Sand applications in construction

Sand is a universal construction material of natural origin. It consists of loose particles, or grains, of rock of different sizes. Sand is classified by extraction method, origin, grain size and the amount of impurities. In construction, quarry sand, river sand, sea sand and quartz sand are among the most common types. Grains may be fine, medium or coarse, while the amount of impurities is determined by laboratory methods according to applicable standards. The field of sand application depends on its type: each variety has properties suited to specific work.

Field of application of quarry sand

Quarry sand is extracted from open pits. Its grains are usually more angular and may be larger than those of river sand. Because of the extraction method, this material often contains clay, dust and small stones, so its quality should be checked before responsible work. Quarry sand is used for:

• road construction;
• production of some building materials, including brick and concrete;
• backfilling and grading works during construction of buildings and structures;
• finishing, plastering and floor screed work;
• preparation of bases and bedding layers under foundations;
• preparation of asphalt concrete mixtures;
• landscaping and filling garden paths.

Areas of application of river sand

River sand is usually more rounded and cleaner than quarry sand, and it contains fewer clay and dust particles. It is extracted from riverbeds or river deposits using special equipment and is often washed and sorted afterwards. These factors affect the cost of river sand.

River sand is used for:

• preparation of construction mortars and concrete mixtures;
• drainage systems;
• production of grouts and dry building mixes;
• bases for dyes and decorative compounds;
• preparation of asphalt concrete mixtures;
• artificial soil in aquariums.

Use of sea sand

Sea sand is extracted from the seabed by special methods. Before use, it is cleaned and washed because in its natural state it may contain salts, shell fragments and other impurities. This material is valued for its uniform grains, but it is less common because extraction and preparation are more difficult.

Fields of sea sand use:

• additive in construction mortars and mixtures;
• component of reinforced concrete products;
• abrasive and cleaning material for some types of equipment;
• selected road construction works.

Where quartz sand is used

Quartz sand is obtained from natural quartz or quartz-bearing rocks, followed by crushing, washing and sorting. It is used in glass production, filter media, dry building mixes, sandblasting and landscape design.

Sand quality is important. When choosing the material, attention is paid to grain-size distribution, clay and dust content, moisture, bulk density, void content, water absorption and frost resistance of finished mixtures or products. These indicators are checked by laboratory methods. Poor-quality sand can increase binder consumption and worsen the result of the work.

Sand is used very widely in construction: in mortars, concrete, screeds, drainage, bedding layers, road bases and finishing materials. For each task, it is therefore important to choose not just available sand, but material with suitable origin, fraction and cleanliness.