Guide to: Choosing the Right Sand for Your Construction Project

When it comes to construction projects, many people don’t think about the importance of the sand they are using. But, If you’ve ever had the chance to visit a construction site, you’ll notice that sand is used in all different parts of the project. 

From concrete foundations to pebble driveways, sand has many different applications throughout the process and the type of sand you choose for your project can have a major impact on the overall result. 

Selecting the right sand is essential for ensuring a quality outcome, as it can affect the strength, durability, and appearance of the finished product. 

This ultimate guide from Tyne Tees Crushing will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision and choose the ideal sand for your construction project.

 So, stop Googling ‘Construction Sand’ and read our guide.

• What to Consider When Choosing Sand
• Types of Sand and Their Advantages
• Sharp Sand
• Industrial Sand
• Fill Sand
• Cable Sand 
• What’s Next? 

What to Consider When Choosing Sand

When choosing sand for your construction project, you’ll need to consider many different factors to know if that type of sand is right for your work. Let’s go through some of the main considerations below.

• Colour of Sand. Colour comes from the minerals that coat the grains, and in most UK sands that means iron compounds in one form or another. Yellow, buff and red sands differ in the form of the iron present, not in strength. If you are matching existing mortar or paving, order from one source and take enough for the whole job, because colour varies between pits and between loads.
• Grain Size and Grading. Grain size matters, but not in the way it is often described. Finer sand is not stronger sand. A concrete mix wants a well-graded sand with a mix of particle sizes and a low proportion of very fine material, because fine material increases the water the mix needs, and more water means weaker concrete. Sand for concrete is normally supplied as a 0 to 4mm graded sand to BS EN 12620. Fine, soft sands belong in mortar, not in structural concrete.

• Source of Sand. Finally, you’ll need to decide on the source of the sand. If you’re using sand for concrete, then you’ll need to choose a source that is free from any contaminants. Typically, the best source for concrete sand is clean sand that has been washed and processed. 

Types of Sand and Their Advantages 

There are many different types of sand available for construction projects and choosing the right one can be difficult. Below is a guide to the main types of sand used in construction, and what each one is for. Tyne Tees Crushing supplies sharp sand, fill sand and cable sand, in loose loads and in bags.

Sharp Sand

Sharp sand, also known as grit sand or concreting sand, is a gritty sand with a coarse, angular grain.It is known as a versatile product that can be used for all kinds of construction projects from sandbags to lawns.

Sharp sand is washed and graded, and its grains are coarse and angular. Those angular grains lock together, which is why it is used where strength and stability matter rather than where a smooth, workable mix is wanted.

Where Sharp Sand is used for: 

• Floor screeds and paving laying courses, where an angular, well-graded sand is needed.
• It can also be used for sand in traditional sandbags.
• It’s perfect for mixing concrete on building sites. 
• Sharp sand may be used as a top dressing for lawns and general landscaping since it allows moisture to circulate.

Industrial Sand 

IIndustrial sand, usually sold as silica sand, is a fine, high-purity sand used in glass, ceramics, filtration and foundry work.

Generally, it’s used to make concrete and other building materials, as well as to make glass and ceramics.

What makes Industrial sand so good is that it can be derived from a variety of sources. Some of the most common include quarries, mining, dredging, riverbeds, beaches and other areas where sand is naturally occurring or deposited by wind or water flow.

Industrial Sand is used for:

• This type of sand can be ground down into very fine particles and used to make glass.
• When mixed with water and heat, industrial sand can be made into ceramics like tableware and tile.
• In concrete, the sand fills the spaces between the larger aggregate and gives the mix its cohesion and workability. A clean, well-graded sand helps the mix compact properly. Holding more water does not make concrete stronger; it makes it weaker.
• Silica sand is also graded for industrial uses such as filtration media and glass making, and for foundry moulding sand, which holds its shape against molten metal.

Fill Sand 

Fill sand is a coarse, bulk sand used where large volumes are needed and appearance does not matter. It is not washed to the standard of a concreting sand, which is why it costs less. It suits filling and levelling work rather than structural concrete.

Where Fill Sand is used: 

• It is mostly used for landscaping, as a sub-base for roadways, driveways, and sidewalks, and as a sub-base for parking lots and foundations
•  It can also be used for filling sandbags for use in flood control.

Cable Sand 

Cable Sand is a screened sand commonly used for laying cables, conduits, electric wires, and surrounding water pipes, protecting them from damage from larger objects. 

Cable sand is screened to a fine, consistent grading with no sharp stones in it, which is what makes it safe to place directly against a cable, a duct or a pipe. It supports the service evenly along its length and keeps stones and backfill away from the sheath. It is a bedding and surround material. It is not a structural material, and it is not a substitute for concrete. Where a thermal specification such as ENA TS 97-1 applies to buried power cables, confirm the grade before ordering.

Where Cable Sand  is used:

• Bedding and surrounding buried electrical cables, ducts and conduit, so that stones in the backfill cannot damage them.
• Surrounding water and drainage pipes for the same reason.
• Backfill around buried services, placed in layers and compacted lightly.
• Blinding and general bedding in trench work, where an even, stone-free layer is wanted. For block paving laying courses, use a coarse grit or sharp sand instead.

What’s Next

At Tyne Tees Crushing & Screening we aim to supply the materials you need to complete construction, paving, landscaping, and other projects successfully and easily. 

In addition to the materials we offer, we can also supply a comprehensive range of equipment along with experienced operators. 

If you’d like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01325 808760 or email us at info@tyneteescrushing.co.uk and we’ll do all that we can to help.