest solution is to use the old washing machine turned on for spin mode. Such a home-made vibrating table for paving slabs allows you to get a perfectly compacted (rammed) mixture for the manufacture of paving slabs.
3. Rack for drying paving slabs (dryer). Any place where the tile will dry in the form for 2-3 days, another week without the form, and then finally dry for another month.4. Bucket, bowl or suitable container. Serves to heat the mold with tiles and facilitate the process of removing the tiles from the mold.
5. Forms for the manufacture of paving slabs. There are no problems with the forms at all due to their diversity (can be ordered in the online store). To speed up the process, it is better to immediately purchase a dozen forms.
. They are used for the manufacture of tiles of complex shapes with different structural surface. The elasticity of the material (silicone) is both a plus and a minus of the shape. The advantage is that they reproduce the drawing in the smallest details. The disadvantage is that the form expands (swells) from the concrete and changes its shape, which affects the geometry of the product (deformation). One form is designed (to withstand) for 50 cycles.
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Used to make a simple pattern. Advantages of the plastic mold: flexibility, strength and durability. The estimated period of operation of the molds is 800 cycles.
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Polyurethane holds its shape better than silicone, but is more expensive. The polyurethane form will last for 100 cycles.
Several options for making molds from improvised means:
It will not work to make a shape from a tree with complex geometry. A wooden mold can be made in the form of a triangle, square, rhombus, rectangle or hexagon.
Note. If you are going to make a mold for paving slabs, keep in mind that its internal dimensions are taken into account.
Note. In such homemade form tiles are cast directly at the place of laying.
Advice. When choosing a curly shape, pay attention to the presence of halves and parts (constituent elements, fragments) in order to avoid unnecessary cutting of tiles when laying.
When studying the question of how to make paving slabs with your own hands, it is important to pay attention to how to choose the right proportions and how to knead the laying mortar.
To begin with, we will provide a ready-made mortar recipe for paving slabs with a given thickness of 60 mm. And then we will tell you how to mix the components correctly.
| Components (additives) | Proportions for manufacturing in% | For 1 sq.m. tiles | For 1 cubic meter solution |
| Cement M 500 | 21 % | 30 kg | 500 kg |
| Screenings or small gravel | 23% | 32 kg | 540 kg |
| Sand | 56% | 75 kg | 1300 kg |
| Plasticizer С-3 | 0.7% by weight of concrete | 50 gr | 1.9 liters |
| Dye | 7% by weight of concrete | 700 gr | 10 kg |
| Fiberglass in quantity per 1m3 of concrete | 0.05% by weight of concrete | 60 gr | 0.7-1.0 kg |
| Water | 5.5% by weight of concrete | 8 liters | 130 liters |
From 1 cubic meter solution can be made 16.5 square meters. paving slabs, with a thickness of 60 mm.
To prepare a good mortar for paving slabs, you need to mix the components in a concrete mixer in a certain sequence, with a certain mixing mode.
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The plasticizer is mixed with a small amount of water and poured into a concrete mixer. For mixing, only warm water is used, because. do not dissolve in cold additives. When mixing, make sure that the plasticizer dissolves completely.
The dye is also mixed with hot (about 80 ° C) water in a ratio of 1:3. It is necessary to observe that the coloring solution is homogeneous. The presence of lumps will "result" in the appearance of craters on the front surface of the tile.
Next, filler (crushed stone and sand) is added in turn, then cement. Periodically, water is added to the cement-sand mixture for more convenient mixing. The main mass of water is supplied at the end of the batch.
Optimal mode (time) of cement mortar mixing
The mixture for paving slabs is ready when it is held on the trowel in a dense mass, without spreading. When pouring, the solution should easily fill the mold.
The surface of the mold is lubricated with the selected lubricant. In the process, you need to make sure that stains from the lubricant do not form on the surface. The form should be a little oily, for better glide of the product on the surface.
Notes. With excessive lubrication, depressions form on the tile. With insufficient - it is difficult to take out.
At this stage, the solution is poured into molds. Moreover, if a two-color tile is made, then the form is filled with gray concrete by 75%, and then filled with color. The break between fillings should not exceed 20 minutes. Otherwise, the layers of the solution will not firmly grab together.
The filled forms must be shaken and placed on a vibrating table. The duration of the form on the vibrating table is 5 minutes. The indicator of readiness is the appearance of a white foam - this means that all air bubbles have escaped from the solution. Excessive vibration treatment (shaking the mold) can lead to separation of the solution. The signal to stop vibrations is the settling of white foam.
Advice. In the manufacture of two-color paving slabs, vibration must be carried out after pouring each layer. The second vibration lasts 2-3 minutes, while the foam may not appear.
Forms filled with mortar are placed on racks for subsequent drying, which takes 2-3 days. The place for drying should be protected from direct sunlight, well ventilated. To reduce the rate of evaporation of moisture from the mold solution, it is better to cover with plastic wrap.
How to remove a tile from a mold?
To facilitate the extraction process, you can lower the form with a fill for 5 seconds. in hot (about 60 °C) water. From heat, the form expands, and the tile is removed without defects and problems.
The product should be knocked out on a soft base, for example, spread an old blanket.
Please note that the removed tile holds its shape well, but the mortar has not yet completely hardened, so the composition will crumble and may crack or break. 
The removed tiles are stored on the same drying racks for another week. Then it can be stacked on a pallet and finally dried for another month. During this period, the tile will gain the required strength. This is not an idle interest, but rational approach, requiring calculations, budgeting to determine the budget and profitability.
| Material | Price |
| Cement (M 500 Portland) | 300-500 rub/bag 59 kg |
| Crushed granite fraction 3-10 mm (the larger the cheaper) | 1,500-2,000 rubles per cube |
| Seeded sand | 600 rub./m.cu. |
| Plasticizer (S-3) | 80 rub/l |
| Dye | from 1500 to 8600 rubles / 25 kg The cost depends on the resistance to the external environment |
| fiberglass | from 98 to 165 rub/kg |
| Mold lubricant | from 0 to 100 rub/l |
| Shapes (price varies depending on shape, size and material) | |
| - plastic | from virgin plastic 69-200 rub/pc. (depending on the size) 43-60 rubles / piece. recycled plastic: |
| - silicone | 120-150 rub/pc. |
| - polyurethane | 200-370 rub/pc. |
| - simple "bricks" | from 30 rub/pc. |
| - original | up to 1,500 rubles / pc. |
The table shows approximate prices per unit of production. The total amount depends on the cost.
The price of ready-made paving slabs of a simple configuration starts from 200 rubles. per square meter, textured from 450 rubles. Multiply by the required quadrature (area) and add the delivery. Compare your results. On average, savings range from 10% (for local tiles) to 25% (for branded ones). At the same time, it should be understood that each manufacturer in a competitive environment seeks to reduce the cost of its products as much as possible. As a rule, this affects the quality, which can not always be determined immediately, but only after some time.
In favor self-manufacturing paving slabs can be noted:
