Sand is one of the most important materials used when constructing a building. Sand is blended with other materials to make the construction strong and long-lasting. There are several types of sand the construction industry uses for various purposes. For example,sand is mixed with gravel and other materials to create strong concrete. Some of the types of sand used in construction are mentioned below.
Riversands has a variety of high-quality sands to choose from for your construction project(s) which when mixed in the correct proportions with other materials can provide several applications. When choosing sand for a construction project, it is imperative to choose sand that does not contain impurities and rocks which compromise the strength and durability of the construction project.
Let us now look at the various types of sand used in the construction industry:
Pit sand: this is a type of coarse sand that is used because of its high binding capability. Free from salt it has a reddish-orange colour due to the iron oxide present in the sand. No salt means the sand will not react to moisture in the air translating to mean stronger construction/building.
Concrete sand: this type of sand is made from crushed concrete and is to be found in cement mixtures as well as asphalt mixtures. The crushed sand minus the rocks and other impurities are mixed with water and concrete to form a fairly smooth paste to provide stability to a building. It is used in several ways – from driveways to building construction.
River sand: as the name suggests it is fine grain sand that is found near riverbanks, popularly used in the construction industry for masonry and concrete. It is a cheaper type of sand because it is sourced naturally. However, being natural sand found near rivers and streams, it comes mixed with silt and silica. Sand suppliers of good repute will have river sand that is cleaned to provide superior quality.
M-sand:this is a type of sand that is manufactured (M stands for manufactured). Manufactured sandhas a similar texture to river sand and is used as a substitute in the construction industry. One of the benefits is that M-sand contains no silt and impurities the sand particles are fairly uniform. Because it is manufactured in a factory, depending on the purpose and application, the size of the grains can be made larger or smaller, allowing for customisation not available with natural sand. M-sand is in high demand because of its superior quality that provides higher construction strength.
Fill sand: fill sand as the name suggests is often used for filling purposes and is also used for making concrete. Because it contains silt it is important to source fill sand that has less than the allowed level of silt in construction sand and must be free of other impurities to ensure the construction is not compromised. A reputed sand supplier will be able to provide superior quality fill sand to suit your requirement.
