Building Sand or Concrete Sand?

When faced with the option of building sand or concrete sand, you might not be 100% sure of which one is right for you or your project. Knowing more about each can help you to make this decision. We have pulled together some information on each to help make the decision easier. 

Building Sand

Building sand, which can also be known as soft sand, bricklayers sand, and plasterer's mason, is one of the most sourced natural resources and widely used aggregate. It is widely used in construction due to its number of multi-functional properties.  Primarily used in bricklaying, sand can be used for other applications such as pointing, rendering, and bedding pond liners.

Concrete Sand

Concrete sand is the name given to coarse washed sand that is a common ingredient in cement and asphalt mixtures. The grains are larger than those of masonry sand, but a processing and screening process ensures that there are no large rocks or pebbles present.

What quantity do I need?

The quantity of sand you need depends on the specific job you are looking to complete and whether any excess sand can be used around the rest of the home and garden. 

A couple of examples of the quantity you might need are:

• Bricklaying - Approx 1 tonne of building sand works out to around 1000 bricks laid. 
• Paving - Approx 1 tonne of concrete sand covers around 25 square meters. 

If you are still unsure, a member of our expert team will be able to guide you to suit your specific requirements. The prices listed on our website are for a standard builders bag, which is approximately 1 tonne. 

For more information on our selection or builders aggregates please get in touch today and a member of our team will be happy to assist you. For something a little more colourful, check out our selection of decorative gravel.  You can also find further guides in our latest news section such as our What to Use Top Soil For? guide.