Data publicării
27 October 2023
For some reason, many are sure that there is no budget alternative to paving slabs. Of course, if you are a senior assistant to a junior porter somewhere at Moldova Gaz and other national treasures and are not used to counting money, then the yard around your seven-story mansion can be paved with Carrara marble.
But ordinary people, who earn their money through real work from dawn to dusk, are used not only to count cash, but also to save it. And when the question arises, what should you use to pave your front yard so the green frog in your wallet doesn’t die of a heart attack when it sees the check?
And here, many people have a stereotype: paving slabs themselves are cheap, and that’s what you need to buy.
Nothing like that!
There are several alternatives available that are not only cheaper but also of higher quality and are also less demanding to install.
1. Cold asphalt. This is probably the most economical solution for a private house. Cold asphalt is not demanding in terms of installation: remove the soil, lay the geotextiles on the soil, fill with crushed stones and you can lay it. This material forgives the owner even the absence of compaction; the main thing is not to skimp on the thickness. Then the jeep will not leave a rut on it, and the children will be happy to play on the even surface.
Cold asphalt is not afraid of moisture, is not torn by frozen water in cold weather and is flexible in case of ground movements. Its only downside is that you can’t buy it everywhere. In small provincial towns, sellers of building materials have not even heard of such material.
In terms of price, it is a little more expensive, but if you calculate the lifetime, the savings are very significant.
2. Wooden street parquet. It is also called a garden. These are thick pieces of hardwood planks placed on a plastic base with special latches. Of course, you can’t drive a car on such a parquet, although there are special versions that can withstand the weight of a car up to two tons, but is it necessary?
For beautifying a yard, a meeting place for relatives on the property, a terrace, a place in front of a bathroom, this is the best material.
How to walk on it barefoot? This is an indescribable thrill!
Again the question arises: price? And here I will tell you a little secret: it all depends on where you buy it. If Direct from the manufacturer, then instead of $25/m2 or even $30/m2 per square meter, you will pay $15/m2-$20/m2.
Laying technology – you brought the puzzle, opened the boxes, broke the fasteners and forgot.
3. Natural stone. Stone is one of the most economical paving materials. You can roll it into concrete, just lay it on sand, make a fill out of a mixture of screens and cement, and grass will never grow out of the cracks. Many people, on the contrary, really like it when beautiful grass like Canada green grows among the stones.
If you do not use expensive stones, but take ordinary lemsite or Assini stone, then this layer will not only be cheap, but also almost eternal.
Stone – the most unpretentious material for installation – was set and forgotten. If the edge of the stone comes out, it jumps, or if it goes down, we pick it up and add sand. Problems arise when the stone is placed on very liquid concrete – over time it begins to crumble. As they say, “it’s not the beer that destroys concrete workers, it’s the water.”
This material has two problems: the arms are crooked, the legs stumble on it, and as it is afraid of blows – it cracks immediately (poet’s words)
4. The stone carpet is a new technology that is just appearing in the yards of cottage owners. Since this is a new product, some companies set an exorbitant price for it, although in many regions stone carpet manufacturers are beginning to understand that the cream has been degreased, it must start working normally, and the price has fallen (3 times!)
From an aesthetic point of view, this is the most beautiful technology, especially if you use a beautiful stone – serpentine, jasper. But the price!!!! So people who count money should not look at it. If you use a simple washed stone and order the adhesive base directly from the manufacturer, then the price will be very reasonable.
The stone carpet is not afraid of water, frost, cars, strong impacts… practically nothing!
But it has a very unpleasant feature – it is slippery. And not only in winter, but also in summer. Especially if you wash it with a Karcher and then drive a car on it. An acquaintance of mine learned about this feature the hard way, storming into a freshly washed yard in a newly purchased Mazda:
“Wow ,” said the relatives!
“Whoah ,” said the owner.
“Vzhiiiiik ,” said the wet layer
“Crunch ,” said the new Mazda.
In general, he did not stop on the porch, but on the porch. The hood, headlights, bumper, radiator and 15 other parts were damaged at a total cost of $8k. CASCO saved him from heart attacks.
5. Rubber crumb (plates). Personally, I am strongly against covering the entire yard with this coating. Rubber is rubber, and although all manufacturers of this type of coating beat themselves in the chest with their left heel, that it is absolutely safe, environmentally friendly and, in general, the best in the world… But my friend, who is engaged in its production, has laid granite pavers in his yard. And that already says something!
At a fairly high price, this coating benefits from durability, strength and ease of installation. It can be laid without tricks or directly on a concrete screed or a layer of sand. Everything fits well on its own using the old Moldavian technology “it goes like that” with the addition of nanotechnology glue “da l draqu”.
Rubber is not afraid of water, frost, shock, delamination, collision with cars and can withstand even a loaded Kamaz. If we take the entire lifetime of rubber tiles, then the price per year of ownership is much less than paving or tiles.
The only problem is the environment!
