How to make cobblestone paving stones using stretch film: a fresh life hack from China

There are several ways to make paving slabs at home. But all these technologies require the use of molds and a vibrating table. But the Chinese have figured out how to make paving stones under the cobblestones using ordinary stretch film. Read on for more details.

Feature of technology

The main advantage of this method is that the stone is molded not in a special form, but in a film. That is, the same solution that is required for ordinary tiles is laid out on a stretch film; a bag in the form of a cobblestone is formed from the film and immediately placed on the track. In this position, it hardens! Then you just need to clean the surface of the film and the track is ready.

Technology advantages

• It is easy, but at the same time, to precisely fit the paving stones to each other. That is, to give the stone an optimal shape while it is in a plastic state. And it will also make it possible to make a flat and easy-to-move surface. There will be no bumps and other inconveniences, as when laying natural cobblestone.
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• The minimum gaps will allow water to drain from the path, but at the same time, individual stones will not loosen, as is the case in paving slabs. Due to this method of laying, the track will be strong and, accordingly, durable. But this is on condition that the solution is prepared correctly.
• Aesthetics. Cobblestone imitation looks beautiful and original. Imagine if you add tiled dye to it! A path of red or yellow cobblestone will look very impressive.

Disadvantage

It will be difficult to remove the tape from the face of the track. But theoretically, three options for solving the problem can be envisaged here.

1. Clean the film with a wire brush.
2. Add a plasticizer to the solution or, in extreme cases, liquid soap. A plasticizer is used in the production of tiles so that the mortar does not stick to the mold. Perhaps this will work with the film as well, and it will come off easily.
3. What cannot be cleaned by hand can be removed with a gas burner. The film is thin, so it will quickly disappear under the influence of high temperature.

What is necessary

The following materials are needed for production: cement, sand, crushed stone, plasticizer or liquid soap. From the inventory you will need: a bucket, a knife, a trowel, a metal plate (work surface) in size 100 * 50 cm, several boards as sides / guide tracks, reinforcing bars for fixing boards. The form will be replaced by packaging stretch film!

For the convenience of working with the film, you need to make a simple unwinding device from a bar, trimming a plastic pipe and four nails. This will speed up the production process.

How to make such a track

Here we only assume and give advice on how to do it better, because this method of imitating a cobblestone straight from China and in our open spaces has not yet been tested.

First of all, you need to prepare the base for the track.

• Remove the top, fertile soil layer.

• Lay in geotextiles to prevent grass from sprouting through the gaps.
• Install the guides from the boards.
• Fill up with a 5–8 cm layer of sand and tamp.
• Fill in a 5–8 cm layer of crushed stone and tamp it as well.
• The base is ready and the stone can be laid.

Why is it so? Explaining. A layer of sand is needed so that the geotextile does not break. A layer of rubble is necessary, because the "raw cobblestone" will take the shape of the surface and, as it were, grow together with it. This will increase the adhesion of the stone to the substrate.

Sand concrete here, most likely, will be useless, since then this mixture will not stick to the film - there will be no adhesion. If you have a different opinion, write in the comments.

Next, you need to prepare a solution. The best option: add 1.5 parts of sand and 2 parts of fine gravel to 1 part of cement. A plasticizer must be added to the composition in the proportion: for 1 kilogram of cement, 10 grams of plasticizer. If these proportions of water are observed, add 0.24 liters per 1 kilogram of cement.

In the case of using liquid soap, you need to rely on the proportion: 1 teaspoon to 1 bucket of cement. For paint, the proportion is as follows: 30 grams of specialized dye per 1 kilogram of cement.

And then everything is very simple. The solution is well mixed (so that excess air comes out of it), placed in a stretch film, folded into a bag and placed on the base of the track. As long as the mass is plastic, it can be given the desired shape.

Let the lane stand in the foil for at least 5 days. During this time, it will gain strength. After this period, you need to remove the sides and remove the film. The track is ready.

Will you choose such a cobblestone or the usual paving slabs? Write in the comments!

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Read also:

• When paving stones become art: a selection of ideas for landscaping.
• Why in the south, houses are raised by 2.5 meters or an unusual way to increase living space.

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