Dyes for paving slabs: price, proportions. Dyes for sidewalk tiles with their own hands

What kind of owner of a suburban area or individual housing does not think to make the landscape unique and memorable? This can be achieved not only by creating alpine hills and rockeries, arrangement of arbors, flower beds and reservoirs. An unusual "highlight" in addition to the decorations can make garden paths laid out of paving slabs. A special originality and elegance can give a multicolored mosaic and borders, and dyes for paving slabs will help in this.

What is the dye for concrete

The dye for concrete, in a different way the pigment, is a special fine powder that serves as a filler and has certain properties due to its chemical composition. Here are the main ones:

• Does not dissolve in water and solvents;
• Not subject to the influence of drying oil, tar and similar aggressive media;
• Heat-resistant;
• Light-resistant, but some artificial pigments decolour over time;
• The alkaline cement medium does not act on it;
• Does not depend on weather conditions;
• Does not give in to heat and frost.

Two methods are used for staining:

• The first is that pigment dyes for paving slabs are added to the concrete even at the kneading stage, this leads to a through staining of the material.
• In the second case, acrylic paint is applied to the outer surface of the already produced tiles.

The second method is much cheaper, but it has a drawback: over time, under the mechanical impact, 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 the pigments

Depending on the origin of dyes for paving slabs are divided into organic and mineral. By the method of production, they are divided into artificial (synthetic), natural (natural) and metal.

Mineral artificial pigments are obtained using heat treatment of raw materials and chemical processes, for example, burnt umber and ocher, iron salts. Such dyes are distinguished by good coloring ability and resistance to chemicals and temperature changes.

Natural inorganic dyes are powders obtained by various treatments from minerals and rocks, for example, iron oxides (yellow and red), cobalt, manganese, chromium. Such pigments are easy to use and have low cost. With their help, muted natural shades are obtained.

Metallic dyes are made from alloys of non-ferrous metals and iron salts.

How to achieve color purity

To obtain after painting a pure color you need to use exclusively white cement.

When the dye is applied to concrete for paving slabs, the proportions must be strictly observed. Pigments having a high coloring power are introduced into the concrete solution in an amount of 2-5% by weight of the binder. And dyes with a little such characteristic are added in an amount up to 8%.

The color of the concrete to be painted depends largely on the proportions of water and cement, and on how much material is taken to make concrete. This is due to the fact that when the composition begins to solidify, excess moisture from it evaporates leaving small pores in the thickness. They scatter the light, and the concrete looks lighter.

Paints for self-dyeing

You can not make a dye for paving tiles with your own hands, but you can paint the already laid out track elements on top of yourself.

It is necessary to make the painting in dry, windless weather, without precipitation. The air temperature should be above + 10 ° C.

For coloring the tiles, acrylic paints are taken. They are divided into several types:

• Alkyd. Paint withstands chemical and atmospheric effects. After application, practically does not smell.
• Polyurethane. Paint high viscosity, increased resistance to chemistry, atmospheric fluctuations and shocks. It should also be taken into account that such paints can slightly change their shade after drying, and with time they burn out.
• The rubber. Water-based paint , elastic, prevents the formation of cracks, resistant to water and wear. In addition, it is low-toxic, adheres well to the surface, does not slip.

Preparation and completion of painting

Dyes for sidewalk tiles require a responsible attitude, so the preparation and completion of painting works are almost the most important processes in the whole matter.

First of all, you need to thoroughly clean the path - this depends on the strength of the adhesion of the paint to concrete and the evenness of the painted surface. Ideal is washing the path with detergent. After this you need to carefully remove its remnants. Also, to remove small particles from the surface and between the tiles, a conventional vacuum cleaner or a stiff brush is useful. This process is dusty and laborious, so it will be a good idea to carry it in special clothes.

Staining of ready-mixed concrete is carried out in several layers. After applying the first surface should be well dried according to the instructions to the dye. When applying the second and the next layers, the paint must be mixed and dried between the layers.

Use the finished coating will be only after a few days, as it must gain the necessary strength.

Staining of the surface of a concrete path

The painting process can be divided into the following stages:

• After cleaning, it is necessary to dry the surface well.
• To paint small elements, a brush is useful, and for painting a large surface you will need a roller on a long handle.
• If several colors are simultaneously produced, you will need more than one container. In the prepared vessels, dyes are poured for the paving slabs of the desired color. Usually this is required if the track consists of small elements and a pre-designed pattern or ornament is applied to it.
• Begin to stain. This is a responsible process, during which care and attention are needed. The paint should be applied evenly, without any deposits and stains, carefully spread with a brush or roller. It is necessary to ensure that during the painting on the surface did not get particles of dust, dirt, twigs, leaves and other. Also, you need to make sure that no bubbles form on the colored layer.

Production of color tiles in the home

The process itself looks like this:

1. Prepare a concrete mixer or container for stirring the solution, moisten the internal walls.
2. Dissolve in a hot (75 ° C) water plasticizer, it needs about 0.5% of the dry weight of the whole composition.
3. Dyes for the manufacture of paving slabs are not added in dry form. Inorganic powder pigment diluted with water to the consistency of sour cream and stand for an hour. After this, the pigment suspension is added to the concrete. It is necessary to monitor the correct use of proportions, since the excess pigment will lead to a deterioration in the performance characteristics of concrete. Stir the solution evenly. If there are lumps and pop up, then on the surface of the shells are formed.
4. All the components are loaded for mixing, the plasticizer and the dye are the last. The solution is thoroughly mixed and densely packed into the mold.
5. Finished elements dry for several days, periodically wetting.

Cost

Today, colored concrete products are gaining popularity, so buying a dye for sidewalk tiles, the price of which depends on its kind, will not be very difficult.

It is necessary to know that liquid dyes are about three times cheaper than dry powder pigments.

The cost of the dye depends on its type, color and manufacturer: acrylic can be purchased at a price of 50 to 80 rubles per kilogram, and the powder of inorganic pigment costs from 7 to 15 rubles per kilo.

In addition to pigments for making a garden path, you need to buy a plastic mold that will make the path attractive and unusual. If there is no special form, you can make ordinary bricks.