Sand is a critical material used in building construction, making it strong and stable. Materials like concrete, mortar, asphalt, and cement often get their strength, dimension, and stability from the sand. Many types of sand are used in construction, making the property tenacious and rigid. However, rocks and impurities can alter their stability and resistance, making them unsuitable for construction. This blog lists five types of sand used in construction.
Types of Sand Used in Construction Projects
Construction projects utilize many types of sand, including:
1. Concrete Sand
This type of sand consists of crushed concrete and a mixture of asphalt and cement. After it is crushed in a quarry, concrete sand is filtered to separate large rock fragments from the sand. It has a rough texture, but mixing water helps reduce its coarseness. Moreover, it is used for constructing walking paths, patios, etc. Not only this but mixing it with cement and water also makes it suitable for filling voids between coarse aggregates.
Concrete sand is larger than white sand, making it an excellent option to use as a filling material.
2. Fill Sand
Filled sand comprises fine rock particles and is used for filling. It acts as a base material for filling large holes, paving, and more. In addition, filled sand is ideal for use in wet areas, like a backfill for septic tanks to help with drainage problems. It is an ideal material for building construction and is popular among contractors due to its affordability.
3. Pit Sand
This type of sand is typically found and obtained naturally from deep pits, 2-3 meters underground. The rough, angular grains of pit sand have iron-oxide, making it appear ‘red-orange’. Moreover, it is non-reactive to atmospheric moisture, and there is no salt in it. Hence, this sand has excellent binding properties and is an ideal material for constructing buildings.
4. River Sand
Usually found near streams and river banks, river sand is also known as natural sand. It is soft, fine sand used in concrete and masonry work. However, it tends to be high in silica. Therefore, make sure its silica content is below 5% before using it in construction. Moreover, river sand won’t require a lot of water when used in construction, as it has high moisture content. It is one of the rare and unique types of sand.
3. Masonry Sand
It is fine-grained, pure sand used to create concrete or mortar. It helps lay bricks, blocks, and stones. Therefore, it is an excellent option for patio construction. In addition, it can enhance the aesthetic appeal of homes, as it can create a thin white line between blocks or bricks.
What’s the Takeaway?
Rivers, seas, beaches, deserts, etc., provide us with sand, a granular material that comprises finely divided rock particles. Formed by weathering of rocks, sand is an important building material used in construction. Many types of sand are used in construction, like concrete sand, fill sand, pit sand, river sand, and masonry sand. At WM Trucking & Excavations, we have filling materials and excavation services; call us at 936-372-1399 for more information.