Beauty under your feet: do garden paths of the form

Determined to elevate your garden, participant FORUMHOUSE _KM_ eye on the construction market of the form to create a concrete track. Such an option much cheaper purchases of paving tiles, and in the picture are the tracks look very aesthetically pleasing. And, most importantly, such a self-made concrete slabs cast directly at the place, after curing it is not necessary to install. It is true that new posts were doubts about its durability.

_KM_ (Participant FORUMHOUSE):

Plastic molds for garden paths - it's beautiful, but please tell me whether there has been some experience of their operation at least a few years? Just a road tile manufacture, so that it will not crack or chip - a complex process, and requiring the precision of the mixture proportions and thorough mixing and vibrocompaction and steaming Products... Is it possible to somehow bring this quality home-made product?

Indeed, many members of our portal have already poured the concrete into the curly plastic mold. However, in some garden paths "under the paving stones' serve faithfully for five or six years, while others - broke up into small stones in his first season. According to the participants Forumhouse, the first factor affecting the durability - quality training grounds.

We are preparing the ground for tracks

First, you need to mark territory: apply the border of the future tracks or pads, which are supposed to concrete, tile homemade concrete tiles. It is important that the base is flat, without significant height differences.

Basis, geotextiles (Dornit), then gravel, top - 5 cm layer of sand. All well and ramming only then fill the tile.

However, it should be borne in mind that, at this stage, a lot depends on the soil type.

That's what they say about it on our forum:

Helga (Participant FORUMHOUSE):

We have a solid clay soils such track "fit like a glove" without any preparation from the bottom. Preparation of "the mind" for such a small tile will not help.

Krysya (Participant FORUMHOUSE):

And I have a gorgeous horse turf throughout the site. I do this foundation last longer than the tile, it is necessary.

If the garden is covered with a thick, well-kept lawn, there is a temptation to stack form a track directly on top of the grass. Member FORUMHOUSE Just a Ded advises to remove the turf:

Just a Ded (Member FORUMHOUSE):

It makes it very easy: put the form at the place where he wanted to see their own tiles. Ordinary plaster with a trowel cut through the turf of form perimeter. Dern is removed, the base slightly leveled and compacted sand "tolkushkoy" if necessary. I establish the form and then fill it with a solution.

knead concrete

The next stage is perhaps the most crucial in the process of manufacturing the tiles - the preparation of concrete. This will require a number of materials: cement (grade M400), sand, gravel (fraction 5-20), a plasticizer. The latter allows to reduce the amount of water when mixing and reduce the number of pores in the concrete, preventing its destruction during the freezing-thawing. The plasticizer helps make the surface smoother.

Pay attention to the date of manufacture of cement and do not buy it for future use, t. To. This stuff even when properly stored up losing 10% of its strength over the last month.

On our website there is another issue devoted to laying tracks from decorative concreteWhere participants also willing to share their experience.

Nuwa (Participant FORUMHOUSE):

Concrete was prepared from a mixture of cement, sand and gravel (fraction 5-20) in a ratio of 1: 2: 3 by volume with the addition of plasticizer (1 liter per 1 cubic meter of solution). It is also advantageous to add fibers in the fiber (600 g per 1 cubic meter) was providing plastic reinforcement layer.

It is best to use for making concrete mixer, as this will greatly facilitate the work and save time. But if there is no concrete mixers, concrete can be prepared by thoroughly mixing the ingredients in the trough.

Exception of at least one ingredient from the composition of the concrete will significantly reduce the quality of the coating.

Place the mold on prepared substrate

It's time to pour the solution into molds. Since the tiles are cast in place (ie, in contrast to the factory paving tiles, after drying, it is no longer necessary will be laid), form put directly onto the prepared substrate - a pillow of geotextile, compacted sand and gravel. Form for the tracks to be lubricated, so that later it can easily be removed with a curable concrete.

Strekoza (Participant FORUMHOUSE):

Form prior to use it is necessary to lubricate several times with linseed oil or machine oil.

 Fresh concrete in form

When concrete is poured into plastic molds for the concrete track it is important to make the surface flat, without pits and mounds, using a leveling trowel. Here you must act quickly and clearly.

Solution in the form of compacted recommended manually or by a special concrete vibrator.

After the concrete has little grab, forms must be removed - somebody makes it through 4-5 hours after pouring concrete when the density becomes comparable to the density of clay, someone waits for a half-two days.

To improve durability, concrete hardness, and also to protect it from moisture, removing the form, resort to zheleznenija procedure.

_KM_ (Member FORUMHOUSE):

 Cement - a way to improve the quality of the outer surface of the concrete by rubbing into the fresh concrete cement powder.

stained concrete

If a natural concrete Gray seems boring to you, or design the site requires bright colors, the concrete can be colored. Here's how to give the garden path the color of members of our portal:

nuwa:

On ironed concrete layer uniformly scatter dye so as to completely cover the entire area to be treated. The dye penetrates deeply into the pores of the layer and not only paint it, but also strengthens the surface. Within a few minutes of dye powder absorbs moisture. Making sure that dry patches are not left, his smooth trowel, removing grooves and bumps. Then, the dye filling procedure and its leveling is repeated once more.

b_l_e_f(Member FORUMHOUSE):

I used ferric chloride. Tablespoon per 2 liters of water, splashing through ordinary sprayer. It is necessary to spray the fresh concrete (I did it for 3-4 days), the old turns out not so impressive. I do not know how to behave in such a painting in the cold, but the autumn rains stood.

Forum participants also decorate homemade fresh concrete mosaic, laying drawing small pieces of colored tiles, carefully vtaplivaya them in solution. Here it is useful remaining on repairs in the home tile. Pre her break into pieces with a hammer.

Check the readiness of the concrete 

During the first week of the concrete will actively recruit strength, the process lasts for 28-30 days. In hot weather the tile in the process of setting moisturize, pouring out watering can. Also for less evaporation in the early days of the product can cover with plastic wrap.

Nuwa:

Under favorable weather conditions, the garden path from the mold is ready for use after only 10-14 days.

seams are sealed

When the concrete gained strength left to put the finishing touches - seal the joints between the elements of the garden path.

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After drying fall asleep all the sand track, well, watered and then sweeping the stiff brush. When spilling sand fill joints between the stones, and they will not jump at your feet.

Forms for concrete tracks: cons

Although the merits of forms for concrete tracks a lot, marked and cons:

Aib (Member FORUMHOUSE):

All forms one drawback: after pouring the solution side walls bursting. Closely tiles are not laid. I made a wooden frame and put it in a form.

Dmitry L. (Member FORUMHOUSE):

Here you have disadvantages: it turns a thin layer - no more than five centimeters. After pouring you need to catch the moment when taking this form: early snimesh - concrete raspolzetsya late - fall asleep with the form or somewhere a piece falls off. Finally, the slowness of the process: to ensure that there was an effect, you need to have at least three of these forms.

On FORUMHOUSE you can learn all device features decorative concrete track with the help of special formsAs well as draw helpful advice and fresh landscaping ideas. And watching our video, you will learn how to construct on the site near Moscow simple steps and path garden path with backlit.

Discuss the article and read other materials devoted to country life you can on the websiteFORUMHOUSE.

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