How to beautifully design garden paths from paving slabs “Krakow Clover” - the distinctive properties of the tiles

Garden paths made of tiles transform the territory of the garden and personal plot.They are also easy to use. The material for their installation is chosen based on its purpose. So, for example, for paving an area that will rarely be used, round tiles for garden paths are suitable. And for areas with expected high traffic, more reliable coatings are needed. Such materials include “Krakow Clover” tiles.

It is beautiful and easy to style. It is used for paving garden paths, playgrounds, and local areas. The variety of shades and flower-shaped shape allows you to get creative with your design. The coating is reliable, durable, and frost-resistant.

Distinctive properties of Gzhelka

“Krakow Clover” got its name from the Polish city of Krakow. Ornaments and patterns characteristic of this area began to be used in the design of sidewalks and roads. The paving stones have a non-standard, figured shape. It looks like a clover flower.

There are three types of Krakow Clover tiles on the market.

“Krakow clover” (another name for Gzhelka) is produced using vibrocompression or vibrocasting from colored concrete mixtures. Concrete grades M-400, M-500 are used for production. Dyes (to give the desired color) and plasticizers are added to the working solution.

This technology makes the tiles durable and resistant to different weather conditions:

1. In summer, it is not afraid of high temperatures, does not deform, does not become soft, and does not heat up.
2. Easily withstands severe frosts and does not crack.
3. Does not fade in the sun.
4. Garden paths are easily repaired by replacing damaged elements with new ones.
5. Withstands high humidity. When laying, technological gaps are left. Thanks to this, water does not stagnate on the laid surface and puddles do not form.

Due to the use of environmentally friendly raw materials, the coating has good environmental performance.

Krakow Clover tiles are available in several sizes. Basic:

• large – 295x295 mm;
• small – 210x210 mm.

The average tile thickness is 60 mm. There are products with a height of 30 to 60 mm. Multiple combinations and sizes of paving stones allow you to create interesting, effective surfaces. Curly edges make the connections of the patterned structure reliable and stable.

You can find several colors of Krakow Clover paving stones on the market. The most common:

• grey;
• red;
• yellow;
• black;
• orange;
• brown.

When laying the coating, combinations of two colors are practiced - they look beautiful and refresh the area. A installation consisting of a combination of elements of different sizes and colors is called a Krakow square.

Several options for paving paving stones are popular:

1. Square. The paving stones are laid using square-shaped tiles with one corner cut off. Smaller clovers are placed in the center of the composition and joined with squares.
2. A pattern of figured paving stones of different sizes, but of the same color. This type of connection is called chamomile or clover.
3. A combined combination of figured elements of different colors. Two shades are enough to create a unique garden path design.

Laying features

Laying technology Gzhelki is simple and does not require special skills. First you need to plan garden paths taking into account plantings, sites, and buildings. You can draw a plan of the site, indicate directions on it, or focus on already trodden paths. They immediately decide what the installation method, pattern, and number of colors will be.

To calculate the amount of materials required, you need to consider the presence of a border.The installation of garden paths from tiles is usually done without a border, but if the area is subject to large amounts of precipitation, then it will not interfere, and will even give the layout a finished look and serve as additional reinforcement.

To mark directions on the site, pegs are driven in at a distance of 1.5 meters. If the path is winding, their number must be increased so that the contour of the future garden path can be clearly seen. It is desirable that after laying the path is above ground level. This will prevent rainwater from accumulating on its surface.

The next stage is to remove possible stones and debris from the surface, and remove the turf. You will need to remove 15-20 centimeters of the layer. If you plan to have a border, then additionally dig grooves 10 cm deeper along the edges. To drain water, the garden path should be built with a slight slope. If the marked area is adjacent to the house, then the slope must be made in the opposite direction from it. A difference of 1 cm per 8 m is sufficient.

After removing the layer, the earth is compacted manually or mechanically. Then drainage is made from gravel or crushed stone. If desired, geotextiles are laid to protect against grass germination. If the soil is unstable, you can place geotextiles in front of the crushed stone to protect against subsidence.

They begin to fill the sand cushion for the garden path. For better shrinkage, the sand is slightly moistened and compacted tightly. A sand-cement mixture is poured on top and compacted. It is prepared and calculated - 1 part cement and 5 parts sand. Next, the surface is leveled.

Before laying the tiles, check once again whether the calculations for the quantity are correct. Then lay out the main fabric.The shaped edges of the tiles ensure tight laying and create a beautiful pattern that will highlight the design of the garden path.

After laying the main tile, there may be areas along the edges where it is not possible to lay a whole tile. In this case, you need to cut it to the required size. After finishing installation seams filled with dry sand until completely filled. After rains, sand may be partially washed out of the seams, so the procedure must be repeated periodically.

Sometimes it is possible for tiles to break before their service life expires. The quality of paving stones is influenced by several factors:

1. Quality of raw materials. This includes incorrect proportions in the production of paving slabs, excessive amounts of additives, and the use of low-quality ingredients in production.
2. Features of production. Involves the use of faulty equipment or for purposes other than its intended purpose.
3. Technological nuances. Includes factors related to the characteristics of tile manufacturing. For example, a high level of humidity when drying a material leads to an increase in the duration of this process and causes shrinkage. High temperatures during drying of products lead to the formation of internal cracks. Low temperature during hardening reduces the strength of the final product.

Price formation

Paving garden paths with Krakow Clover tiles is an inexpensive type of finishing. The ease of installation allows you to cope with the work without the involvement of specialists. The cost of Krakow Clover tiles depends on the quality and price of the dyes used for production. So a gray coating, where no dyes are added, is the cheapest. Expensive flowers include:

• blue;
• green;
• brown.

In addition to pigments, the cost is influenced by the method of making paving stones.Tiles made using a vibrating table are cheaper than those made using a vibrating press. The technology using the latter device requires high energy costs and is more expensive.

The average cost of tiles (spring-summer 2021) is 400-600 rubles/sq.m.

The variety of types and reliability of Krakow Clover tiles meet all the requirements for constructing garden paths. The unusual shape of the elements and the ability to combine several colors allow you to create unique patterns and designs. Garden paths created from Krakow Clover tiles are distinguished by their beauty. Made with a unique pattern, they become a highlight in the decoration of the garden and local area.

Have you used Krakow Clover tiles? Write in the comments. Add the article to bookmarks and share useful information on social networks.

We also recommend watching selected videos on our topic.

Garden path made of Krakow clover tiles.

Laying paving slabs.

Other types of tiles on our website:

• paving slabs "English cobblestones«;
• «Brick«;
• «Old city«.

Sources:

• https://tplitka.com/trotuarnaya-plitka/klever-krakovskij
• https://protrotuarnujuplitku.ru/trotuarnaya-plitka/sadovye-dorozhki-krakovskij-klever.html
• https://www.sima-land.ru/1358800/forma-dlya-trotuarnoy-plitki-klever-krakovskiy-bolshoy-29-29-4-cm-gladkiy-1-sht