Also known as 'grit sand' or 'concrete sand', sharp sand is coarser than builders sand thanks to its larger particles. Having a larger grain size means sharp sand is slightly heavier, giving the mortar more strength yet making it less flexible to work with.
Building or soft sand should not be used in concrete, as the grading is finer than concreting fine aggregate and leads to increased water demand. It is usually used for mortars and renders.
Building sand is a soft sand suitable for bricklaying, pointing applications, rendering and general building usage. Applications also include precast such as block and concrete paving.
Builder's sand is different to sharp sand, as builder's sand is less coarse, with a finer grade and smaller granules. Builder's sand is also more likely to be free of unwanted additives.
While Portland cement is the standard for concrete mixtures, the type of sand you use may vary. Unwashed beach sand creates a mixture that isn't quite as strong as products made with sand that's been cleaned. Clean sand tends to produce a more high-quality product.
Torpedo sand (also sometimes called concrete sand) is a mix of coarse-grained sand and gravel typically no larger than ⅜”. That is why it is also called FA1 or FA2 (fine aggregate) sand.
For brickwork, fine sand used must not have a modulus less than 1.2 to 1.5, and the slit preferred is generally 4 percent. Concreting works require coarse sand with a modulus of 2.5 to 3.5 and the slit content must not be less than 4 percent.
River sand, crushed sand, and pit sand are the three main types of sand used in building. River sand is typically collected from riverbanks, whereas pit sand is mined from deep trenches. Crushed sand, on the other hand, is made by strategically crushing rocks (to fine particles) in quarries.
Washed sharp sand is a cheaper alternative than building sand and is used for those less decorative jobs. Being a courser material, it is not as friendly to work with as the finer building sand but as the particles are slightly larger it creates a stronger mix when mixed with cement.
Concrete Sand
As the name says, it is widely used for concretes and also in bedding Pipes. The texture of the concrete sand is usually larger than the other sands since it is a mixture of different materials. Concrete sand has the highest binding strength and is one of the most used sand in construction.
If you are building on a swampy soil, water logged area, then its best you buy Sharp sand for the filling. Why Should I Use Sharp sand For Filling? Sharp sand has a weak capillarity, when well compacted, the capillarity is so weak, the water won't be able to rise to the super structure easily.
Using builders sand (one part of cement) that is treated to ensure it bonds together quickly and be very strong would be completely unsuitable in a play area. This would form a hard surface when mixed with water so the first time it rains you will find dangerous lumps forming.
Mortar sand is recommended for mixing mortar to be used in the laying of bricks, blocks and paving. The fine graded sand is 2mm. Mortar sand is available in 1 tonne bags.
Sea sand does not have high compressive strength, high tensile strength etc so it cannot be used in construction activities.
As a general rule, stay away from using sand as a subbase. You're better off using gravel; your concrete will last longer and have less of a chance of cracking over time.
Builder's Sand, also known as Brick Sand, usually comes in two different colours; Yellow, which is known as 'Blonde Building Sand,' and orange, hence 'Orange Building Sand. ' The difference between these two sands are that the Orange Building Sand tends to contain higher levels of iron, giving it a more reddish colour.
Both the sea and desert sand does not have high compressive strength, high tensile strength etc so it cannot be used in construction activities.
Plastering sand will typically have a finer grade than building sand, alongside being washed to ensure cleanliness. This makes it the preferred choice for rendering as it will neither shrink nor crack.
Paver sand is different from regular sand in that it is very fine and doesn't contain any clay. This type of sand is used to fill the joints between pavers and helps to keep them stable. It's important to use paver sand rather than regular sand because regular sand can cause the pavers to move and shift over time.
Once this fine surface layer is removed the true colour of concrete is usually exposed and most often can actually be a beige or oatmeal colour. In areas of the country where the sand is red or tinted with red tones this tends to product a concrete that is tan or brown in colour.
Utility sand.
This sand is typically produced by crushing industrial quartz. With uniformly sized particles, the sand compacts exceptionally well. Utility sand is perfect for many construction applications, including trench fill, backfill behind retaining walls and fill underneath concrete slabs or paver bricks.
The most common constituent of sand, in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal settings, is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO2), usually in the form of quartz, which, because of its chemical inertness and considerable hardness, is the most common mineral resistant to weathering.
Although it is often used in asphalt and paving applications, concrete sand has a wide variety of uses in construction and landscaping. It is often used as pipe bedding or a paver base, and its size and texture make it ideal for holding pipes, septic tanks, and stones in place while providing adequate drainage.
Concrete sand – Concrete sand is a type of washed sand that is mined from the ground. From there, the sand is screened and washed to remove fine silt and other contaminants. Concrete sand is mainly used for asphalt and concrete applications and is made into actual concrete by mixing it with cement and water.
Also known as Sharp sand, Grit sand, Rough sand and Concreting sand. This type of sand is a fairly coarse type of sand because the particles that make it up are quite large. The grain particles are also sharp and angular in shape.