The construction segment today is inferior in terms of the introduction of new technologies only to the telecommunications sector. Literally every day they talk about “new breakthroughs” and the emergence of new “unique” technologies. Such activity does not always correspond to real needs and even more real market opportunities. Practice shows that good old technologies remain not only in demand, but also give excellent chances to start your own business with little investment. The realities of small business in 2015 show rather illusory prospects for the construction market, but the question remains, what should construction teams do, how to look for an alternative to earn money?

The answer can be found in related areas, in the optimization of the business itself. As one of the alternatives (in truth, the option is good for organizing a new business), you can consider the organization of production paving slabs vibrocasting method.

How much is it worth to be engaged in the production of paving slabs

The level of depreciation of fixed assets is not just high, but very high, this applies to all aspects, including sidewalks. If we talk about the roadway, those same roads, then the situation is no better, this issue belongs to the sphere of interests of the “big” bosses, as a result, they are being repaired at the very least. A completely different situation develops with sidewalks, money for them is not particularly allocated, the specifics of their repair does not allow much acceleration. From practice, I can say for sure that from one square meter of the road you can "appropriate" 3-4 times more. Most sidewalk repairs in cities, small towns, and private households are left to small businesses. What does this mean in practice?

At organization of a full cycle from production to laying of paving slabs, the business receives significant benefits in the form of:

• - flexible pricing policy. The final price of the finished product will not include the price of an intermediary (as in retail sales - 20-50%, the cost of foreman services - 20-30%). In fact, this means that tiles can be installed at a 50% discount without losing the average profitability.
• - individual approach to the client. Selection of shape, color, it is possible to take into account the individual characteristics of the site.
• - a full range of services. If we take into account that for the mini-shop itself, raw materials (screenings, cement) will be purchased at wholesale prices from established suppliers, then de facto the client pays, and really gets everything at once at the best price.

By and large, it is precisely such a complex option that makes it possible to talk about the paving slab production business as an option for construction teams in reprofiling.

Do not forget about the profitability of the business, two main points:

• - the production of pavement tiles has a profitability of 40-50% for wholesale sales and about 80-90% for retail sales;
• - using the same equipment (with the exception of molds) it is possible to produce very wide range products, not just tiles.
• - profit from pavement laying also reaches 50%.

In total, due to the full cycle, it is realistic to obtain about 100% profitability, and due to the wide range of products, “smooth out” seasonal fluctuations in demand.

For example, for the period winter season» be re-profiled for the manufacture of concrete countertops, figures.

Technologies for the production of paving slabs

If we consider the market as a whole, we can distinguish three main technologies:

1. Clinker tiles.
2. vibrocasting
3. Vibrocompression

Relatively clinker tiles, one thing can be said, expensive. Moreover, in all other respects, high-quality clinker products are better. Such products are made from clay, followed by firing at high temperatures. Such production is expensive to organize, requiring special permits, high-quality raw materials. In the end, it turns out to be expensive, this technology goes into the field of big business. According to their technology, they also have a lot of nuances, ranging from the availability of really high-quality raw materials (not every clay is suitable), to the need to maintain a constant technological cycle. Here recently, a friend's "light" was turned off for a couple of hours, so then for a week they "picked out" the frozen clay.

One more technology for the manufacture of paving slabs is vibrocompression. The method is undeniably good and has its advantages:

• - Firstly, the opportunities for the widespread use of automatic processes. If you have money and desire, about 90% of all processes are done by machines.
• - secondly, higher wear resistance.

True, there is a downside:

• - Expensive equipment. Such a workshop cannot be called small, its organization will require quite a lot of money, as a result, it is necessary to immediately aim for large sales volumes.
• - the cost of such products is higher than that of tiles made by vibrocasting.
• - higher stability effectively shows itself only in cases intensive loads. For example, if you use tiles as paving stones on a road with heavy traffic (cars) or a very large flow of people.

Vibrocasting - in this version of the production of paving slabs, we are talking about traditional casting using a vibrating table, this option is suitable for a home business. The technology itself simply does not require any additional and especially special equipment, except for the table itself. In fact, the procedure is a chain:

Concrete (cement-sand mixture) is prepared in concrete mixers, consisting of:

• cement;
• sand;
• crushed granite fraction 5-10 mm;
• plasticizer C-3;
• air-entraining START additive;
• pigment.

Ready concrete is laid out in forms on a vibrating table;

The mixture in the forms is given the required density on the vibrating table;

Forms with the solution are removed on the racks, covered with PVC film and kept for a day;

The molds with the solidified mixture are heated in a bath of warm water;

Stripping of products is carried out;

Tiles are laid on pallets, where a certain period of time is maintained until they are fully ready.

pros

• - low cost of the finished product;
• - small initial investments;
• - maximum business flexibility. Products can be made in small batches of any shape and color.

Minuses

• - high level of manual labor;
• - Rigid binding of the volume of production to the area of ​​the workshop.

What equipment is needed

The total area for a small workshop should be about 60 square meters, plus premises for the final drying of paving slabs. The main condition is:

• - Availability of electricity and water.
• - heating. To obtain a strong product, it is imperative to observe the drying conditions, in cold periods it is necessary to “raise” the temperature, and to reduce it in hot weather. Drying too fast will result in loss of quality.

Among the equipment it is necessary to highlight

Concrete mixer - about 20,000 rubles.

Forms for pouring tiles. It must be emphasized that today there are four variations of forms on the market:

metal forms. The most expensive, from the pros the possibility of long-term use, from the minuses the cost.

Rubber, used up to 500 cycles.

Plastic - 250 cycles

Polyurethane - up to 100 production cycles.

Which forms to buy is a rhetorical question, practice shows that when choosing forms, one must be guided by one principle - rationality. Expensive more durable rubber or metal molds suitable for popular shapes. But in the manufacture of non-standard or one-time orders, it is worth buying cheap and short-lived plastic or polyurethane.

vibrating table. Its cost largely depends on the size, quality, and supplier. For the most part, you can make your own.

Demoulding table. Just an indispensable thing and helper, especially in conditions of seasonal intensity.

Bath for washing forms. All forms after the manufacture of tiles must be thoroughly cleaned, the "dirty" form is almost 100% defective.

Rokla hydraulic. Also, at first glance, a rather unnecessary thing, but when working with working volumes of a tile, its transportation and transportation without rokla is a tedious, time-consuming process of palletizing.

and activities

It is very difficult to calculate the real cost without having specifics about the region, the availability of a raw material base, it can even be said unrealistic. On average, the market profitability level of production is about 30-45%, while it varies significantly depending on the remoteness of the resource base, here it is the presence of cement plants, granite and sand pits. The closer, the cheaper the feedstock, the higher the level of profitability. One of the most significant factors for a small mini-shop of paving slabs is low dependence on fixed costs, which allows you to “freeze” production very quickly, just as quickly start it, while not using significant financial resources.

Advertising and marketing of finished products

Very often, small businesses (especially if the business belongs to the category of home business) do not attach much importance to advertising and beautiful presentation of their product, this is perhaps one of the most common mistakes, as a result of low sales volumes at the beginning of the project. Subsequently, “popular rumor” with “word of mouth” do their job, but this happens later. And I would advise you to take product advertising seriously and offer the following options:

• - first. Preparation of bright advertising booklets. Moreover, the booklets should contain high-quality photos, a large selection of various forms (it can be taken from sites selling ready-made forms for paving slabs) and flowers. The fact is that even a small order can always be saved and you can buy cheap molds made of plastic or polyurethane. Plus, the cost of a few thousand promotional brochures won't cost that much. When distributing brochures, the main thing is to choose the right place and contingent.
• - second. Advertising in newspapers is obligatory, especially since you will have the opportunity to lay tiles. For a small workshop for paving slabs, you can rent a large banner, again, the main thing is to choose the right location.

Alternative and related activities

A small production of paving slabs has another significant advantage, these are the opportunities to expand the range of products and services offered, in particular:

• - services in laying of a tile.
• - production of fences, curbs, gutters.
• - using almost the same set of equipment, you can make concrete garden figures or kitchen countertops, window sills, and even fountains.
• - minor modernization and it is possible to arrange the production of cinder blocks, and if there is money, then foam concrete (you need to buy a high-speed concrete mixer).

The list can be continued, today there is a huge number of concrete products on the market, most of which can be produced at home, including paving slabs and paving stones.

Video example of the production of paving slabs with your own hands

DIY paving slabs

We organize a small mini workshop with our own hands for the production of paving slabs

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:

• cement grade not lower than A-Sh-400;
• plasticizer C-3;
• pigment dye;
• screening granite;
• mold lubricant.

The production cycle itself can be divided into several stages:

• preparation of plastic molds;
• preparation of colored concrete;
• vibrocasting process daily;
• excerpt;
• stripping and new training forms.

Paving slabs are made according to a simple technological process

Preparing molds before manufacturing vibrocast products. Paving slabs are made on simple equipment:

• vibrating table;
• concrete mixer;
• forms.

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 preparing the 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 end up with a rich concrete color that will hold its hue 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. 800g of dye pre-dilute in 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 - it means that 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 molds and take them to a room protected from sunlight. 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 the strength of the 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.

Calculation of profitability in the technology of manufacturing paving slabs

In order to produce 1 square meter of paving slabs, we need:
One bucket of A-Sh-400 cement - price per bucket $ 1.5
Three buckets of screenings - the price for three buckets is $ 0.4 (the cost of screenings for 4 tons with delivery = $ 32)
Plasticizer 200g. - price for 200g. $ 0.4 (price per bag of plasticizer 25kg = $ 47).
Pigment dye 400g. (subject to two-layer filling of forms color / colorless) - price $ 0.9 (bag of 30 kg = $ 62)
TOTAL: $1.5 + $0.4 + $0.4 + $0.9 = $3.2, and the cost of one square meter of colored paving slabs = $7.5.
The profitability of the business is 135%. Sufficiently tangible income is brought by the production technology of paving slabs. Of course, a certain percentage of culling is possible. But the marriage of such material will always find its application at a construction site. With such a profitability, you can give in to a competitive price under various conditions. For example, when ordering 1000 squares, a 30% discount. In colorless paving slabs, the level of profitability is at the same level. But it's harder to sell. Colorless tiles can be offered to create budgetary patterns when laying. Thus, you can save and embellish the tiling.

Equipment for the production of paving slabs and prices

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: the cost of equipment in dollars the productivity of square meters per day the cost of production in dollars per 1 sq.m. profitability in percent (%).

Calculating the payback period of a business is better to start with performance indicators

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.

Pros and cons of a paving slab business

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.

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

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

Required materials and fixtures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About forms for self-production of paving stones

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

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

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, the tile covering of the tracks is presented with different requirements, regarding the strength and method of laying.

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.

Vibropressed or vibrocast tiles

From the point of view of industrial manufacturing technology, 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 attention - home-made paving slabs are not intended for laying in places of heavy traffic, but will become indispensable for the formation garden paths in the country.

Which paving slab is better - vibrocast or vibropressed?

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.

How to distinguish a vibrocast tile from a vibropressed one?

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.

Advantages of paving slabs

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, and plants growing along the garden path go longer without watering;

- aesthetics. Thanks to the various shapes and colors of tiles, you can make a beautiful drawing (lay out an ornament, pattern) on the country path; – maintainability and the possibility of replacement, relocation concrete tiles if necessary; - longevity. Cooked and
, will be operated for 50 years; - the possibility of arranging tracks of complex configuration with your own hands.

There are two ways to get tiles for sidewalks and paths.

• First, buy ready-made paving slabs. Less hassle, faster, easier and not much more expensive. But no one is immune from counterfeiting in this industry, and making paving slabs with your own hands gives confidence in its quality.

• Second, do it yourself. Here we will consider this method in detail, starting with the material and ending with the molding.

Master class on the manufacture of paving slabs

Material for the manufacture of paving slabs

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.

1. Cement

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.

2. Filler for cement (concrete) mortar

• large filler. As a filler, screenings, small crushed stone, slag or pebbles are used. They must be clean to work.

• small filler. It includes sand of a fraction of 0.4-0.6 mm. It is important that it does not contain impurities and clay.

3. Water

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.

5. Dye for paving slabs (pigment)

Paint allows you to create tiles different colors. It is important that the coloring pigments are 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.

The material was prepared for the site www.site

6. Fiberglass (reinforcing fiber)

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).

How to lubricate molds for paving slabs at home?

Users are advised not to spend money on industrial lubricants, but to use analogues (substitutes):

• engine oil (can be used);

• soap solution. The cheapest solution of water and detergent, which contributes to the rapid removal of tiles from the mold;

• sunflower (vegetable) oil.

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 of the tile.

Tools and equipment for the manufacture of paving slabs

Depends on the number of tiles produced.

The simplest solution is to use an old washing machine set to spin. 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.

Types of molds for tiles

. They are used for the manufacture of tiles of complex shapes with different structural surfaces. 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.

.

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.

.

Polyurethane holds its shape better than silicone, but is more expensive. The polyurethane form will last for 100 cycles.

How to make molds for paving slabs with your own hands

Several options for making molds from improvised means:

• Wooden forms can be knocked down from scraps of plywood or boards, and fastened together with metal corners.

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.

• Plastic molds can be made from strips cut from utility boxes. It is difficult, but quite realistic, to make a complex polygonal shape, the diagram of which is shown below.

Note. In such a home-made form, tiles are cast directly at the place of laying.

• Forms from food containers (vessels, trays, plastic containers)

• Make it yourself from a polymer (but this is already from the category of private entrepreneurship, it remains to issue an IP and open your own business - a business for the production of paving slabs on an industrial scale).

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.

Mortar for paving slabs - proportions, composition, preparation

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.

The composition of the mortar for paving slabs is given in the table

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.

1. Solution preparation

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.

2. Form preparation

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.

3. Manufacturing technology of paving slabs (molding)

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.

4. Drying paving slabs at home

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.

5. Forming of paving slabs (extraction from the mold)

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.

How much does it cost to make paving slabs at home?

This is not an idle interest, but a rational approach that requires calculations, budgeting to determine the budget and profitability.

Calculation of the cost of manufacturing paving slabs

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: 43-60 rub/pc.
- 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 unit prices. 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.

Paving slab defects

In favor of the independent production of paving slabs, it can be noted:

• confidence in the quality of the product;

• the ability to make tiles in between other tasks;

• the fascination of the process;

• beautiful result and pride in their own successes.

Paving slabs have become almost the only acceptable option for creating footpaths in a suburban area, walking paths in parks, sidewalks, barbecue areas. It is indeed more durable than concrete and wood, more practical than gravel and safer than asphalt, but despite the variety of modern tiles, making your site original is becoming increasingly difficult. And the prices for complex figured products often bite. But there is a way out - you can make paving slabs with your own hands at home.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade tiles

Those who have not yet decided to create a homemade tile are afraid of two considerations: a significant investment of time and doubts about the quality finished products. But when you consider the possibility of phased production, which allows you to do production on weekends or in your spare time, the process turns out to be not so long. In addition, the cost of materials will also stretch over time, because allocating 10% from the family budget for 3-4 months is much easier than spending half of the monthly income at once.

As for quality, it is enough to adhere to the technology and not try to save a lot, then the finished tile will serve for decades.

The combination of gray and beige tiles (made of white cement) looks stylish and helps save on pigments.

Table: comparing the advantages and disadvantages of artisanal paving slabs

Advantages	disadvantages
Saving money (from 30 to 60% depending on the equipment and materials used).	Large time investment (from 1 to 6 months, depending on the number of molds and the area of ​​the tracks).
Unique tile design.	High probability of flaws with good detailing of the picture.
The ability to create non-standard corner and connecting elements that are not available in the manufacturer's catalogs.	Difficulty creating molds for precise details. It often happens that homemade corner tiles have to be laid with a large or uneven seam.
The ability to experiment with the composition of the tile, which allows you to save money or time, strengthen the standard composition, or add additional decorative filler.	Lack of guarantees of quality and durability.
The tile is suitable for all types of garden paths, recreation areas, outdoor terraces.	Reliable tiles for a territory with heavy loads (driveway, car parking area) are almost impossible to produce without special equipment and careful adherence to the recipe.
An exciting pastime, the opportunity to realize your ideas.	In practice, the work turns out to be physically difficult, requiring attention and precision.

As you can see, for every drawback of homemade tiles, you can find a corresponding advantage. Therefore, if you want to proudly show your guests the work of your own hands, you can safely proceed to the implementation of the intended design of the tracks.

Existing manufacturing technologies

Tiles and paving stones, which you could see from your neighbors, are made using only three technologies: pouring into the formwork, vibrocasting and vibrocompression.

Driveway with imitation paving slabs by stamping

There is also a technique for imitation of paving slabs, when the texture is created by stamps on a wet surface. concrete surface. At first glance, the path may look like a paved path, but in fact it is a monolithic concrete slab with all its shortcomings. Looking closely at the seams, it is easy to see that they are inseparable from the plates and are not able to ensure the drainage of water into the ground. Therefore, if you liked the version with imitation seen in the photo, we recommend reproducing it in classical technology, from separate plates. In this case, your copy will last 3-4 times longer than the original.

Pouring into a removable formwork

Production of paving slabs by pouring into the formwork

Formwork pouring technology is the simplest and least time-consuming way to manufacture paving slabs. Products are cast directly at the place of use over compacted soil, so there is no need to spend any effort on drying and moving the plates. Since the mold is removed while the concrete is not completely cured, you can use only one mold and prepare small portions of the mortar in a bucket with a construction mixer (no concrete mixer). The form can also be filled incompletely, forming neat bends of the garden path.

But there are also disadvantages:

• the texture of the front surface of the plates is always the same, since the form is open and sets only the edge along the perimeter of each fragment;
• the concrete mixture cannot be compacted by vibration, so more plasticizer should be added to ensure strength;
• despite the addition of binders, the service life of such a tile is several times less than that of a vibrocast one.

Distinguishing a track from such a tile is quite simple. As a rule, it imitates the layout wild stone with fragments of irregular shape, but the repetition of the pattern is easy to notice. Grass often grows in the seams of such tiles, since they are mounted directly on the ground without a sand and gravel cushion and often without backfilling the joints.

vibrocasting

Vibrocast paving slabs - the most common option

Vibrocast slabs are the most common option for paving private areas. The easiest way to distinguish a product of this technology is by design. Neither filling nor vibrocompression creates a complex shape of a tile and a small textured pattern on its surface. Front side vibrocast tiles are usually more glossy, and the color is brighter than that of vibropressed tiles.

Among other advantages of this finishing material:

• the service life of the tile is several times longer, since the vibration during casting expels air bubbles and enhances the water and frost resistance of the product;
• lower plasticizer consumption (compared to pouring into the formwork);
• the possibility of manufacturing durable high-quality tiles at home with minimal equipment;
• a wide variety of ready-made forms from different price categories.

Of the shortcomings, only a small thickness of the plate can be distinguished, which does not allow the finish to withstand high mechanical loads. On a smooth tile, the risk of slipping also increases, so we recommend that you select textured shapes for manufacturing.

Vibrocompression

The paving stones in the parking area are vibropressed paving slabs

Vibrocompression is a complex technological process. Its main difference from vibrocasting is that the solution in the form is subjected to powerful blows of a special press. As a result, the density of the concrete-cement mixture increases by an order of magnitude; in terms of its properties, the material is an analogue of an artificial stone. Therefore, it is it that is used for paving city sidewalks, paths in squares and parking areas in private areas. Due to its high density, the tile is very frost-resistant, it can withstand up to 300 freeze / thaw cycles.

The method is most often used for the production paving stones, not tiles. It is easy to distinguish by its increased thickness when small sizes(it looks more like a brick than a tile). In addition, such material is usually rougher, and its color is paler. Since it is impossible to make a pattern on a separate fragment, to enhance the decorative effect, the paving stones are laid in beautiful ornaments (at home, you can use the cross-stitch pattern).

Among the disadvantages of vibropressed tiles, only the high price and considerable weight can be distinguished, which complicates transportation and installation.

Making paving slabs at home

Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of paving slabs made according to different technologies, it is easy to come to the conclusion to manufacture vibrocast products at home. It remains to decide on the equipment and the necessary materials.

Even with homemade equipment from improvised means you can cast a good tile

What is needed for work

Usually the owners country houses have at least a little construction experience, and many even build their homes from the first foundation stone to the ridge on the roof. Therefore, some necessary tools and you probably have minimal skills to work with them.

Table: equipment for vibrocasting paving slabs

Equipment/Tools	What is required	Where to get
Concrete mixer	It must thoroughly knead all the components of the composition so that there are not even small lumps, to ensure a uniform texture and color of the tile. If the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe tracks is more than 20 m 2, it will not be possible to manage with a puncher with a mixing nozzle (not to mention a screwdriver) - the tool will simply deteriorate from excessive loads.	If you built a house yourself, you can find a concrete mixer in a garage or workshop. Buying it only for making tiles is worth it only if you are planning a home mini-business. To make tiles for your own needs, you can borrow a concrete mixer from friends or rent it.
vibrating table	It is necessary for high-quality compaction of the mortar in the form so that the finished tile is more durable and weather-resistant. If you skip the vibration process, air bubbles and pores will remain in the tile, into which water will enter and destroy the product. Resistance to mechanical stress will be lower by 30%.	Vibrating tables are expensive equipment, so the purchase is justified only for starting a business. For yourself, you can make a table yourself, and with small volumes - get by with the old washing machine included in the spin mode.
Forms	They are needed to give the concrete solution a given configuration, to create a decorative effect.	You can buy inexpensive plastic molds in the store, adapt unnecessary plastic containers or silicone baking molds for these needs, or make an exclusive model yourself.
Measuring containers or scales	Needed for the correct dosage of plasticizer and dye. By precisely observing the proportions, you guarantee the same high quality of all products and the matching of colors between tiles from different batches.	You can use kitchen appliances, only the containers can no longer be used for food. Kitchen scales measuring building materials are best protected with a film.
Bucket, basin	Useful when mixing the mortar and when removing resisting tiles from the mold.	Construction or household containers are suitable.
Rack	It is necessary for drying products in molds, and then for drying the plates after stripping. Since under-dried tiles cannot be stacked on top of each other in order to avoid defects, shelving equipment is mandatory.	Tiles can be laid out on shelves in the garage or placed on construction pallets under a canopy. The main thing is to arrange the tiles strictly horizontally in one layer and protect them from rain.

How to make a vibrating table yourself

Casting slabs without vibration by an order of magnitude reduces the durability of the product, although appearance it is not noticeable at first. Adding an additional volume of plasticizer to the solution slightly improves the situation, but experienced craftsmen still advise using at least a handicraft vibrating table.

Scheme of the device of a simple vibrating table

As can be seen from the diagram, the main difference between the vibrating table and the usual one is that the tabletop is not rigidly attached to the base, but through springs. This allows you to create the necessary vibration and at the same time ensure a stable horizontal position of the tile. If you have an unwanted kitchen table with a metal frame, it may well become the basis for the necessary equipment. It remains only to attach the countertop through the springs and fix the motor from the old washing machine under it.

If you have firmly decided to make a fully functional analogue of an industrial vibrating table, you should start with a drawing.

Detailed drawing of the vibrating table with exact dimensions

In the found drawing, you can change:

• the height of the legs (the main thing is that there is enough material and it is convenient for you to use);
• proportions and size of the countertop (it is desirable that all forms of one batch fit on the table);
• the number of springs (if it seems to you that the available springs are weak, you can add to the four in the corners along the middle line of the long sides).

If you wish, you can reproduce this drawing exactly, or pick up a more suitable one on the net.

To implement the project, you will need the following tools and materials:

• a welding machine (a wooden base is not suitable for the product, and the fastening of the frame on the bolts quickly loosens from vibration, so welding is indispensable);
• grinder for cutting metal with the appropriate discs (it is better to buy consumables with a margin);
• drill for drilling mounting holes with a sharp drill;
• electric motor (for the manufacture of a small batch, a single-phase motor with a power of 700 W will be enough);
• a sheet of metal for a countertop with a thickness of 6 mm or more (you can get by with a thinner sheet, but it will need to be reinforced with rods or mesh and welded to the frame from the corner);
• metal corner (to determine the amount of material, add 4 table lengths and 4 widths);
• pipes of suitable length for table legs;
• pipe segments with a diameter of 2-4 mm larger than the diameter of the springs (needed to build glasses);
• 4 springs measuring 120x60 mm (used valve springs from a truck engine, which are often thrown into service stations, will do)

The correct spring for the vibrating table sags by 50% under the weight of the tile.

If you can place a vibrating table indoors, it is worth attaching it to the floor. It’s not worth welding, long hardware fastened with self-tightening lock nuts will be enough (they only fix it stronger from vibration).

This model of electronic potentiometer is suitable for operation in a standard 220 volt power supply.

To create the ideal vibration, you may need to adjust the speed of the motor. Therefore, when manufacturing a vibrating table, do not save on an electronic potentiometer. It will help you set up the appliance for optimal tile compaction.

Let's get to work:

1. Weld the skeleton of the vibrating table, following the proposed scheme. Be sure to control the correctness of the angles and the location of the glasses under the springs, so that later the tile lies strictly horizontally and does not “jump” off the table during operation.

   Corner clamp - the best tool for the correct welding of right angles

2. Cut a sheet of metal to the required size and weld a narrow strip or corner around the perimeter so that a rim with a height of at least 5 cm is formed.

   The wider the corner, the higher the side and the more reliable the countertop

3. Weld the springs to the base and countertop, placing them exactly in the center of the glasses.

   The springs are welded at the corners of the frame, it remains to fix the countertop

4. Place an electric motor under the tabletop, if necessary, weld a separate mount for it. Attach an off-center weight to the motor shaft.

   The motor mount can be built from the remains of corners or pipes

5. Connect the potentiometer and bring the wire with the switch to the side of the table that is convenient for work and fix it on the leg.

   If the button is not secured, it may slip off due to vibration.

6. Fix the table firmly on the base of the most convenient way(the choice depends on where and on what the working device will stand). If the table does not move during operation, it is not necessary to fix it.

   Tests of this vibrating table showed that it is quite massive and does not move during operation.

After assembling the structure, tests should be carried out without tiles and make sure that all connections are secure. Touch up welds as needed, adjust motor speed, make other adjustments.

Video: making a vibrating table

Varieties of forms for paving slabs

Forms for tiles should be distinguished primarily by design:

• open (essentially a frame without top and bottom) are designed for pouring tiles right at the place of use;
• tray molds are only suitable for vibrocasting.

There are also special metal molds for vibrocompression, but they are needed only in production.

A variety of non-standard shapes for paving slabs

If we talk about the design of paving slabs, here manufacturers offer hundreds of different forms for making beautiful tiles:

• geometric tiles (squares, rectangles, five-, six-, octagons, circles);
• paving stones (imitation of old masonry with cobblestones, small bricks, rounded cubes);
• patterned tiles (models "Lily", "Antique", "Rondo" and others with fine detailed ornament);
• fantasy forms (leaves, turtles, fish, lizards, puzzles, scales);
• tile with bas-relief ( raised images Greek heroes, dragons, snakes, Chinese epic characters, etc.).

Manufacturers offer molds for making halves of tiles, which allows you not to cut whole products when laying.

Table: comparison of forms for paving slabs from different materials

Mold material	Form Properties
Metal	Metal molds are made for vibrocompression, in the form of formwork for pouring in place, or in the form of a stamp to imitate tiles. Metal vibrocasting molds are not produced.
Rubber	Rubber molds are practically not produced nowadays, but if you can find old molds without cracks in the attic, you can safely use them. Such forms perfectly stick to concrete, so it is easy to get tiles of complex configuration from them. At the same time, the rubber is quite dense, from 20 to 60 mm thick, the ends practically do not deform under the pressure of concrete. The design of the rubber mold can also be very detailed and original, this is a great way to distinguish yourself from your neighbors. If there was no such treasure in your bins, you can search the net for ads of used forms. Such products in good condition can be even cheaper than plastic counterparts.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)	This polymer is used to make thin-walled molds (0.8 mm), so it can withstand up to 60 pouring cycles. At the same time, the material holds the geometry well and perfectly reproduces the texture on the finished tile, which is why it is popular with those who produce tiles for their own site. PVC molds are half the price of their full ABS counterparts. If you plan to make less than 100 m2 of tiles, these shapes may well be suitable for your purposes.
ABS plastic	ABS is a denser polymer, besides, the thickness of molds made from it is 2 mm. Therefore, the forms are geometrically stable, but at the same time mobile enough to easily move away from the concrete. ABS molds make it possible to obtain a beautiful glossy tile with a clear pattern and are suitable for the manufacture of the most complex tiles. In addition, they are able to withstand over 600 pouring cycles and are suitable for the production of commercial concrete products. But when buying, you need to be careful not to choose a fake - a complete analogue of a form made of recycled plastic or polyethylene. Take a closer look at the shape: it should shine and, when pressed, bend without cracking.
Granular polystyrene	Another polymer that can give your tiles a clear shape and a beautiful glossy surface. One mold is enough for sequential casting of 100 tiles. Thanks to special stiffening ribs, molds made of granulated polystyrene filled with concrete mixture can be stacked immediately after vibration. This greatly simplifies the manufacturing process and requires less space. In addition, in such forms, concrete hardens in a day and can be used again the next day. Concrete leaves so well that they do not need to be washed, and the price pleases. It can be said that this perfect option for quick production of the required number of tiles during the holidays. Manufacturers offer molds from virgin and recycled polystyrene. The former move away from concrete better, the latter last 4 times longer. Which of these qualities is more important is up to you.
Sheet polystyrene	The advantages of the forms are similar to products made of granular material. But it is difficult to find forms of proper quality, there are a lot of fakes on the market. Experts recommend buying molds with a thickness of 2 mm and only if there is a protective film.
Silicone	The silicone is soft and flexible, so stripping of finished products is not a problem, and pre-lubrication is not necessary for every casting. The material well reproduces the fine detailed texture, so the tile turns out to be decorative. Silicone molds are most often made for exclusive custom-made products, so the cost of each is very high. For the mass consumer, mainly small molds with an imitation of the texture of stone or brick are offered. At the same time, the service life is minimal - only 50 cycles. In addition, to obtain tiles with ideal geometry, it will be necessary to construct additional formwork for the form so that the sides do not deform under the pressure of the solution. In general, the use of silicone molds is justified only when you need very unusual non-standard and difficult to demould products that cannot be made in other forms. In this case, you can make a mold yourself from a commercially available two-phase compound.
Polyurethane	This polymer is similar in properties to silicone, but is even more expensive. Experts recommend using it in cases where you need to pave a large area with slabs. individual design. It is also suitable for making complex DIY molds and is able to withstand hundreds of pouring cycles.

Gallery: forms for paving slabs from different materials

How to make DIY forms

Homemade forms for paving slabs are justified in two cases: either you want to save as much as possible, or you are going to create a completely exclusive design. In the first case, it is worth using improvised materials: pieces of wood, plastic scraps, unnecessary trays, molded plastic from packaging.

The process of making patterned paving slabs in a homemade form

Consider the process of making a mold based on a rubber mat.

To create such a shape, you will need a sheet of plastic or any other smooth material and four planks for the sidewalls (you can take an unnecessary box from an old bedside table). The junction of the base and sidewalls will need to be sealed with building silicone. It is desirable that the size of the mold be exactly adjusted to the parameters of the rug. The mat should be carefully fixed to the bottom with the same construction sealant. To check the correct assembly, try pouring water into the mold, it will help to detect cracks. Treat the mold with oil, and you can proceed to the first pour.

Making tiles in a homemade wooden mold

Wooden formwork can also serve as the basis for more complex forms. For example, such a detachable hexagon can be made from any pieces of wood found in the country, you just need to trim their geometry and carefully check the dimensions. If desired, you can build a form divided into cells the size of a vibrating table and carry out pouring and drying directly on it.

The process of making a silicone mold for paving stones

The process of creating a silicone mold will not do without formwork. For manufacturing, it is desirable to have a sample of the desired tile or fill the formwork with stones of a suitable shape, pebbles, tiles, etc. It is best to fill the bottom of the formwork with sculptural plasticine and lay the selected samples on it so that they do not move during pouring. After that, strictly according to the instructions (each manufacturer has its own), mix the components of the silicone compound and fill the formwork with them. You can make several forms in one formwork, or create different variants the location or shape of the stones.

Using the same technology, self-made molds are made from gypsum, polyurethane, and injection molded plastic.

Forms of any origin should be lubricated with Emulsol, spindle oil or an emulsion of 1.5 liters of soap solution and 50 g of vegetable / mineral oil before use.

Video: mold release test

Mortar materials

When making a solution, you will need:

• cement grade not lower than M500 to ensure the strength of the tile;
• sand (necessarily cleaned and carefully sieved) as a filler;
• small gravel or screenings (filler, enhances the solution, makes the product textured);
• clean water at room temperature without sediment;
• fiberglass for reinforcing tiles, increasing resistance to mechanical stress (instead of fiber, you can lay a reinforcing mesh in each shape);
• plasticizer marked C-3 (makes the solution homogeneous, increases frost and water resistance, reduces cement consumption);
• dye for concrete mixtures in the form of a powder or a ready-made solution (if you need a colored tile).

To give the tile additional water-repellent properties and speed up hardening, liquid glass can be added to the solution.

Tiles need fresh cement. Squeeze the powder in your fist: if all of it has spilled out, it will do, if it has gathered in a lump, it is too old.

How to mix the solution

1. Moisten the walls of the concrete mixer, pour 2 liters into the tank warm water and completely dissolve the plasticizer in it.

   Liquid plasticizer is easier to work with, it dissolves quickly and without lumps

2. AT separate container mix dye with hot water in a ratio of 1:3 and stir until completely dissolved.

   The higher the pigment concentration, the brighter the tile will turn out.

3. When you make sure that there are no lumps in both solutions, mix them and add sand to the concrete mixer, after 30 seconds - screening, 20 seconds after it - cement. Add water as needed until you use the specified amount.

   Calculate the volume of one serving so that your concrete mixer can knead it well

4. The finished mass should be homogeneous, without foreign inclusions and keep on the trowel with a slide without slipping.

   With a solution of the correct consistency, it is easy to work with a trowel of any shape

Table: optimal proportions of components for paving slabs

How to cast, dry and make stripping

1. The finished solution is poured into lubricated forms, you can directly on the vibrating table.

   Rectangular molds are denser on the table, which allows you to increase the batch

2. After that, vibration starts, during which the mixture is compacted and you need to add it. Keep a batch of tiles without a plasticizer on a vibrating table for 3 minutes, without it - 30 seconds, or until a white foam appears.

   Foam is clearly visible on the forms, which means that the air has already left the solution

3. Next, you should wrap the filled forms with a film and leave to dry on a rack for 2-3 days.

   OSB sheets + pipe cuttings = temporary shelving

4. The dried tile is easily removed from the mold, it is enough to bend the ends and shake out the product on a soft bedding. But if it doesn't work out, lower the mold for a few seconds in hot water - the mold will expand and the tile will slide out.

   Vertical stacking prevents tiles from splitting during storage

Video: do-it-yourself paving slabs

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

Laying paving slabs on your own will not be physically easy, so you should invite one or two assistants to work.

Necessary materials and tools

• trowel for working with mortar;
• mallet for tapping tiles;
• manual tamper;
• marking pegs and cord;
• water level;
• pipe / beam as a guide;
• watering can or watering hose for compacting the sand cushion;
• rake, broom;
• cement brand M500;
• clean sifted sand.

Execution of works

1. Draw a plan for the location of the tracks and make markings on the ground with pegs and cord. Please note that for normal drainage, you need to make a slope of 5 mm per 1 m of length.
2. Prepare the base of the path by removing the top layer of earth with grass and compacting the remaining soil. This can be done with a manual rammer, but it is better to rent a special vibrator. The depth of the resulting trench should be 20–30 cm.

   Ways to create pillows for paving slabs

3. Lay the tile on top of the pillow in the direction away from you, taking into account the position of the marking cord. The width of the seams is regulated by plastic crosses. If necessary, cut the tile into fragments to tightly fill the space between the borders. Align the position of the tiles with a mallet.

   Contrasting border makes the track more original

Video: laying paving slabs

We determine profitability

On average, it turns out that 1 m 2 of homemade paving slabs is 55% cheaper than purchased. And if we take into account that the resource of forms is enough for 100–200 cycles, subsequent batches will be even more profitable. Of course, with the current level of competition, it is no longer profitable to create a business for the production of paving slabs, but it is worth making it for your own needs on your own.

Now you have all the necessary knowledge to successfully make and lay beautiful and durable paving slabs on your site.