Your Guide to Building Sand: What It Is and Its Uses

Here at William Thompson & Son, we’re proud to offer a wide range of building materials from our Dumbartonshire-based quarry. One such material that we provide to our customers is building sand, an integral material used in a wide range of construction applications.



In this blog, we’ll be focusing on this material, exploring exactly what it is, its properties and some of its common uses in the construction sector.

What is Building Sand?

Building sand is a fine-grained sand aggregate that is made up of decomposed rock. It is naturally occurring, often found and sourced from the floors of rivers, lakes and the ocean. It can, however, also be made using recycled aggregates, which are crushed down to achieve a similar, fine-grained texture.

Properties of Building Sand

Due to its fine, rounded particles, building sand has a soft texture that allows it to effectively compact. It also sticks together well (known as cohesiveness), making it highly stable and less likely to erode than other sand types.

Before use, building sand is cleaned to get rid of any contaminants, impurities and other materials that could compromise its quality and characteristics. By washing and filtering the sand, this allows it to possess these qualities where it’s finer and more cohesive than sharp types of sand.

Common Uses of Building Sand

Bricklaying

One of the primary uses of building sand is to create the mortar used in bricklaying. Its fine grains are ideal for creating a strong mortar that is resistant to shrinking - overall helping to maintain the structural integrity of a finished brick wall or structure.

Similarly, it is used for pointing, which is the process of filling gaps between bricks or stones with mortar to create a professional, finished look.

Foundations

Whilst sharp sand is often the preferred choice for use in foundations, building sand can also be relied upon. It plays an integral part in concrete and mortar mixes, which are used to build the base of a structure, as it provides stability and helps to evenly distribute the weight of a structure built on top.

Rendering

During rendering, a protective layer is applied to the exterior walls of a building, which can create either smooth or textured surfaces. This is typically made from a mixture of cement, sand and water.

Building sand, then, can be used in the base or top layer of rendering. Thanks to its clean nature and fine grains, it helps to give a smooth finish.

Get in Touch

If building sand is a material that you would find useful for your next construction product, then we’ll be glad to supply you with what you need here at William Thompson & Son.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements with us and we’ll do our best to meet your needs.