How to lay paving slabs: tips and tricks

Today it has acquired colossal proportions, not only in industrial but also at home. It is not surprising that this facing material has gained immense popularity in the design of garden paths, sidewalks, etc. However, before proceeding with the improvement of the territory adjacent to your home, you need to figure out how to lay the paving slabs correctly.

This material is often referred to as paving stones. There are many schemes for laying it, the most popular of them are a herringbone, a column and brickwork. This material is good because it is very easy to pave paths and sidewalks with its help. And the areas on which paving stones of different colors are used look very neat and elegant. So, how to properly lay paving slabs? Let's consider the main stages of work.

First you need to familiarize yourself with some tips that will be useful in preparing and buying paving stones, you need to take into account the waste that is generated from cutting. Their number depends on the shape of the tiles and on the installation method.

Before laying paving slabs, it is necessary to remove the top layer of soil from the selected area to a depth of at least fifteen centimeters. You should also clear the area of ​​debris and plant roots. Next, you should mark the proposed site, taking into account the slope. In order for rain and melt water to drain better, in some cases it is recommended to arrange drainage.

Your next step should be rolling or compacting the soil. It is produced in any way known to you. Before laying paving slabs, it is necessary to mark the future path and build curbs. To do this, you need to dig the grooves where the rammed track must be laid out with geotextiles. This is done so that during operation the paved area does not deform.

As a base for paving slabs, you need to make a "pillow" of rubble and sand. It is arranged regardless of which method of laying you have chosen: on a dry mixture or on a solution. A "pillow" is made as follows: the entire surface of the site is covered with a layer of crushed stone of the middle fraction. The layer must be watered and tamped thoroughly. Next, you need to pour a layer of sand, which must also be moistened and leveled. It is worth noting that experts offer many ways of how to properly lay paving slabs in the country. Some masters recommend pouring the cement mortar directly onto the crushed stone layer, bypassing the sand, while others place a reinforcing mesh on the sand layer. Experts also advise to fill the screed not with concrete, but with a solution of tile glue.

Before that, it is worth considering that in the process of work it is necessary to immediately form a track and observe the level of laying the material. The paving stones should be laid on the finished "pillow", after which it should be tamped with a mallet or vibrating plate. You can lay tiles not only in the traditional way, but also dry. It is done this way: the cement-sand mixture must be poured onto the laid paving stones and distributed over all seams. The remains must be swept out with a brush, and the tiles themselves must be thoroughly poured with water so that the liquid penetrates into all the cracks. Soon the mixture will harden, and your path will delight the eye with its neatness and beauty.