Plastic tiles for garden paths in the country: polymer slabs for installing paths, do-it-yourself construction stages

Advantages and disadvantages of plastic tiles

The popularity of using plastic tiles to cover garden paths is explained by the following advantages:
no deformation in conditions of high humidity;
resistance to low air temperatures;
service life - at least 50 years;
affordable cost and opportunity to save;
high strength;
wear resistance and practicality;
environmental friendliness of the material;
availability of colors and shapes for every taste;
possibility of repair at any time;
no fading or deformation from exposure to sunlight;
easy care;
simple and reliable operation;
anti-slip protection on rough surfaces;
possibility of self-installation without special skills;
light weight;
Possibility of assembly and disassembly.

Disadvantages of coating often concern cheap, low-quality types. Among the disadvantages are:
high level of slip on smooth surfaces;
deformation under pressure of heavy weight;
rapid abrasion of the top layer;
the need to install a foundation for some types;
inappropriateness of use in expensive landscape design;
low resistance to chemicals;
faster trampling than stone covering;
the requirement for wide seams between elements in the case of lengthening the track;
less strength compared to stone;
the need to install borders (otherwise the tiles will creep apart).

Negative qualities

With all its positive characteristics, plastic tiles have a number of disadvantages, namely:

the appearance quickly deteriorates;
fades in the sun;

Plastic paving slabs, with the exception of garden parquet, look rather primitive. It may simply not match the interior of the country cottage site.

The strength of such tiles is not so high that they can be driven on by a car. This may cause it to sag. As a result, the clamps will begin to deform. And the path, over time, will simply fall apart.

The plastic coating is not protected from aggressive chemicals. If, for example, acid is spilled on the track, serious damage to the plastic surface can occur.

Such tiles begin to slip a lot after getting wet. The most inexpensive structures, which contain 100% plastic, in other words, no organic inclusions, are recommended by professionals to be used only as a temporary coating.

Types of plastic tiles

Depending on the material of manufacture, the tile can be made of pure plastic or with an admixture.

Based on their design features and purpose, the following types of inexpensive path arrangement methods are distinguished:

garden parquet;
lawn grate;
modular covering.

Did you know? The first semi-synthetic material in history, which gave impetus to the invention of plastic, was parkesin. Its discoverer, Alexander Parkes, mixed nitrocellulose, camphor and alcohol, which were heated to a fluid state, poured into molds and set.

Polymer boards

Ordinary plastic plates differ from polymer ones. If the former are made entirely of synthetic material, then in the manufacture of the latter, various natural additives (sand, quartz or wood), chloride and dyes are mixed into it. Without impurities, the tiles look cheap, wear out quickly, crumble after exposure to low temperatures and fade.

Plastic tracks are the most affordable and easy to install . For example, you can buy paving in the form of a roll, which can be easily spread. It can be rolled up for the winter, which will extend its service life. The polymer version with additives will cost more, but its quality and durability are better, and its appearance is much more solid. Such slabs can be used for the path leading to the house.

Did you know? The word "polymer" is of Greek origin. It literally translates as “many parts,” indicating the principle of the structure of plastic molecules consisting of monomers.

Garden parquet

Decking, or garden parquet, is elongated tile modules that are laid horizontally or vertically. Each slab consists of 4-5 boards. They are made from polymer with the addition of wood flour. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the percentage ratio between the components, since there are different proportions that affect the cost and quality of the products.

This type of coating has a rich exterior, and with the help of fasteners you can create an original ornament. Decking requires careful leveling of the base underneath.

Important! The higher the wood content in garden parquet, the higher its moisture resistance will be.

Lawn grate

This coating option is a grid in the shape of a square, divided into cells of the same size . The product is sold in green color and is designed to strengthen the soil under the lawn and give it a neat appearance. Using a grid, you can form various compositions on the lawn by filling the cells with crushed stone or soil with grass seeds.

By connecting the parts together using special fasteners, you can adjust the size of the lawn. Such a design will rid the path of dirt, provide good drainage to the soil and prevent it from weathering. A car that drives on such a lawn will not leave tire marks.

Learn how to make a brick garden path with your own hands.

Modular coverings

The modular coating consists of squares measuring 0.5×0.5 m or 0.3×0.3 m with a thickness of up to 15 mm. They have a corrugated surface, which has slots along or across. The material is suitable for creating paths, covering children's and sports grounds, recreation areas, and areas around a pond.

Grass surface

This is a unique material that looks like lawn grass and has a bright green tint. Dirt-resistant bristle grass is made from latex-based polypropylene or polyethylene. It is used to cover lawns and paths. It is distinguished by softness and elasticity, which provide this coating with durability and strength.

Artificial turf Source www.belforddevelopments.co.uk

It allows water to pass through perfectly, which prevents it from stagnating. Resistant to temperature changes. The special strength makes it possible to cover sports grounds with such a coating.

The bristly coating allows you to clean the soles of shoes from adhering dirt or sand when walking. The height of the coating is 9 mm, for this reason moving on it is safe and comfortable.

Concrete tiles for garden plot Source yandex.ru

Stages of track construction

In order to build a path at the dacha made of plastic, you need to follow the following sequence of work:

Select materials and tools.
Prepare the base.
Make the correct installation.

Did you know? The completely synthetic plastic was developed by Leo Baekeland in 1907. In less than a year, the material spread throughout the world and opened a new era in the history of industry.

Selection of material and necessary tools

To lay the path, you need to prepare the following tools:

roulette;
twine;
stakes for marking;
level;
hammer with rubber tip;
regular formwork hammer;
hacksaw;
a concrete mixer or a container for mixing cement (if a foundation is planned);
beacons for leveling the base;
shovel;
rule.

If you do not plan to make a screed, then there is no need for the last three positions.
You will also need a list of certain materials:

medium size gravel;
coarse sand (dropouts);
cement PC-400;
film or other non-woven material;
slabs for the path;
borders;
pipes for drainage;
boards and nails for formwork or foundation.

This list may become shorter depending on the foundation installation features.

Preparing the base

Laying support for a garden parquet or tile path involves using:

concrete;
gravel (crushed stone);
sand;
dry mixture of sand and cement;
not loose soil;
boards

Pouring technology

In order to properly pour concrete paths in a dacha or suburban area, you need a flat area, preferably concrete or asphalt (without large differences, bulges, recesses and cracks). If there is no such thing, then any open area on which sheet iron is laid under the forms will do. Because the main requirement for tiles is smooth planes.

Mixing concrete solution

The recipe for concrete mixture for garden paths is classic:

one volume of cement grade M400;
two volumes of sand;
four volumes of crushed stone or fine gravel (up to 5 mm) - not always used.

As for the amount of water, in the classic recipe it is equal to 0.5 of the volume of cement being laid. If a concrete mixer is used for mixing, then all indicated proportions are strictly observed. If the mixing is done in a trough with shovels, then more water can be taken to facilitate and increase the convenience of mixing the components of the concrete solution.

If a concrete mixer is used, then cement is first placed in its drum and water is poured. The main thing is that all the cement particles are well wetted. After which sand and crushed stone are laid in portions.

If the kneading is carried out in a trough, then all the dry ingredients are mixed well with each other. And then water is poured into the mixture. And the solution is thoroughly mixed.

Mixing concrete in a troughSource manesu.com

Pouring concrete into molds

Concrete tiles for paths are a product that is subject to reinforcement. The reinforced frame is a lattice assembled from metal rods with a diameter of 4-5 mm. Typically, steel rod is used for this. The grille elements are fastened together by electric welding or binding wire. You can use a ready-made steel mesh with cells of 20x20 or 25x25 mm as a reinforcing frame.

The production of concrete tiles begins with pouring concrete mortar to half the height of the formwork. The laid solution must be compacted. It is ideal if a vibrating table is used during the manufacturing process. But if there is none, then they pierce the laid mixture with a trowel in order to remove from it the air that gets into the concrete during its mixing. Air pores and cavities reduce the strength of the concrete product.

Then a reinforcing frame is laid on top. Its dimensions are slightly smaller than the internal space of the formwork. And concrete mortar is poured from above to the edges of the form. The poured mixture is pierced, and then the surface is leveled along the edges, removing excess material. The surface of the tile is smoothed with a trowel, achieving maximum smoothness.

Pouring the solution into moldsSource sewerge.ru

If the task is to decorate the finished product, then it is at this stage that the upper surface of the slabs is finished. For example, pebbles, pieces of ceramic tiles, and other materials are placed on top. If you need to make tiles of any color, then pigment is added to the concrete solution itself. The latter is poured into the concrete mixer drum during the process of adding fillers.

Features of caring for a plastic path

Under normal conditions, plastic tiles are watered with a hose once a week to wash away dirt. Sometimes weather conditions require this procedure to be performed more frequently. To prevent the path from wearing out longer, it is better to collect it for the winter and put it in a barn or other household premises.

Important! In summer, tiles heated under the sun may have a specific smell. To prevent this from happening, it can be periodically washed with cold water.

Thus, plastic tiles are an inexpensive, sustainable and attractive option for arranging garden paths. The demand for such coating is constantly growing due to its availability and ease of installation, but before purchasing it is important to evaluate the features of the landscape, the style of the area and the materials of the surrounding objects, because plastic may simply not fit into the design.

Laying decking

Laying begins from the highest point of the site or path. Don't forget about the slope for water runoff.

Laying the first slab.
Next to it, mount the second fragment; you need to snap the clamps onto the end of the adjacent tile.
The laying sequence does not matter; it can be laid longitudinally or parallel.
Make sure the tiles fit tightly together.
You can tamp down the parquet by slapping it with your palm or a rubber hammer.
Check the plane with a building level; if the base is level, there should be no problems with the plane.

Pool deck

Today, almost any suburban area has a swimming pool, if not a stationary one, then a prefabricated frame or inflatable one for sure. As is known, it is better to install the latter on a flat and solid platform. This means that modular plastic coating is useful here too. There is no need to worry that it will not withstand water pressure: the permissible load for the best Russian samples is 80 t/m². A serious argument in favor: being an excellent thermal insulator, the coating will slow down the cooling of water at night. Thanks to the perforated surface of the modules, the approaches to the pool will not be slippery, and dirt will not stick to your feet. By the way, these qualities are also valuable for indoor pools. If, according to the landscape designer’s idea, the pool deck should follow the polygonal or oval contour of the bowl, the problem is solved with the help of a grinder or jigsaw, which do an excellent job with plastic.

If you decide to buy a “Garden Path” mold or any other plastic mold for paving slabs or wall stones, the Legobeton company is ready to offer you a large selection.

We work only with trusted manufacturers who use high-quality materials. The cost of molds often depends on the quality of the raw materials, and cheap molds can fall apart after a few castings.

We primarily care about QUALITY, both forms and finished products. This is, in fact, why this article was written: so that you can make the most durable and long-lasting solution possible.

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