Which host country site, or an individual property is not considering making the landscape unique and memorable?This can be achieved not only the creation of alpine gardens and rockeries, construction of pergolas, flower beds and ponds.Unusual "flavor" in addition to the decorations can make garden paths, lined with paving slabs.Special originality and elegance can make colorful mosaics and borders, and to help the dyes for paving slabs.
What concrete dyestuffs
concrete dyestuffs, different pigment is a special fine powder which is filled and has specific properties due to their chemical composition.Here are the main ones:
- not soluble in water and solvents;
- is not affected varnishes, resins and similar corrosive environments;
- resistant;
- light resistance, but some artificial pigments discolor over time;
- it does not apply alkaline cement Marine;
- does not depend on weather conditions;
- not be exposed to heat and frost.
For staining using two ways:
- The first is that the pigments for sidewalk tiles are added to the concrete at the stage of mixing, this leads to a through-coloring material.
- In the second case, the acrylic paint is applied to the outer surface of already manufactured tiles.
The second method is much cheaper, but it has a disadvantage: over time under the influence of mechanical wear will occur, and the shade of the surface will first fade, and then completely erased.It will have to be updated periodically.
What are pigments
Depending on the origin of dyes for paving slabs are divided into organic and mineral.By way of obtaining them is divided by artificial (synthetic) and natural (organic) and metal.
artificial mineral pigments obtained with the heat treatment of raw materials and chemical processes, such as burnt umber and sienna, iron salts.Such dyes are distinguished by good coloring ability and resistance to chemicals and temperature changes.
Natural inorganic pigments - a powder obtained by various kinds of processing mountain rocks and minerals, such as iron oxides (yellow and red), cobalt, manganese and chromium.Such pigments are easy to use and are low cost.With them get muted natural shades.
metal dyes are made from non-ferrous metals and iron salts.
How to achieve color purity
For after painting pure color you want to use only white cement.
When the concrete is introduced color for the paving tiles, the proportions must be adhered to.Pigments having high coloring power is inputted to the concrete mixture in an amount of 2-5% by weight of the binder.A small dyes such characteristics are added in an amount up to 8%.
color to be painted concrete largely depends on the proportions of water and cement, and on how much material is taken for the manufacture of concrete.This is due to the fact that when the composition begins to harden, the excess moisture evaporates from it, leaving a thickness smaller pores.They scatter the incident on the light, and the concrete appears lighter.
paints for self-coloring dye Produce
for paving slabs with their own hands will not work, but can be painted on top of already laid track elements on their own.
Produce painting must be in dry calm weather, no precipitations.The air temperature must be above + 10 ° C.
For staining the tiles take acrylics.They are divided into several types:
- Alkyd.Paint chemical and weather exposure.After the application is almost no smell.
- Polyurethane.The paint of high viscosity, increased resistance to chemicals, weather extremes and vibrations.It should also be borne in mind that these paints can slightly change its color after drying, and over time they fade.
- rubber.Water-based paint, elastic, prevents the formation of cracks, resistant to water and abrasion.In addition, it is toxic, adheres well to the surface is not slippery.
Preparation and completion painting
Dyes for paving slabs require a responsible attitude, so the preparation and the completion of the painting work is perhaps the most important processes in the entire case.
First of all, you need to thoroughly clean the track - depends on the strength of adhesion of paint from the concrete and the flatness of the painted surface.The ideal would be to track washing detergent.Then you need to carefully remove the remnants.Also, to remove fine particles from the surface and between the tiles useful conventional vacuum cleaner or stiff brush.This process is time-consuming and dusty, so a good idea to hold it in a special dress.
Staining ready-mixed concrete is carried out in several layers.After applying the first surface should be thoroughly dried according to the instructions to the dye.When applied to the second and subsequent layers of paint certainly stirred and dry between layers.
use prepared coating can only be a few days, as it should muster the necessary strength.
staining the surface of the concrete track
painting process can be divided into the following stages:
- After cleaning the surface of the dry well.
- For painting small items handy brush, and for coloring large surfaces need a roller on a long handle.
- If both will be painting several colors, you need more than one capacity.In the prepared vessels swell dyes for paving slabs of the desired color scheme.This is usually required if the track is made up of small elements, and it is applied pre-designed pattern or ornament.
- Getting staining.This important process during which the necessary caution and care.The paint must be applied evenly without sagging and spots being distributed carefully brush or roller.It is necessary to ensure that during the application on the surface did not get dust particles, dirt, twigs, leaves and more.Also to be controlled, so that on a colored layer is not formed bubbles.
Manufacturing colored tiles on their own
process itself looks like this:
- Prepare a mixer or container for mixing the solution, moisten the inner walls.
- dissolved in hot (75 ° C), the water softener, it should be about 0.5% of the dry weight of the total composition.
- dyes for manufacturing of paving slab are added in dry form.The inorganic pigment powder is diluted with water to a creamy consistency, and allowed to stand for one hour.Thereafter, a pigment slurry is added to the concrete.It is necessary to monitor the proper use of proportions, since the excess pigment will degrade the performance of concrete.The solution was uniformly mixed.If lumps remain and emerge then formed on the surface of the shell.
- All components download for mixing a plasticizer and coloring - in the last turn.The solution was thoroughly mixed and tightly fit into the mold.
- finished items to dry for several days, periodically wetting.
cost
Today colored concrete products are gaining popularity, so buy color for the paving tiles, the price of which depends on its type, it will not be easy.
should know that the liquid colorants are about three times cheaper than the dry powder pigments.
cost of the dye depends on its type, color and manufacturer: Acrylic paints can be purchased at the price from 50 to 80 rubles per kilogram, and the inorganic pigment powder is from 7 to 15 rubles per kilo.
addition of pigments for the manufacture of garden path to buy a plastic form that will make an attractive and unusual track.If a special form is not, you can make and ordinary bricks.