Sand for construction works: how to choose the right?

It is impossible to imagine modern life without concrete. And one of the components of this artificial building material is sand. It would seem, to buy it is easier: you just have to place an order and make the payment. However, it is necessary to know how to choose the right sand.

What is mortar sand

If you decided to build a stone house, concreted pad in the suburban area, lay concrete pathways, build a sturdy fence, you cannot do without sand. Depending on where the mined sand, it is divided into river (sea), gully and career.

River (sea) sand extracted from the bottom of shallow areas of reservoirs using special devices. River sand after drying can be used without further purification, since there are almost no impurities of clay and other contaminants. This sand is very high quality. Sea sand requires further washing to remove the salts.

The most common type of sand – gully. He also is the cheapest. This sand is extracted by using the bucket of the excavator. It contains a lot of impurities, which are solid particles of different shapes. Thus, such sand is ideal for making a particularly tenacious concrete and mortar used in masonry and plastering.

But it can be successfully applied in other types of concrete work.

Quarry sand contains a lot of impurities, therefore, is considered the most inferior. Also you can find quartz molding sand.

How to choose sand for construction

Deciding what organization you will gain the sand, try to choose a reliable, proven supplier. Read reviews about his work.

Quality and dry sand has a density of about 1300 kg per cubic meter. If the density is significantly higher, it means that the sand is either too wet, or it has a lot of impurities (clay, stones), as this will adversely affect the quality of the finished concrete.

The clay content in the sand shall not exceed 5% (by weight). The content of gravel – less than 0.5%, the maximum size of particles up to 10 mm.

Before you buy sand, find out the average market price. If you find that the price is too low, most likely, it is poor quality.

Can do a quick visual experiment: put a handful of sand in a jar of clean water and stir. If the water is highly turbid, so the sand had a lot of impurities.

Of course, a reliable supplier who value their reputation will be all necessary documents characterizing the product. In addition, these providers are the transport for the delivery of sand to customers and can answer all questions relating to its quality and use in the production of concrete.