Sand

We help you select the right sand for the job!
There are very few landscaping projects that don’t require sand. It’s a vital component in every concrete and mortar mix, it’s ideal for creating a level surface on which to lay pavers, and to sweep between the gaps when you’re finished. Sand is perfect as a drainage material, and it’s great for the kids to play in, too.

Washed sand

This is the fine stuff we all think of when we think of sand. When dry it runs through your fingers. A washed sand is beach or sharp sand that has been cleaned of impurities, such as salt. Sharp refers to the grains – they are angular and provide greater strength as the particles interlock. Washed sand feels fine and soft to touch. It has a very consistent particle size, runs easily when dry and is generally a white or yellowy-white colour.
Uses: Perfect for sweeping between your paving stones or in a sandpit for the kids. It’s also a component of concrete, sand cement and render mixes.

River sand (Paving sand)

Close up, the granules of river sand are distinctly rounded from rolling and cascading down riverbeds. Because of the rounded nature of the particles, lots of tiny gaps are formed, even when compressed, and that creates one of the desirable properties of this sand – good drainage. Coarse river sand has a fine, yet pebbly, feel. It is usually darker than sharp or washed sand  has a mixed particle size.
Uses: Coarse river sand is used as a paving base.

Brickies sand

This is the preferred sand of bricklayers. It has a clay component, up to 30 per cent by weight, that makes it sticky. When blended with cement and lime to make mortar, the resulting mix is termed ‘fatty’, which means it is easy to work when laying bricks, as it is compressible and oozes out of the joints.
Uses: A major component of brick and block-laying mortar and bagging for walls. It is available in yellow and white to allow for different mortar colours.

For more details on types of sand, take a look at our Guide to Sand for help and inspiration!