Making paving slabs with your own hands

Recommendation points

• Tool and material
• Forms for paving slabs
• Preparing the pouring mixture
• Dosing order and mixing time
• Slab manufacturing technology
• 1. Preparation of forms
• 2. Filling the forms with mortar
• 3. Drying of forms
• 4. Removing from the mold

To make paving slabs with your own hands, you only need to properly prepare the solution and follow the pouring technology. Then the result will meet your expectations, and the tiles you have made will meet the performance characteristics..

Tool and material

So, you decided to make your own paving slabs. Where to begin? First of all, this is the acquisition of the necessary material, you will need:

• cement (grade M500 without additives);
• river sand (clean without clay impurities);
• granite crushed stone (fractions 5–10 mm);
• plasticizer (to increase the strength of concrete);
• pigment for shading (optional);
• molds for casting tiles;
• container for solution;
• trowel.

Depending on the planned number of tiles, you will also need equipment such as:

• concrete mixer;
• vibrating table.

Forms for paving slabs

To pour paving slabs, a high-quality form (template) is required. Today, forms of various configurations, sizes and textures can be purchased without problems in hardware stores. These molds are made of plastic, polyurethane or silicone..

The plastic mold is more durable and durable, allows you to cast tiles of simple geometric shapes and its service life, according to manufacturers, is more than 80,000 castings.

Due to the elasticity of the material, the silicone mold makes it possible to make tiles of complex shapes and accurately reproduce the pattern, but its big disadvantage is that when pouring concrete, the shape can be deformed. The service life of silicone molds is about 50,000 castings.

As forms, you can also use any plastic containers, cuttings of PVC sewer pipes, or you can make a casting of any geometric shape from available materials, such as wood, metal or foam foam..

Preparing the pouring mixture

All components for the preparation of a concrete mixture must be carefully selected, since improper proportioning can affect the properties of concrete – strength and consistency. For the production of a high-quality solution, it is recommended to use the following proportions:

• 1 part cement: 1 part crushed stone: 2 parts sand.

The ratio of water to cement is usually 1: 2. It is better to use drinking water for concrete..

Plasticizers are added in a very small amount (1–2% in relation to the weight of cement). Excessiveness is harmful, as it can significantly delay the binding of the cement and thus the hardening of the concrete..

Coloring pigment – no more than 5% by weight of cement.

The table shows the recommended ratio of individual components in terms of 1 m³ ready-mixed concrete. This amount can be used to craft 16 m² paving slabs 60 mm thick.

Tip: Do not add too much water as this will weaken the strength of the concrete.

Dosing order and mixing time

Selecting both qualitative and quantitative indicators of raw materials for production is only half the success. The components must be mixed precisely and in the correct order, only then will we get a homogeneous concrete mixture.

When making small quantities of concrete, the ingredients are mixed by hand using a shovel in an airtight container. Lay out the sand layer evenly – a layer of cement. We mix the components until we get a homogeneous mass and add crushed stone. Periodically add water to the prepared dry mixture, with a plasticizer previously diluted in it, and stir thoroughly.

When making concrete using a concrete mixer, the order of connecting the components is slightly different. First, pour a small part of water with a plasticizer into the concrete mixer and then pour crushed stone. Gradually add cement and sand to the solution, while adding the rest of the water.

When using a coloring pigment, it is previously dissolved in hot water.

The mixing time also affects the quality and strength of the concrete mix. Stirring for too long leads to separation of the components, which reduces the strength of the concrete. Average mixing time 3 to 5 minutes.

On a note:all the components to be poured in the concrete mixer should take no more than 0.8 of its volume, then they will be well mixed.

Slab manufacturing technology

The entire technological process can be divided into several stages..

1. Preparation of forms

Factory forms, as a rule, do not need additional processing. If using homemade forms, lubricate them with engine oil or soapy water before filling..

2. Filling the forms with mortar

For compacting concrete in a mold, it is better to use a vibrating table:

• put the forms on a vibrating table and fill 1/3 with concrete;
• vibrate for 30-40 seconds;
• turn off the vibrating table, fill the mold completely with concrete and vibrate for about 10 seconds (white foam should appear on the surface of the solution).

In the process of vibration, air bubbles and water droplets are removed from the solution, which affects not only the drying rate, but, above all, the subsequent strength of the manufactured elements.

In the absence of a vibrating table, the forms are exposed on a flat hard surface, filled with a small amount of solution and a trowel, without tearing it off the surface, carefully tamped. This procedure fills in the form completely.

3. Drying of forms

The filled forms are left to dry for 2–3 days at a temperature of about 20–25 ° С in the shade and under polyethylene to reduce the rate of moisture evaporation. The drying process should not take place too quickly, because this can negatively affect the durability of the castings.

4. Removing from the mold

The finished product is removed from the mold and left to dry for 10 days on the shelves. To facilitate the extraction process, the mold is immersed in hot water for a few seconds..

It is important to remember: concrete acquires full strength only after three to four weeks.

A little effort, adherence to the technological process and a beautiful home-made sidewalk path will delight you for more than one year.