How To Install Paving Slabs?

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

A well-groomed and well-maintained suburban area is the dream of any summer resident. That is why an increasing number of summer residents are turning their attention to paving slabs, because from it you can lay out not only beautiful, but also very comfortable paths! And anyone who thinks that such a tile is difficult to lay is very mistaken! The most important thing is to adopt a few simple rules, and then everything will surely go like clockwork! If you follow the basic rules for laying paving slabs, the cherished paths will last for more than a dozen years

What is good about paving slabs?

Asphalting and concreting of courtyard areas is already the last century, and the advantages of paving slabs over these options are obvious. Firstly, this material is much more durable and environmentally friendly - paving slabs are much better able to withstand the effects of both sudden temperature changes and any vagaries of the weather in general. Secondly, the tile will be much cheaper than the laborious process of laying concrete or asphalt. Thirdly, it is the tile that allows you to give free rein to imagination, which is also important: now on sale it will not be difficult to find tiles of absolutely any colors and shapes, that is, if you wish, you can mount whole stained-glass windows from it!

How to choose paving slabs?

Of course, the choice of the color of the tile and its shape is entirely a matter of taste, but as for its thickness, then you need to be guided by common sense: if for pedestrian or garden paths you can safely purchase tiles up to four centimeters thick, then for facing a place for a car or the entrance to the house, it is better to buy options with a thickness of at least five centimeters. And if loaded trucks are periodically open to the site, then the best option would be a six-centimeter tile.

Preliminary preparation of the site

Before you start laying the tiles, you need to properly prepare the site. If you do not pay attention to proper soil preparation, the constructed paths will not be able to boast of high strength and may even begin to creep.

First, evenly pulling the rope along the entire perimeter of the future tracks, they outline these very tracks. Then, the entire top soil layer along with the vegetation is removed from the selected area, removing stones with roots and thoroughly tamping the future "bed". If you wish, you can also install curbs on both sides. And then the base is leveled, filling it with a bearing layer of gravel or crushed stone (ideally, its thickness should not exceed two centimeters). You can additionally spread geotextiles under this layer - then grass will not sprout from the seams, and the path will not be washed out by water. By the way, some craftsmen go even further - they also lay the second layer of geotextile on top, before starting to fill in the sand.

As for the base for the tile, it can be either sandy or cement-sandy or concrete. In the first case, a leveling layer of sand is laid on gravel or crushed stone, while its minimum thickness should be equal to three centimeters. The sand is moistened from a spray bottle, after which it is allowed to dry slightly and leveled, at the same time tamping it down. In the second case, the layer looks like this: first, a layer of gravel, then sand, then (optional) reinforcing mesh, and only after that a cement-sand mixture prepared in a 4: 1 ratio. As for the concrete base, such a screed is usually poured in areas with particularly weak soil. However, it does not hurt to know that such a screed will retain water, which can lead to deformation of the track in winter.

How to install tiles?

The laying of tiles always begins in the direction away from you, in order to be able to move freely along the finished section of the future path. But moving along a sandy base leveled for subsequent laying of tiles is categorically not recommended! On straight, straight paths, laying is usually done diagonally, and on circular paths, in the direction from the center in a circle. Having installed the tile on the base, it is fixed by tapping it with a rubber mallet specially designed for this. If the tile begins to fall through, it is necessary to add sand, and if it protrudes excessively, part of the base should be removed.

When laying, small gaps (up to two millimeters wide) are left between the tiles so that the water after the rain has the opportunity to leave without hindrance. And, of course, it is important not to forget about drainage: if the tiles are laid on a concrete screed, then the laying should be carried out at an angle or by first installing drainage pipes specially designed for water drainage along the curbs.

And the last stage is grouting the joints that remain between the tiles. To this end, the path is first covered with fine sand, and then rubbed with a brush. Then another layer of sand is poured on top and again rubbed over the surface - this is done until all the gaps are filled. And at the very end, all the tiles are generously watered! As you can see, everything is not so difficult, but what a beauty in the end!