Own house is a complete composition if it is not just a house and adjoining territory with him, and the totality original ideas designer and modern technologies... Such an alliance will help turn a garden plot with a house into a well-groomed and cozy natural corner. Garden paths are the main design element, which, in addition to the aesthetic component, also carries a functional load.

The comfort of the owners of the site will depend on the correctness of the initial layout of the paths.

Garden paths should be sufficient durable and should be a decoration of the site. It is no secret for an experienced designer that short paths divide the entire area into small fragments, thereby visually reducing the size of the garden. At the same time, long paths create the feeling of a spacious area.

At the initial planning stage, the homeowner needs to decide on functional purpose tracks and their sizes. For example, the path leading to the facade of the house must be at least 2 meters wide so that two people can freely disperse on it. For technological tracks, 90 cm will be quite enough. The tracks along which the car will move should be no less than the width of the car itself, made of durable materials and have a rough surface to prevent slipping into winter time.

The modern building materials market is ready to offer buyers a fairly large list of materials for paving paths on the site. It can be tiles, natural or decorative stone, crushed stone, etc. concrete.

Advantages and disadvantages of concrete walkways

Sand-concrete mix is ​​one of the most demanded materials for creating paths. TO advantages this material and garden paths from it the following can be attributed:

• good strength properties of the material, its durability;
• ease of creation concrete structures, including garden paths;
• low material cost;
• resistance to adverse weather factors (moisture and frost resistance);
• resistance to mechanical stress;
• the ability to make a track of any configuration (the main thing is to make a suitable formwork);
• the ability to perform installation on one's own, without the involvement of specialists;
• ample opportunities for decorating tracks (during the preparation of the solution, you can add pigments of any color, or use tile mosaic, natural or artificial stone, etc.; the main thing here is to plant design elements and decorations in the solution a few hours after pouring).

TO disadvantages garden paths made of concrete include the following factors:

• when the soil moves during the off-season periods, the concrete path may crack;
• a concrete walkway is a capital structure; later it will hardly be possible to change its direction. Therefore, when planning the location of the tracks, it is necessary to simultaneously plan the area around them;
• it will take a serious investment of time and effort preparatory work and installation.

Concrete walkway technology

Actually, the entire process of independent mounting garden paths made of concrete is quite simple and consists of the following steps:

• marking the soil surface for garden paths;
• preliminary preparation of the soil;
• installation of formwork;
• pillow formation;
• installation of reinforcing elements and concrete pouring.

In order for the concrete garden path to delight its owners for many years, it is necessary to carefully consider each stage separately.

1. Markup soil surface for garden paths is the quickest and easiest step. The owners need to decide on the location of the tracks on their site and on their dimensions (as previously mentioned, they will depend on the expected functional loads). The markings are made using ordinary pegs, which are driven into the ground at regular intervals from each other, and a rope is pulled between them. At this point, the first stage can be considered completed and move on to the next.
2. Preliminary preparation soil. The essence of this stage is to choose upper layer sod to a depth of ≈ 5 - 7 cm. This is necessary in order to remove the roots of all plants along the path of paving the path. If this is not done, then the plants under the path will gradually rot, and water will get into the formed voids and freeze there in winter. The freezing water will increase in volume and press on the lying track. Ultimately, this process can lead to cracking of the concrete pavement.

In addition, it will be convenient for both people and for use in summer time lawn mowers if the garden path will be on one level with soil.

Formwork installation

Formwork it is mounted from boards and is needed for pouring concrete. In order to create any smooth bends of the track, it is quite possible to use plywood or any other bendable materials for the manufacture of formwork. You can make the formwork immediately along the entire length of the track, but since the solution must be poured in parts (it is necessary, because it is necessary to provide for the joints to compensate for the expansion-contractions of concrete under the influence of temperature), then the formwork can also be done in parts, which will reduce the material consumption for its manufacture ...

Pillow formation

Pillow under the concrete walkway serves two purposes.

1. Even weight distribution of the concrete track.
2. Drainage.

A cushion or base for the track is made from a layer of compacted rubble and a layer of sand. The sand does not hold water, and in winter the soil under the walkway will not freeze and expand. However, sand is a fine-grained material, which tends to go into crushed stone or soil over time. If sand will be laid directly on crushed stone, then after a few years it will go into the ground along with water. To prevent this process, any materials are laid directly on the ground for waterproofing... It can be roofing material, geotextile or agrofiber. The last two materials are the most preferable, since they are not subject to decay and are perfectly water-permeable. After the crushed stone is laid and the sand is filled up, it must be tamp well... If the sand is dry, you need to wet it, then it will be compacted more densely and there will be no voids in it. Besides, sand pillow it must be leveled so that subsequently the thickness of the concrete layer is uniform.

To make a pillow, instead of sand, you can make a thin concrete screed or use flat stones, but you need to deepen the trench under the path by the thickness of the stone or screed.

Reinforcement and pouring

The next step is styling reinforcing elements and pouring concrete. Before laying the reinforcing mesh or reinforcement, put plastic or any other film on the sand pillow. This must be done for the following reason: the concrete should not dry out, but harden. Solidification is chemical reaction with the direct participation of the so-called cement milk, which gives concrete excellent strength characteristics. So that this component does not go into sand and a film is needed. Then you can lay reinforcing elements: standard reinforcement, reinforcing mesh, screed mesh or any other materials.

Now you can start kneading solution... It can be made from sand and cement (1: 3), you can buy ready-made dry mixes that are diluted with water. If the walkway will only walk, then the thickness of the cushion and the concrete layer should not be less than 5 cm.If the coating will experience heavier loads, then the additional and concrete layers should not be less than 7.5 cm.

As the solution is poured, it must be flatten... After the entire finished portion of the solution is poured, it must be additionally leveled with the rule and compacted as much as possible until the appearance of cement milk. When the mortar has set slightly, you can smooth it with a spatula. At the same time, decorating elements can be planted in the solution (if this was previously supposed to be done). In order for the concrete to harden, and not dry out, the track can either be covered with a film, or periodically wet the surface of the track with water. After a couple of days, you can remove formwork, and after a few more days the path can be used by "pedestrians".

Having made the decision to make tracks on garden plot made of concrete, you can independently and with minimal financial costs give your land ownership a complete image and an elegant appearance.

Description:

Status: acting

Designation: TR 158-04

Date of introduction: 2005-03-09

Developed in: State Unitary Enterprise "NIIMosstroy" 119192, Moscow, Vinnitskaya st., 8

Approved in: Department of Science and Technology Policy in the Construction Industry (27.12.2004)

Scope and conditions of use: These recommendations apply to the construction in summer and winter in Moscow of environmentally friendly sidewalks, pedestrian and garden paths, pedestrian streets, parking lots, entrances to residential and public buildings, coatings in social and cultural areas (hospitals, clinics, schools, kindergartens, nurseries), at gas stations and sites for various purposes from prefabricated coverings.
For the device of prefabricated coatings, slabs and small-sized figured paving elements are used, made of heavy and sandy concrete, as well as concretes with the use of processing products of various industrial waste, reinforced with metal and basalt fibers.

Replaces: VSN 15-95 "Instructions for the construction of sidewalks from concrete slabs»

Table of contents: General Provisions
2. Preparation of subgrade and shallow drainage arrangement
3. Arrangement of a sandy underlying layer
4. Installation of side stone
5. Base device
6. Arrangement of coatings from slabs and small-sized elements
7. Quality control of work
8. Safety requirements
9. Environmental protection
10. Operation of sidewalks
Appendix 1. Characteristics of small-sized elements
Appendix 2. Characteristics of fine concrete lattice slabs
Appendix 3. Nomenclature of curved side stones for sidewalks, pedestrian streets, paths
Appendix 4. Layout schemes for rectangular slabs
Appendix 5. View of fragments of a covering from square slabs with a decorative surface
Appendix 6. View of fragments of a coating made of small-sized elements
Appendix 7. View of fragments of the coating and seams with filling the holes with lawn grass mixture
Appendix 8. Layout of expansion joints in the pavement covering from small-sized figured elements
Appendix 9. General form paving machine "Optima"
Appendix 10. Vibratory plates for compaction and landing of prefabricated coatings, equipped with a frame on rollers (a) and without it (b)

Text of the document TR 158-04

• Concrete walkway construction
  • Solid track device
  • Arrangement of paths from individual concrete stones

It is impossible to imagine any garden plot, cottage or Vacation home without a well-planned plot. Site planning is carried out first on paper. Noting the house and outbuildings on the site plan, the location of the garden; mark the locations of the tracks. If the paths from the house to the outbuildings are planned to be straight, then in the garden they can be winding.

The concrete garden path is durable, durable and has an attractive appearance.

The dimensions of the garden paths are planned in such a width that it would be possible not only to walk along them, but also to carry the load freely on the garden cart.

Optimal width they are 70-100 cm.

Inventory: hammer, cord, trowel, shovel.

Construction of the simplest garden paths

Stages of concreting the track: 1 - digging a trench; 2 - we drive in wooden pegs; 3 - we prepare the formwork; 4 - add a layer of rubble; 5 - do expansion joints; 6 - we put concrete in the formwork; 7 - ramming concrete; 8 - we continue to concrete.

The technology for their construction is quite simple. The top layer of soil is removed to the width of the tracks approximately 15 cm in depth, the resulting trench is filled with some porous material mixed with rubble or gravel and sand. Slag, house construction waste, wood chips, brushwood and weeded plants are suitable for backfilling. Everything is mixed, laid in a layer of 10 cm, poured with water and tamped. Then a 10 cm thick layer of sand with sifted slag is poured on top and again moistened and tamped. This layer should protrude 5 cm above the soil level and have a humped profile. Its composition is 1: 1 (sand: slag).

Once a season, you need to stir it up with a rake and make a fresh top-up. Gravel or crushed stone paths are also installed in an earthen trench, which is filled with sand. A layer of crushed stone or gravel is laid on the moistened sand and poured with a liquid solution of the composition 1: 20 (cement: sand) and then rammed. The first two days, concrete is poured from a watering can (in hot weather). To obtain tracks of the same profile along the entire length, you need to make a wooden template with a cutout.

Back to the table of contents

The last stages concreting the path: 9 - we make out the surface; 10 - concrete hardens; 11 - finishing work.

They are characterized by increased strength. The cost of building them is not high, especially if you do without hiring additional labor. For the manufacture of concrete and the device of paths, cement is necessarily used, which differs in name (ordinary Portland cement, slag-Portland cement, etc.) and brands: 100, 200, 300 to 600. Cement grade means the value of pressure in kilograms per 1 sq. ... cm of the surface at which the hardened cement stone is destroyed 1: 3 (1 part by weight of cement for 3 parts by weight of sand) The higher the cement grade, the less it needs to be taken to obtain a solution, and the stronger the hardened solution is.

Unlike other binders, cement gains strength in a humid environment, and when hardened, it is not afraid of wetting. It begins to set 45 minutes after mixing with water. This must be taken into account in order to use up the entire prepared portion of the solution or concrete, otherwise the remaining part will begin to harden and will be unusable. It is believed that after 7 days the solution acquires sufficient strength, and after 28 days - the final one.

If the paths on the site will be used not only for walking, but also for household purposes (transportation of humus on a cart), then it is better to make them solid.

Back to the table of contents

Scheme of a concrete road: 1 - monolithic concrete pavement; 2 - base (but); 3 - jointing under natural stone; 4 - curb (lawn).

To plan the construction of garden paths on the ground, you will need a hammer, stakes, and a cord. Having determined the direction, stakes are driven into the ground along the laid cord from both sides of the future track. They dig a trench, for which they remove the soil to a depth of 20-25 cm. The soil can be used for other landscape work. Fill the trench with sand to a height of no more than 10 cm and tamp it. They spill it well with water so that no voids remain. Expose lumber formwork. Reinforcement is placed on the bricks and covered with a trench with crushed stone (you can use a mixture of crushed stone and gravel). A cement slurry is prepared: one part by weight of cement, 3 parts by weight of sand and 1 part by weight of water. After mixing the cement with sand, add water to it and mix thoroughly so that there is no air in the solution. Filling them with a trench in an even layer, level the surface. If you make a concrete path without reinforcement, then it can lead (the soil will settle).

The next day, remove the formwork, fill the free space with soil, you can add a little gravel and make small grooves on the concrete with a trowel, which are filled with cement mortar with a small content of colored pigment or marble chips. This will give the track some originality. The technology for the construction of such paths is quite simple and the owner himself can make it on his site without involving hired workers.

Back to the table of contents

You can, of course, make it harder for yourself by making holes under each stone made of concrete. The device of such tracks is done in places intended for recreation, and not on garden plots... And the strength of concrete may be lower, that is, you can take cement grade M 25.

The construction technology of such a track is also not complicated. The device is started by determining the direction of the tracks and marking their location with a cord. Dig a trench no more than 30 cm deep. Cover it with sand to a height of about 10 cm. Tamp and spill well with water. This must be done so that the sand lies in an even layer, and in the future there are no problems with the subsidence of the tracks.

Determine the distance between the location of future stones made of concrete. Next, a lumber formwork is made, which is laid out along the width of the trench. The gaps can be filled with soil or made of gravel. Pour crushed stone and fill with cement mortar. The slurry should be viscous enough that water does not drip into the pad of sand, crushed stone or gravel, thereby degrading its quality. It is necessary to press the cut reinforcement bar into the solution, increasing the rigidity of the stone made of concrete. Smooth the surface of the tracks. After the mortar has set, you can draw a pattern on the surface of the stone with a trowel, and, by combining the liquid cement mortar with a pigment or with marble chips or other filler, fill in the grooves made.

You can simply leave these grooves, and the track will look as if it was composed of separate bricks. After the mortar has finally hardened, pull out the formwork and fill the vacant space with soil. Builders recommend watering concrete surfaces with water until they are completely solidified. This increases their strength. If you wish, you can give the stones a rounded shape by cutting off its edges. This should be done before the cement has hardened. In the places located between the made concrete stones, plant lawn grass.

1landscapedesign.ru

Arrangement of tracks

• Making concrete slabs for garden paths
• Installation of monolithic concrete paths
• Required tool

Garden paths are comfortable, practical and stylish. The first thing that comes to mind for the owners of garden plots is the construction of concrete paths. This is due to the affordable price and the ability to do it yourself. And such paths in the garden can be very diverse. They differ in shape, color and texture, which means that using this option for arranging paths in the country, it is easy to make the landscape design of the site unique.

Concrete paths are the end landscape design which will give suburban area individuality and originality.

Some summer cottage owners perform paths from various combinations. building materials, combining concrete with brick, cobblestone or natural stone... So, how to fill the paths in the country correctly, beautifully and efficiently? Let's find out.

Arrangement of paths from concrete slabs

The scheme of the device tracks.

Before you start laying out concrete slabs on the future track, you need to prepare the base for it. For this you need sand. Its layer must be carefully leveled and tamped, and only after that you can start laying the slabs.

1. In order to avoid displacement when moving along the path, when laying them, they are buried with a hammer using a board.
2. As for the sand layer, its thickness corresponds to 3 cm, this option is suitable for sandy soil. If your site has clay or loamy soil, then the first layer will be gravel (10 cm), the next layer is slag and only then a sand layer (5 cm).
3. If your site provides for the placement of slabs of a single nature, then a foundation device is not required for them.

There are also other methods suitable for laying concrete slabs, for example, on a mortar. The mortar is not applied over the entire surface of the slab, but only in the corners and in the center. Once you press on the tile, the grout will spread evenly over the surface.

Now let's consider possible options arrangement of slabs in the garden. It depends on the purpose for which the track or area is intended.

1. If you are making a path leading from the street to the house, then the tiles are laid next to each other.
2. If the path is not used very often for its intended purpose, then gaps can be arranged between the plates, which are filled with earth or planted with grass (flowers).
3. At direct location tracks of single slabs, the distance between its parts along the entire length should be the same, it is advisable to comply with the size of the average step. On other types of paths, the distance between the elements may vary.

The version of the track made of slabs with different shape or using a connection with clinker or stone.

Back to the table of contents

In addition to finished version for the device of paths in the country, you can use plates made by yourself.

Track construction scheme.

For these purposes you will need wooden molds or templates (metal or wood).

The advantage of making concrete slabs independently is the ability to comply with a single design idea, which will match both the shape of the slabs and the pattern of the track to be laid. Tiles are made for country paths of various shapes.

1. It can be a rectangle, triangle, hexagon, trapezoid, or even any irregular shape. You can also choose the color that suits you best, for example, brick.
2. Chips of marble or stone, colored glass, fragments of ceramics, particles of metal, and so on are sometimes added to the surface layer of the tile. And also on the surface of the slabs made by hand, you can apply an interesting embossed pattern.

Reinforcement scheme for a concrete walkway.

For self-made slabs are made of wood. They can be made from planks and beams. Bars with grooves are well suited for these purposes; when they are connected, solid, but collapsible structures are obtained.

1. Standard sizes slabs - 40X60, 50X60, and their thickness usually varies from 5 to 8 cm. A steel rod (diameter from 5 to 8 mm) is used as reinforcing elements, it is placed in the form of a cage.
2. Do not forget that before pouring concrete, the mold is processed with drying oil or other technical oil solution.

To make round plates, you can use a part of a pipe (metal), or an old bucket that has no bottom.

Reinforcement components are laid after you fill the selected shape by half, after which you can continue pouring the form with concrete. Do not forget to tamp the concrete mortar thoroughly and level its surface. And one more important point: make sure that the fittings do not protrude from the mortar.

You can paint the slabs as you wish. To give any shade to the mixture, it is necessary to add dyes of mineral origin, or it is possible to add to the top layer concrete mix(with front side) immerse colored stones (pebbles).

To achieve a yellow tint, ocher is added to the solution in a ratio of 0.5: 1: 1, where the first value is ocher, the second is cement, and the third is white sand. For brown, you can use umber (the proportions are the same as in the first example). Green coloration is achieved by using glauconite greens, all components in this case are used in equal proportions.

Back to the table of contents

Their advantages include good strength, lack of deformation and long term service. This version of the paths is usually done near the garage, gates, sheds and where construction works, since they can easily withstand significant loads.

But this does not mean that it is impossible to arrange them in another place (for example, in the garden). The decoration of such paths is carried out different methods, which allows you to achieve high level aesthetics. Basically, everything that is suitable for decorating concrete slabs can also be used when installing monolithic paths (in the garden, near the house, etc.).

The device of these paths in the country with your own hands will not give you big problems.

1. The first thing to do is markup. After that, the base is prepared, for this you need to remove the fertile soil layer about 15 cm deep. Do not forget to perform a high-quality compaction of the prepared base (bottom).
2. The next stage involves the device of the formwork, into which the concrete mixture will be poured. The boards used for it should be 2 to 2.5 cm thick. The interval of the transverse formwork is approximately 2 m.
3. Further, a sand layer must be poured into the formwork space, then a crushed stone (10 cm).
4. After that, the laid layers are carefully tamped and only then can they be poured with concrete, up to the upper level of the formwork.
5. Further actions (after pouring with concrete) include concrete rolling, leveling and smoothing with a trowel (plaster). On initial stage the concrete dries, but while maintaining its wet state, it is necessary to level it using a thick brush.

As a result, a surface is formed with roughness. Now you need to cover the finished track plastic wrap... This will allow it to dry out gradually and protect it from various kinds of natural influences.

Asphalt concrete is most often used as coatings for sidewalks and garden paths in cities. Asphalt concrete pavements on sidewalks and footpaths are arranged on various bases: from brick and limestone crushed stone; metallurgical slag; soil treated with cement; from ordinary cement concrete and lean concrete.
Table 80 are given Various types bases for sidewalks with coverings of sandy (3-5 cm thick) and cast (2.5-3 cm thick) asphalt concrete and their thickness.

The thickness of the sandy underlying layer for sidewalks with asphalt concrete pavement is taken depending on the group of underlying soils in accordance with table. 81.

The technological process of the installation of sidewalks and footpaths includes the following operations: leveling and rolling of the roadbed; delivery of sand for the construction of the underlying layer; sand distribution and compaction; delivery of materials for the foundation device; distribution of base materials; base seal; delivery and laying of asphalt concrete mixture in the upper layer of the pavement.
The leveling of the roadbed on the sidewalks is usually done by motor graders using shuttle aisles. The roadbed is rolled with motor rollers with smooth drums weighing 6 tons.
In the process of planning and rolling, check the evenness of the subgrade using wooden slats, and the necessary slopes - with the help of geodetic instruments.
Sand and other materials are delivered to the finished earthen, roadbed by dump trucks. Sand and other bulk materials are usually distributed also by motor graders, and sometimes by hand in cramped conditions. Compaction of the sandy sublayer and bases of crushed stone, slag and others bulk materials light motor rollers with smooth drums.
Cement-concrete foundations on sidewalks and paths are arranged using small equipment. Level the concrete mix special equipment mounted on the boom of the Belarus tractor. Densify concrete base special vibrating screeds or platform vibrators. Concrete care is carried out according to general rules conducting concrete work.
The asphalt concrete pavement is laid on wide sidewalks using a DS-1 (D-150B) asphalt paver or a lightweight D-464 paver, and compaction is performed with rollers weighing 1.5-6 tons. On narrow sidewalks and paths, as well as in confined conditions asphalt concrete pavement(mainly from cast mixtures) are arranged with the layout of the mixture manually and rolling it with hand rollers.
Colored plastic concrete is also used to cover sidewalks and pedestrian paths, which is prepared in mixing plants in asphalt concrete plants. It consists of crushed stone, sand, mineral powder, pigment and binder. The requirements for the quality of sand, crushed stone and mineral powder are the same as for asphalt concrete mixtures. Iron oxide pigments are used, which have sufficient light, atmospheric and heat resistance. Coumarone-indene resins with a softening temperature of 80-90 ° C are used as a binder. In the table. 82 shows the approximate composition of colored plastic concrete.

A coating of colored plastic concrete is arranged with a thickness of 3 cm on various bases using a DS-1 asphalt paver. The length of the paving strip is not limited when laying cold plastic concrete. The mixture is compacted with two motor rollers weighing up to 6 tons each. In the presence of longitudinal mating bands, rolling begins along the mating line in such a way that a freshly laid strip is also rolled to a width of 15-20 cm.To compact a layer of plastic concrete, the number of roller passes along one track should be 20-25. The evenness of the coating is checked with a three strip, the gap under which should not exceed 3 mm. In Moscow, sidewalks made of colored plastic concrete of blue color were built at the choreographic school on 2nd Frunzenskaya Street, red - at the monument to Karl Marx, in the squares on Sverdlov Square, etc.
Monolithic cement concrete can be used for the construction of pavements and footpaths, which is indispensable for the construction of curved platforms and free-shape paths, which are widely used abroad in landscape gardening architecture. recent years... Such coatings are made of concrete of at least M300. The concrete mixture is prepared in cement-concrete plants. As a binder, use a hydrophobic Portland cement of at least M400 with the addition of granulated blast-furnace slag up to 7%. When using non-hydrophobic cement to improve the basic properties of concrete, surface-active additives are introduced into the mixture: plasticizing - concentrates of sulphite-yeast mash and its derivatives, hydrophobic - various technical soaps: abietates (vinsol soaps), soap, etc.
The sand is used natural (mountain, river) in pure form or with additives. Artificial sands, stone fines and seeding are used as additives. The sand fineness module must be at least 2. Crushed stone for concrete pavements is used only clean, obtained by crushing strong frost-resistant rocks. The compressive strength in a water-saturated state of igneous rocks should be at least 1000 kgf / cm2 (100 MPa), sedimentary rocks - 800 kgf / cm2 (80 MPa). The loss in mass during abrasion in the shelf drum of igneous rocks is 25%, sedimentary - 30%. Crushed stone is used in two fractions: 3-10 and 10-20 mm. The approximate composition of the concrete mixture: cement M400 - 430 kg, crushed stone - 1380; sand - 500 kg; water - 160 l. The mixture is delivered to the facility by ZIL-555, MAE-503 dump trucks or concrete mixer trucks.
Colored concrete is becoming more and more common for the construction of pavements and footpaths. It is obtained as a result of using a special colored cement as a binder or the introduction of coloring pigments into a dry concrete mixture during the preparation of a concrete mixture. White and colored cements must be hydrophobic and comply with GOST 10178-62. The brand of cements must be at least 400 in terms of compression when tested in rammed mortars, tensile strength must be at least 55 kgf / cm2 (5.5 MPa). The beginning of setting is not earlier than 2 hours later.
Pigments produced by the domestic industry are of two types: mineral, including synthetic and. natural, obtained by fine grinding of paint ores, and organic. Pigments are fine powders, insoluble in water, oil and other solvents, capable of imparting color to materials when mixed with them. The coloring power of pigments is the higher, the higher is their dispersion.
For the production of colored concretes, pigments are suitable that have a specific gravity close to that of cement to ensure high homogeneity of the mixture; great coloring ability; resistance to alkalis; sunlight and atmospheric influences; the absence of harmful impurities soluble in water, which, when mixed with water, negatively affect the setting time, the hardening process and the strength of the cement stone; the absence of readily soluble salts that can form efflorescence; clean, bright color and low cost.
When constructing pavements and footpaths, colored concrete can be placed in full thickness or in the top layer of the coating with a thickness of 4-6 cm. decorative) layers of the coating are carried out without a break in time, which allows the compaction of two layers at the same time; 2) the device of the lower and upper layers is carried out separately and is divided into two stages - placing concrete in the lower layer, compaction and maintenance of it; placing colored concrete in the top layer not earlier than 7 days after the bottom layer is installed.
To ensure good adhesion of the layers, the concrete surface of the lower layer is treated with a 30% hydrochloric acid solution with immediate rinsing with water, and then a 3-5 mm thick layer of activated cement-sand mortar composition 1: 1, after which the top layer of concrete is laid. Care for colored concrete, as well as for ordinary concrete, is carried out by covering it with plastic wrap, glassine, craft paper, etc., followed by backfilling with sand, which is periodically moistened.
Expansion joints are arranged according to the same type and method as for conventional cement-concrete pavements. When placing concrete in two layers, the joints arranged in the lower layer must be in the upper one as well.
To the finished concrete pavement when putting it into operation, a number of requirements are imposed. The coating must be carried out in accordance with the project and current regulatory and technical documents. When accepting, it is necessary to check the thickness of the base according to the acts for hidden work, the grade of the laid concrete according to laboratory tests, the evenness of the surface of the coating with a double rail at least 20 m. with a double rail should be no more than 3 mm, the coating should be free of shells, cracks; across the width of the cover - no more than 5 cm; on the transverse slope - no more than 5%; by the difference in the level of the seams - no more than 3 mm; by the strength of concrete at 28 days of age when tested for bending - no more than 5%, in compression - no more than 10%.
Coverings of sidewalks and footpaths are also made of small stone blocks (mosaics), clinker bricks, asphalt concrete, silicate, ceramic, cement-concrete and stone slabs. From stone blocks, coverings of a wide variety of patterns are arranged - with transverse and diagonal rows, along arcs of a circle, etc. Clinker bricks are laid in transverse and diagonal rows, as well as in a longitudinal and transverse Christmas tree. Stone slabs are mainly manufactured square shape with a side size up to 75 cm or rectangular with a larger side size up to 1 m with an aspect ratio of 1: 1.5. Such plates are laid without bandaging or with bandaging the seams. Asphalt concrete slabs are made with a size of 20X20X3; 25X25X4; 30X30X4 cm.
One of the promising types of prefabricated pavement and footpath coverings are concrete slabs. The production of slabs by an industrial method allows this type of coating to be made cheaper and more widespread. In turn, mass production will further reduce the cost and progress in the development of prefabricated coatings. With this manufacturing method, concrete slabs are more durable and hygienic and can replace natural stone. Front surface plates, in addition to coloring, can be processed with various special matrices. Concrete slabs are extremely diverse in shape: square, rectangular, hexagonal, round, and trapezoidal, triangular and all kinds of irregular shapes. Slabs of prefabricated sidewalks and walkways are laid on various substrates, the thickness (in cm) of which is given below.

Sand is used as the underlying layer, the layer thickness of which is taken up to 25 cm. Plates, depending on the accepted width of the sidewalk, garden or park path laid with or without dressing sutures, as well as diagonally.
Laying the slabs should be done in a "pull-on" way. To maintain the slope and evenness of the coating when laying the slabs, it is recommended to start with the device of a mile line, laid along the side stone or the edge of the lawn or across the sidewalk, laying on one or both sides of the mile line and leading towards the slope.
For the device of coatings from slabs with a size of 50X50 cm, a circular vacuum gripper is used d = 400 mm, weighing 7 kg, which can lift a load up to 100 kg. To ensure complete adhesion of the slabs to the base, the final planting of the slabs to the design mark is carried out with a special vibrator weighing 44 kg.
The joint width between the boards must be at least 5 mm. Control over the width of the seams is carried out using templates. The excess of the edges of adjacent slabs should not be more than 2 mm. The joints between the slabs are filled various materials according to the project. The evenness of the coating is checked with a three rail at least after 20 m; the clearance under the rail should not exceed 3 mm.
For the mechanization of work on the laying of small-sized paving slabs, it is possible to recommend a replaceable vacuum gripper mounted on an E-153 forklift or excavator. The traverse is a frame on which 1-4 vacuum grippers are mounted. The distance between the centers of the vacuum grippers on the traverse should vary depending on the size of the plates used. With the help of such a device, up to 400 slabs can be laid per shift.
Laying of paving slabs with a side size of more than 75 cm is carried out by truck cranes according to the technology used in the construction of roadway coverings from precast concrete slabs.

NIimosstroy has developed a machine for laying paving slabs. The stacker forms the base of a given profile, compresses it and at the same time places the slabs. Thus, the combination of three operations is ensured, which significantly increases labor productivity. In fig. 114 is a schematic diagram of a paving slab laying machine. The equipment of the machine consists of an inclined guide 6 with calibrating ribs 15 and a base plate 5 and of a vibrating plate 3 connected to the guide rods 4. In the upper part of the guide there is a receiving device 9, which serves to accommodate a container 10 with a package of plates 11. Feeding plates from the receiving device on the guide is carried out by a device consisting of pushers 12 with a hydraulic cylinder 13, which is automatically controlled by a lever with a roller 8 and a hydraulic valve 7. On the vibrating plate 3, vibrators 1 of the working body of the stacker are installed. The vibrators are driven by a hydraulic motor through a V-belt drive 2. The equipment is installed on the base machine using a hinge coupling 16, which ensures the base plate adaptability to the surface of the base to be laid due to the longitudinal and transverse hinges of the coupling. The guide is set in the transport position by means of a hydraulic cylinder 14 and ties connecting the guide with the screed.
The vibratory plate is transported in a trailer to the paver using a trolley. In this case, the working body of the stacker is suspended through the walls to the guide, which in turn rests on the vibrating plate. This reduces the cantilever load on the tractor drive wheels. The container is a welded structure consisting of a beam with ribs and side shields. Shoes are attached to the ribs to ensure that the slabs are tilted in the container. In the center of the beam, lugs are welded for the hook of the lifting mechanism, which supplies the container with plates to the receiving device.
The equipment works as follows. Moving, the paver with its working body forms the base from the required material, for example, a cement-sand mixture. At the same time, slabs are supplied to the base formed by the paver with a guide with a continuous flow, which move under the action of gravity and the mass of the overlying slabs. The vibratory plate settles the plates. The plate guide is fed from the receiving device by pushers controlled automatic device... This device is influenced by the plates on the guide.
The equipment ensures the laying of paving slabs 25X25-50X50 cm in size, for which the calibrating ribs have the ability to move along the guide with their fixation in a given position. The drive of the working bodies of the equipment is carried out from the driver's cab of the base machine. The proposed machines and devices make it possible to reduce labor costs when installing pavement pavements. However, in order to further increase labor productivity when arranging prefabricated coatings, work should be carried out to create light high-speed machines.