Manufacturing paving slabs represents simple process, quite feasible in a home workshop.

The equipment that will be used for the production of tiles can be selected at an affordable cost; the material is also inexpensive. The most expensive element, which you will need to buy in preparation for making tiles, is a concrete mixer.

What is needed when making tiles?

Let’s take a closer look at what those who decide to make tiles at home will need to purchase:

1. vibration table (you can buy it, but it’s quite possible to make it yourself);
2. molds for tiles (the cost depends on the material of the mold, its size and type of execution);
3. shovel for picking;
4. bucket (it’s better if it’s metal, 9-12 liters);
5. flights to arrange workpieces;
6. gloves.

After the tile production line has been formed, you can purchase raw materials, which will go directly to home production:

• cement (it is better to choose a grade higher than A-Sh-400);
• dye for cement (shade depends on your preferences);
• plasticizer (preferably grade C-3);
• granite screening;
• means for lubricating molds for workpieces.

Manufacturing stages

The process of preparing molds for further vibration casting

It is important to prepare the forms correctly before starting production process. To do this, you need to grease the selected shapes special lubricant so that further stripping can proceed without problems.

Among other things, lubricant can increase the service life of the plastic mold by several hundred cycles. An important nuance is that it will be necessary to wash the molds from grease after stripping, in anticipation of the next cycle.

Theoretically, you can prepare the lubricant yourself from motor oil and water, but the proportions must be ideal, otherwise the lubricant can ruin the entire batch of tiles.

If the grease is too greasy, there may be sinkholes in the finished tile. If the grease content of the lubricant is insufficient, problems may arise during further stripping.

You can make molds for producing tiles yourself. In ours you can read about how to do this.

Preparation of future concrete components

Before making the concrete solution itself, it is important to prepare a concrete mixer. We rinse the inside of the concrete mixer with ordinary water. For the production of tiles they usually use semi-wet concrete, therefore it is important that the walls of the concrete mixer are wet.

How wet the concrete is depends on its further strength and the period of holding the blanks in the molds. Wall humidity will ensure not only high-quality mixing, but will also help prevent premature contamination of the inside of the concrete mixer with the solution.

Next we prepare dye for concrete and plasticizer. The approximate proportion of plasticizer in the total mass of dry concrete mortar is 0.5%. Approximate ratio marking concrete mixture for plasticizer - 40 liters per 200 g.

Plasticizer cannot be added to concrete in a dry state.

It is necessary to dilute 200 g of raw material in 1 liter very hot water(80-85°C). The plasticizer must dissolve well; the formation of sediment is unacceptable. Therefore, water temperature and uniform mixing are very important.

Let's prepare pigment dye for future concrete mortar. The dye makes up no more than 2% of the total composition of the mixture in a dry state. Considering that the cost of the dye is quite high, everyone is trying to save on its consumption, thereby reducing the cost of the tile. But the long-term appearance of the tiles depends on how high-quality and intense the coloring of the concrete was. Therefore, you should not save, otherwise the tiles will lose their rich shade within a year.

To produce saving dye and not harm the color of the finished product, you can use the double-fill method. This method involves filling plastic molds colored solution about halfway and instantly pouring colorless concrete up to the edges of the forms. This method of filling will not only reduce the dye consumption by 2 times, but also increase the strength of the finished products.

Approximately 800 g of dye is thoroughly mixed in 3 liters of water at a temperature of 45-50°C. The dye is added in batches; the formation of sediment is also unacceptable. Even a small lump of dye residue that ends up on the front finished tiles, will ruin the entire appearance of the finished product. The sink formed due to dye sediment also affects the strength of the tile, significantly reducing its market value.

Production of tiles by vibration casting

After the forms and concrete mixer have been prepared, the dye and plasticizer have been prepared, we proceed to the direct mixing of the concrete mixture. When making concrete mortar for tile production, there are certain nuances– this is a very low moisture content for concrete.

The further strength of the finished product will depend on the ratio of the amount of water and concrete. The moisture in the solution should be 30% of the total cement content. Thus, for 3 buckets of cement, you will need 2 buckets of water and this is the volume already with dye and plasticizer. Such a solution is not easy to mix, which is why a concrete mixer with wet walls is needed.

1. pour a measured dose of water into a running concrete mixer;
2. pour cement, mix;
3. add screening;
4. pour in the pre-prepared dye and plasticizer.

Pour the thoroughly mixed mixture of even color into pre-prepared molds. We place the workpieces on the vibrating table. It is necessary to select the number of workpieces installed on it in proportion to your table. The table springs should not be slack, but overloading will also harm them.

Vibration intensity table depends entirely on the number of workpieces. The concrete mixture in the molds on the switched on table begins to melt. In the workpieces will be formed free spaces that will need to be filled out. The period of vibrating the forms on the table is approximately 5 minutes.

When a white film appears on the workpieces, this will mean that the process was successful and all excess air has been removed from the concrete mixture. Then the forms can be removed.

Curing and subsequent stripping of concrete products

In a room where it does not reach sunlight, the tile dries approximately within 24 hours. Such rapid drying occurs due to the low moisture content and the presence of a plasticizer in the composition, which, among other things, increases the strength of concrete tiles.

We produce stripping of finished products and don't forget to rinse the molds. Most likely, it will not be possible to wash forms under paving slabs with ordinary water, but a saline solution with a high salt content can help in this process.

Some more details in the video:

Production of paving slabs: business plan step by step + 5 types of tiles + 3 production methods + detailed calculations investments.

Capital investments: 968,800 rubles.
Payback period: 3 months.

Production of paving slabs - profitable business With long term development.

The infrastructure of modern cities requires constant replenishment of reserves building materials, including paving slabs.

Why paving slabs? Because this is a business that is always relevant. Think about how many sidewalks are tiled in your city. The building materials market is always in demand + the pace of infrastructure development is increasing, which implies an increase in the need for consumables.

Own tile production is an expensive business, because the cost of high-quality equipment starts from $5,000. home positive side– this is a profitability of over 100%.

Do you have money and the desire to open own production paving slabs? Let's start building now!

Production of paving slabs - let's start with marketing

To begin with, you should answer a few basic questions about promoting any product:

1. What to sell?
2. Who should I sell to?
3. What price should I set?

The correct answers to these questions can form the perfect sales marketing plan. Start with the first one.

What to sell?

Paving slabs? This is not the answer that will give you a competitive advantage.

It is necessary to decide on specific product. Initially you will have small line production - it’s not worth scattering.

Consider the main types of tiles and choose the option that suits you:

View	a brief description of
Sidewalk paving stones	The surface of the tile is hard and frost-resistant; it contains granite chips. Rectangular or chipped shape, the lower and side edges are smooth, the color scheme is predominantly strict. Maybe reusable, resistant to mechanical damage.
Crumb rubber tiles	Includes rubber crumb+ polyurethane glue. Shape and size may vary depending on the area of ​​use. Suitable for children's and sports grounds, places with an increased risk of injury.
Reinforced	High strength tiles. Inside is wire mesh, which can significantly increase the mechanical resistance of the product. Produced only by vibration casting. It is frost-resistant, adheres to a strict design, and is used for laying parking lots and entrances to factory buildings.
Polymer sand	Consists of polymer, sand and pigment. Lightweight and frost-resistant, used for laying pedestrian areas. The only negative is low strength. The production method differs in the use high pressure to improve the homogeneity of the mixture.
3D design	Paving slabs with 3D print. The peculiarity is that the print is resistant to mechanical damage and all kinds of weather conditions. According to their own physical qualities no different from the most ordinary paving slabs.

So, the production of paving stones for sidewalks is the best solution for a beginning entrepreneur.

Paving stones are easy to make and popular both in the city and in the private sector. Simplicity sells well. Simple forms appeal to most potential buyers.

Who should I sell to?

The sales market for paving slabs is limited by the scope of application.

Think about where you could find tiles? Obviously on the sidewalks! You do understand that it is advisable to use paving slabs only for laying city roadsides, or to use them for decorating private sector areas?

We determine a list of possible customers:

• State utility structures that are engaged in beautification of the city territory.
• Construction companies.
• Owners of private sector houses.

Which one should you focus on?

Of course, the best customer is government agencies. They will provide you with constant sales volumes.

But, as a beginner, you do not have the necessary status and opportunity to immediately get into the ranks of leaders.
Target audience of the project that will be considered in this manual, - private sector.

Owners of private buildings purchase considerable volumes of tiles. It gives a certain status to the “estate” and promotes comfortable movement in the yard in any weather.

What price should I set?

Vibration pressing. This path will allow the entrepreneur to increase the volume of goods. But at the same time, you will have to shell out a fairly substantial amount of money on equipment for the production of paving slabs.

Financial issue: equipment for the production of paving slabs

Buying a new brick making machine or finding a used one is a pressing question for a novice entrepreneur.

Compare prices for all major equipment and draw the appropriate conclusions:

Equipment	Cost, rub.)	Purpose
Vibropress	~ 500 000	Production of paving slabs. Depending on the shape of the matrix, it can be used to produce blocks and other building materials from concrete mortar. Due to vibration and the influence of the punch, the solution is transformed into a dense structure.
Hyperpress	450 000	Allows you to form tiles using high hydraulic pressure, thereby compacting the mixture to the desired hardness.
Vibrating table	30 000	The solution in the matrix hardens due to prolonged exposure to vibration. At the end we get tiles that need to undergo a long drying process.
Form	100	Formation of a product with specified parameters. The forms are made of plastic, which ensures durability and functionality + resistance to the influence of the solution.
Rack	2 750	Size: 2000x300x1000 mm. Used to place tiles during the drying process. The base is steel. The rack must be able to withstand the appropriate load.
Concrete mixer	14 000	With the help of a concrete mixer, the solution acquires a uniform consistency, which avoids differences in the composition of the finished tiles.

A complete production line costs from 50,000 to 800,000 RUR. Equipment for the production of paving slabs using a brick press will cost 520,000 rubles.

1) Molds for the production of paving slabs.

Special attention deserve forms for the production of paving slabs. They differ in their design, resistance to mechanical damage, and composition.

Let's look at a comparative table that will give you an idea of ​​the main types of forms depending on the composition:

Compound	Peculiarities
Metal	Durable, simple design. If you have experience working with welding and metal, you can try making the mold yourself. Problem: constant exposure of metal to water leads to rapid corrosion. It is important to use stainless metal.
Tree	Affordable, you can easily assemble it yourself using plywood and wooden slats. Easy to modify. Problem: the wood becomes saturated with moisture and swells, making it difficult to remove the tiles. You can use polyethylene mats to avoid direct contact of the solution with the wood.
Plastic	The forms are light, quite strong, but short-lived, since plastic does not have the best strength indicators . You won't be able to make a mold yourself - working with liquid plastic is very difficult.
Silicone	Flexible forms capable of withstanding 50 to 100 cycles of use. High-quality silicone allows you to create tiles of any shape, which is a huge plus.

Every tile manufacturer faces a question: is it possible to make a mold yourself?

A standard mold is used 50 (plastic) to 200 (metal) times.

To avoid big expenses, you can make molds yourself. The best material is metal or wood. Savings - 50%. But if you are not confident in your design abilities, the best way out is to buy a ready-made mold.

Making molds yourself makes sense only if you use a vibrating table as the main production method. Assembling a matrix for a brick making machine yourself is not best idea, because you will not be able to adhere to the technological process from start to finish.

2) Machine for the production of paving slabs.

The cost of a brick press ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 rubles. Not the best profitable price for the budding entrepreneur! Is it possible to find an alternative to a new tile making machine?

A used machine costs 40 - 50% less than a new one. But it is important to understand that such savings in the first stages of production will lead to future expenses for repairs + may result in a complete stop of work.

Does a machine for producing paving slabs with such an appearance inspire confidence in you?

Is risk a noble cause?

It's up to you to decide. Remember that idle operation of the mini-plant will lead to a decrease in efficiency. The best decision- do not save money and buy a new press that will ensure uninterrupted operation of the enterprise.

How to decide on the premises?

We sorted out the equipment. Now it’s time to think about where to place all the production equipment.

What should you consider when choosing a room?

Remember, you need to think about the location of the warehouse and workshop in the same room. For these purposes you will need 100-120 sq. m.

Obviously, producing paving slabs at home is nonsense.

1. Ceiling height >3 m.

Water supply.

Water is necessary both for concrete formation and for hygienic purposes.

2. Electricity - 3 phases.

Availability of space zoning.

It is necessary to separate the workshop area from the warehouse and the hygienic corner.

Convenient access to the warehouse.

You are engaged in the production of tiles, the transportation of which is not the most simple task. Take care of your customers - organize a comfortable entrance.

Rental price 1 sq. m. warehouse - 150 rub. Respectively, room of 100 sq. m. will cost 15,000 rubles/month.

Personnel for the production of paving slabs

How many personnel are needed to service the workshop? First, you should figure out the volumes of tiles that you are ready to produce per day.

For the operation of a workshop that produces 50 sq. m. of tiles per day using a vibropress, you need to hire 3 employees:

The work of a sales manager and accountant will fall on your shoulders. When the company begins to generate stable income, you can hire specialists for these positions.

Newbies in the production of paving slabs

often make many mistakes due to ignorance of technology.

Important secrets from the manufacturer in this video will help you avoid them!

Production of paving slabs: equipment, personnel, premises - financial calculations

968,800 rubles - start-up capital for opening a tile production. How much money should you shell out for monthly infusions?

Monthly investment in tile production

Every month production will take 383,000 rubles from you.

Profitability calculation

• 50 sq. m. of tiles per day – 1,500 sq. m. per month;
• 1 sq. m. costs 550 rubles;
• “dirty” income will be 825,000 rubles;
• “clean” - 442,000 rubles;
• payback – 3 months.

Profitability is very high, which allows you to achieve payback in 3 months and then work to expand production. This is the most obvious advantage of this business idea.

You learned the basics of how to organize production of paving slabs. Business plan- this is only a small part in the practical implementation of the project. Explore technological process, legislative component and start working on your business today.

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The construction segment today is second only to the telecommunications sector in terms of the level of implementation of new technologies. 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, moreover, real possibilities market. Practice shows that good old technologies not only remain in demand, but also provide excellent chances to start your own business with small investments. The realities of small business in 2015 show rather illusory prospects 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 optimizing the business itself. As one of the alternatives (in truth, the option is good for organizing a new business), you can consider organizing the production of paving slabs using the vibration casting method.

How much does it cost to produce 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, the situation is no better, this question belongs to the sphere of interests of the “big” bosses, as a result they are, at the very least, repaired. The situation is completely different with sidewalks; no money is allocated for them; the specifics of their repair do not allow for much acceleration. From practice, I can say for sure that 3-4 times more can be “appropriated” from one square meter of road. Most sidewalk repairs in cities, small towns, and private households are left to small businesses. What does this mean in practice?

At organizing a full cycle from production to laying 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%, cost of foreman’s services – 20-30%). In fact, this means that tiles can be laid at a 50% discount without losing average profitability.
• - individual approach to the client. Selection of shape, color, may be taken into account individual characteristics plot.
• - full complex services. If we consider that for the mini workshop itself, raw materials (screenings, cement) will be purchased at wholesale prices from established suppliers, then de facto the client pays and actually receives everything at once at the optimal price.

By by and large It is precisely this complex option that makes it possible to talk about the business of producing paving slabs as an option for construction crews in repurposing.

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

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

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

For example, for the period " winter season» repurpose for the production of concrete countertops and 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. Vibropressing

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 and then fired at high temperatures. Such production is expensive to organize and requires special permits and high-quality raw materials. It ends up being expensive this technology goes into the realm of big business. In terms of 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 constant technological cycle. Recently, a friend’s “lights” were turned off for a couple of hours, and then they spent a week “picking out” the frozen clay.

One more The manufacturing technology for paving slabs is vibration compaction. The method is undoubtedly good and has its advantages:

• - firstly, the possibility of widespread use of automatic processes. If you have money and desire, about 90% of all processes are done by automatic machines.
• - secondly, higher wear-resistant performance.

There is a downside though:

• -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 vibration casting.
• - higher stability shows itself effectively only in cases of intense loads. For example, if you use tiles as paving stones on a road with heavy traffic (cars) or a very large flow of people.

Vibration casting - in this version of the production of paving slabs we're talking about about traditional casting using a vibrating table, this option is suitable for home businesses. The technology itself simply does not require any additional, much less special equipment except the table itself. In fact, the procedure is a chain:

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

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

Ready concrete is laid out into molds on a vibrating table;

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

The forms with the solution are put on racks, covered with PVC film and kept for 24 hours;

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

The products are being stripped;

The tiles are laid on pallets, where they are kept for a certain period until they are completely ready.

pros

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

Minuses

• - high level manual labor;
• - hard binding volume of products to the workshop area.

What equipment and premises are needed?

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

• - availability of electricity and water.
• - heating. To obtain a strong product, it is necessary to comply with the drying conditions; in cold periods, you need to “raise” the temperature, and in hot periods, lower it. Drying too quickly leads to 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, one of the advantages is the possibility of long-term use, and the disadvantage is the cost.

Rubber, can be 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 you must be guided by one principle - rationality. Expensive, more durable rubber or metal molds suitable for popular shapes. But when making 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. By and large, you can make it yourself.

Table for stripping. Simply an irreplaceable thing and assistant, especially in conditions of seasonal intensity.

Bath for washing molds. After making the tiles, all molds must be thoroughly cleaned; a “dirty” mold is almost 100% defective.

Rokla hydraulic. Also at first glance it is not enough necessary thing, but when working with working volumes of tiles, its transportation and transportation without rollers is a tedious, labor-intensive process of palletizing.

and activities

Calculate the real cost without having specifics about the region, availability raw material base very difficult, one might even say it’s not realistic. On average in the market, the level of profitability of production is about 30-45%, while it fluctuates significantly depending on the remoteness of the resource base, this is due to the presence of cement factories, granite and sand quarries. The closer, the cheaper the raw materials, the higher the level of profitability. One of the most significant factors for a small mini paving slab workshop is the low dependence on fixed costs, which allows you to “freeze” production very quickly and start it up just as quickly, without using significant financial resources.

Advertising and sales of finished products

Very often, a small business (especially if the business belongs to the category of home business) does not give special significance advertising and beautiful presentation of your 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” and “word of mouth” do their job, but this happens later. I would advise you to take product advertising seriously and suggest the following options:

• - first. Preparation of bright advertising brochures. Moreover, the booklets must contain high-quality photos, big choice various forms (it can be taken from sites selling ready-made forms for paving slabs) and flowers. The fact is that even for a small order you can always save money and buy cheap molds made of plastic or polyurethane. Plus, the cost of several thousand advertising brochures will not be that expensive. When distributing brochures, the main thing is to choose the right place and contingent.
• - second. Advertising in newspapers is required, especially since you will have the opportunity to lay tiles. For a small paving slab workshop, you can rent a large banner; again, the main thing is to choose the right location.

Alternative and related activities

Small-scale production of paving slabs has another significant advantage, this is the ability to expand the range of products and services offered, in particular:

• - tile laying services.
• - 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.
• - a minor modernization and you can start producing cinder blocks, and if you have money, then foam concrete (you need to buy a high-speed concrete mixer).

The list goes on; 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 making 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

For many owners of suburban real estate, the technology for making paving slabs with their own hands remains a pressing issue.

And indeed, if you acquire certain skills in working with paving stones, you can transform your backyard area beyond recognition, make a hard surface in the yard or install garden paths.

Manufacturing methods

In practice, two main methods are used. First, let's get acquainted with the nuances of obtaining the material in question using the vibration casting method. This method is characterized by its comparative cheapness and the ability to obtain high-quality building materials even by inexperienced workers.

The technology for producing the material is as follows. The prepared working solution is poured into greased molds. Next, they are installed on a vibropress and compacted until air bubbles are released. Next, the raw material is placed on special racks for drying. After about two days, the tiles are knocked out of the molds and reused.

Paving stones made by vibrocompression differ from their analogues by improved resistance to mechanical stress and high strength. Such materials are intended for laying coatings in critical places, for example, car parks.

Note: You can only make vibro-cast paving stones with your own hands, which can be used for constructing garden paths. Homemade materials cannot be used for a long time as a covering in places where vehicles are moving or parked.

The technology for producing vibropressed tiles is somewhat reminiscent of the work on producing tiles using the vibration casting method. The finished solution passes through a special press, so the products have improved strength indicators. At the final stage of work, the material is dried in special steaming chambers.

Which is better

According to the majority of consumers, approximately 80% of the total number of respondents, the best performance is achieved by materials that were produced in a factory using the vibrocompression method.

Such products are slightly more expensive, about 20%, but they are much more durable. The concrete mixture has a more dense structure and has fewer pores, which improves the frost resistance and abrasion properties of the surface.

It is important to know: pressed paving stones, which are present in construction stores, is limited in shapes and shades, cast tiles, on the contrary, have many different shapes and colors.

The maximum destructive effects occur with the coating in winter time year, when water gets inside the concrete, it expands and destroys its structure. The surface of materials produced by vibration casting can be protected by introducing basic composition special water-repellent substances, but such elements will not make it last forever, but will only increase its service life.

Special tools

To obtain the materials in question, you need the following tool:

• Concrete mixer of a certain volume.
• Factory or homemade vibration table.
• Rack for laying forms of paving slabs (used as a dryer). Drying of raw materials will take place in this place. The initial process takes two or three days, then the paving stones are knocked out of the mold and laid to dry for another month.

Good to know: A similar unit is used to remove air bubbles from the concrete mixture during compaction.

• Containers for warm water. In them, products are removed from the formwork;
• Matrices or forms. They can be made from scrap materials or ordered from online stores.

Types of forms

One of the most popular forms for paving stones is silicone. Such products are used to create complex shapes. Such formwork allows you to obtain a pattern with a different textured surface.

The disadvantage of the product is considered to be limited use (no more than 50 cycles). Subsequently, the shape loses its original geometric dimensions.

The next type, plastic formwork, is used to produce simple products. Main advantages similar designs are considered to have high levels of durability and strength. Such products can withstand up to 800 cycles of pouring and hardening of the working mixture.

Forms based on polyurethane are somewhat similar to silicone formwork, but they are more expensive and have a longer service life (up to 100 cycles).

Many private developers are interested in the question of how to make a form for paving stones themselves. The most popular option is considered wooden formwork made from pieces of plywood or thin boards.

Take note: When making molds, we take into account inner dimensions, which will correspond to the dimensions of the finished product.

Such shapes are made in the form of a square or rectangle, as well as a hexagon. Metal corners are fixed at the junctions of adjacent elements.

Preparation of the solution

The basic composition of the paving mortar must contain the following components:

• 21% binder (cementm500);
• 55% sand purified from large impurities;
• 24% of granotsev;
• 0.7% plasticizer (you can take grade C-3);
• 7% pigment dye
• reinforcing fiber 0.05%;
• 5.5% water.

To obtain a high-quality mixture, it is necessary to mix all of the specified 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 drum of the unit rotates 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 required quantity water, sand and crushed stone are added alternately to the concrete mixer, then a binder (cement). For effective mixing, water is periodically added to the raw materials. The last time this is done is at the end of the batch.

Step-by-step description of the process at home

First you need to properly prepare the forms. For this they inner surface coated with mining or other type of lubricant.

At the formation stage, it is necessary to pour the prepared solution into the molds. If there is a need to produce material with a colored surface, then 75% of the formwork is filled with ordinary gray concrete, the remaining 25% with colored concrete. In this case, the decorative part of the product should be at the bottom.

Forms filled to the top with the solution are gently shaken and placed on a vibrating table for about 5 minutes. The products are removed from the table after a white film appears on the surface. Whiteness usually indicates the release of air bubbles from the concrete. When making two-color paving stones, each layer is compacted separately.

Expert advice: If oil is applied generously, small depressions may form on the surface of the tile, but if there is not enough lubrication, it will be difficult to pull the paving stones out of the mold.

The next stage of work, drying, involves placing the products on racks for a period of up to three days. The drying room must be equipped with exhaust ventilation. In addition, people should not enter the warehouse for storing finished products. Sun rays. To reduce the intensity of moisture evaporation from the surface of the material, the form with concrete is covered with a transparent plastic film.

The final stage is removing the tiles 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 tiles are removed without any problems. The product is knocked out onto a soft mat and placed to dry for another month (for final hardening).

Manufacturing cost calculation

Price calculation is necessary if this material will be used for subsequent sale, as well as to determine the savings between do-it-yourself paving stones and factory-made products.

The main money will have to be paid for the raw components of the concrete mixture and formwork. Here are approximate prices:

• 50 kilogram bag of Portland cement grade 500 - 400 rubles;
• Fine crushed stone – 1750 rubles per m3;
• Sand purified from harmful impurities – 600 rubles per m3;
• Pigment dye - about 5000 rubles for a 25 kilogram bag;
• Plasticizer grade S-3 up to 80 rubles per liter;
• Lubrication within 100 rubles. Per liter;
• The cost of the molds depends on the dimensions and material of manufacture, ranging from 30 to 1500 rubles.

The price of regular tiles is smooth surface starts from 200 rubles/m2, textured ones cost even more – approximately 450 rubles/m2. If you carefully calculate all the costs, then paving stones made at home will cost 10-30% less than factory-made products. .

How to make colored paving slabs

There are several ways to make colored paving stones at home. Let's describe the most popular of them:

1. Addition of pigment dye to the base composition of the mixture. After mixing the raw materials, concrete of the desired color can be obtained.
2. The second option for painting tiles is to apply color to the inner surface of the mold. The material acquires the selected color after direct contact of the concrete mixture with the pigment dye.
3. Coloring finished materials carried out using a spray gun.

Keep in mind: when mixing several colors, a more interesting texture of products is obtained.

As we can see, the process of making paving slabs at home is quite simple. If you become familiar with the production technology and have at least a little desire, you can make a hard surface in the yard of a private house and even make money by selling paving stones.

For detailed instructions on how to make paving slabs with your own hands, see the following video:

When arranging garden paths in their personal plot, every owner of the territory thinks about creating beautiful and functional elements landscape design. Excellent materials For the manufacture of paving slabs at home, the following can be used:

• stone;
• trunk cuts;
• gravel.

But the most common solution for your site as a covering for paths and platforms is ordinary paving slabs. It is known that it has excellent characteristics, an attractive appearance and is ready to serve for quite a long time. favorable conditions. If you make such elements for the design of the site yourself, they will be combined with the style of the garden and home.

Selection of materials and preparation of tools

Before you start making paving slabs at home, you should definitely consider photos of such elements. This way you can determine for yourself what appearance this part should have. personal plot. The composition of such tiles usually includes:

• sand;
• cement;
• water.

The ingredients are combined in a certain proportion, which depends on the brand of cement used and the purpose of the products. For durable tiles recommended use It is not recommended to skimp on quality, so as not to stumble on a crumbling path during operation. Water and sand must be cleared of leaves and foreign matter. But there may be fine stones in the sand. This will not deteriorate the quality of concrete. As a result, the product will only acquire a more pronounced texture.

When making at home, the instructions provide for the use of a plasticizer. You can increase the strength of products and ensure their resistance to temperature changes. Plastic molds are usually used for filling. They are offered for sale in wide range. They may have different sizes and forms. Each mold is usually designed for approximately 200 pours.

To speed up the manufacturing process, you should purchase several pieces. To reduce your budget, you can use plastic containers for food products. Such containers have sufficient flexibility, strength and softness. Containers of simple shapes allow you to make rectangular bricks.

Preparation of the solution

Before you start making paving slabs at home, step by step instructions needs to be studied. After reading it, you can find out that mixing the sand-cement mixture can be carried out manually, and you can get the job done faster using a hammer drill with a mixer attachment. When planning the scope of work to be carried out, you may want to think about using a concrete mixer. If the owner has it in his arsenal, you can further save time and effort. Such equipment has found its application in solving many problems. For example, when repairing fence posts or concreting a stream bed in your own garden.

Making paving slabs at home involves mixing the mortar. Sand is poured first, and then cement. There is no need to stop the rotation of the container. Liquid is added gradually. In this case, the solution must be constantly stirred. You should not be overzealous with the amount of water, because the solution may lose strength, which will manifest itself in ready-mixed concrete. To eliminate such a nuisance, water-repellent additives should be added to the solution at the mixing stage, and reinforcing fiber is used to increase strength.

When making paving slabs at home, you can give the products the most different colors. For this purpose, pigments that have increased resistance to atmospheric phenomena and ultraviolet. The mass with their presence in the composition also becomes resistant to an alkaline environment. You can determine the volume of added dye by testing. You need to start with 30 g, increasing the proportions. The mixture will acquire a uniform color after 7 minutes. Is the composition ready? This can be determined by the absence of lumps and the uniform distribution of pigment throughout the entire volume of the material.

Composition and proportions of the solution

Before starting work, it is important to determine the composition and proportions of the components. Only then will you be able to get tiles with high performance characteristics. It should contain:

• sand;
• plasticizer;
• cement;
• crushed stone;
• water.

If desired, you can add not only pigments, but also a dispersant. Their presence implies a change in proportions. At home, you should add 23% cement, 57% crushed stone and 20% sand. As for the plasticizer, it should be added in a volume of 0.5% by weight of cement.

Having determined the amount of dry ingredients, you must add water in a volume of 40% of their mass. If you want to use pigment, then add 700 ml per 1 m2. As mentioned above, when making paving slabs at home, you can add a dispersant; its volume will be 90 g per 1 m2.

Dry ingredients must be distributed separately. The total weight of water is taken into account depending on the proportion of dry ingredients. When using pigment and dispersant, they should be added by diluting them in liquid. So, to obtain a square meter of frost-resistant tiles, the thickness of which will be 4.5 cm, you need 22 kg of cement, 54 kg of crushed stone, 19 kg of sand, 110 grams of plasticizer and 9 liters of water.

Sand, cement and plasticizer are mixed at the first stage. Then you should add crushed stone, and at the very end - liquid. However, you should not fill it in full right away. It should be added in small portions. The consistency of the solution should be dense, the mixture should stick to the trowel, but not crumble. When tapped on the mold, the composition should spread well. Mixing is recommended to be done in a concrete mixer, but a construction mixer is an excellent alternative for small jobs. Some even make do with a trowel, but manipulations in this case take longer.

Learn more about the proportions of ingredients

It is especially important to observe proportions when making paving slabs at home if the surface will be subject to an impressive impact. Using standard ingredients (water, cement and crushed stone), you should use the following proportion: 1:2:2. For 50 kg of M-500 cement, about 20 liters will be required fresh water, which is approximately 2 buckets. The plasticizer is added to a small amount of liquid, and then the mixture is combined with the main composition and mixed well. At the next stage, granite crushed stone in the volume of three buckets can be poured into the concrete mixer. Everything is mixed with water.

You can reduce the risk of cracks in the finished product and increase its strength by adding granite screenings. At the next stage, you can add a bag of cement, which is 50 kg or three buckets. The composition is mixed well after adding each portion. The next step is to add another bucket of crushed granite stones. Then four buckets are added to the concrete mixer river sand. After each serving, the composition must be mixed well. If required, you can add a little water.

Now the last bucket of crushed stone is used. The entire process of stirring the mixture will take no more than 10 minutes. The proportions mentioned above will allow you to obtain a thick solution High Quality. After mixing the components, it is poured into molds, the contents are compacted with a mallet. The forms should be shaken a little, which will ensure a tighter shrinkage. After 2 days the tile can be removed.

Features of pouring into forms

Before pouring, the inner surface of the molds is lubricated with any oil, you can even use used machine oil. In the future, this will make it easier to unmould the products. Their strength can be increased by placing them in a half-filled concrete form. metal mesh. Instead, you can use wire or rod.

Then the remaining solution is filled to the brim. For vibration, you can use a vibrating table. If there is no such design, it can serve as a shelf or rack. You should perform several taps on the table.

Drying stage

When making paving slabs at home, at the next stage it will be necessary to free finished goods from forms. Before this, they are aged for three days, but they are first coated plastic film. At this time, you need to maintain the required level of humidity.

Hardening products must be periodically moistened. After 3 days, you can unmould it by moving the sides and shaking it. The products are dried for about 4 more days. At this time, the tile will gain the specified strength. It can be used as a covering for playgrounds and garden paths.

Making molds

Many materials are used in the manufacture of molds, including:

• wood;
• gypsum;
• polyurethane;
• plastic;
• silicone

Using them you can create the simplest or complex shapes with a certain texture. Polyurethane models deserve special attention, as they reflect the template in great detail. Products can be round or rectangular. Making molds for paving slabs at home is most often made from wood. This method is one of the accessible and simple ones. In this case, a formwork-type design is used.

You can use not only wood as a basis, but also moisture-resistant plywood. For this purpose, thin strips are used. They are cut into pieces and joined together with nails. It is better to leave free movement of the fasteners so that when the composition dries, you can remove the strips separately. Such forms are suitable for the manufacture of the simplest elements in a standard configuration.

When making paving slabs at home with your own hands, you can use plastic, which will form the basis of the molds. This option is one of the budget ones. For these purposes, you can use 5 liter containers. They are cut to height, which allows you to get troughs. You can use other types of plastic forms. They are made from containers and waste packaging.

Using plaster

Gypsum is also a fairly popular material. Using it, you can transfer any template to the material. To cast the product, you need to use a gypsum mixture and an example of the cladding element that you want to produce at home. The tiles are treated with grease to prevent the mixture from sticking. The element is placed inside the formwork, for which you can use limiters and wood.

The plaster should be thinned before pouring to prevent it from setting. Cement or plasticizer can be added to increase strength. The liquid mass is poured inside so that it covers the sample with a margin of 2 cm. The solution hardens quickly, but for complete hardening you need to wait a day. When you remove it from the workpiece, you will have a shape that reflects the design of the product.

Profitability of a tile manufacturing business

Quite a few novice entrepreneurs are interested in the issue of payback when making paving slabs at home. If you carry out the work on your own territory, then the cost of rent does not need to be taken into account, as well as the cost of wages for workers, because you can handle the process yourself. But the costs of electricity and water supply must be taken into account. Cost of one cubic meter concrete is also important.

The example considers a material from which you can get 16 m2 of tiles. Including delivery, the cost of raw materials is 110 rubles. Electricity will cost 1.3 rubles. Taxes are 1.2 rubles. These data are valid for the production of one square meter of tiles. The cost of making paving slabs at home will ultimately be 125 rubles. per square meter.

Tile manufacturing options

Paving slabs are most often based on a cement-sand mixture. But there are several more options, one of which you can use to home production. For example, a little large quantity sand is added to the composition to prevent leaching of the dye. But in this case, the products are less durable. Sometimes this is not so important if only foot traffic is planned on the surface.

Such a coating can be made into layers, additionally reinforced with chopped fiberglass or geotextile. When considering options for making paving slabs at home, you can refuse reinforcement. If you have a vibrating table that dampens vibrations in unnecessary directions, then you can perform the “puff” yourself. In this case, the goal is to save the amount of pigment. It is added to the top layer.