Sand is the most important substance utilized in the building of any structure. There are several varieties of sand used in construction that adds durability and other attributes to building materials, resulting in a strong and rigid structure. Construction Sand and gravel are widely employed in the preparation of concrete for building construction.
Sand is extensively utilized for wall reinforcing, as well as some types of flooring, due to its ease of compression. Sand, on the other hand, must be blended in the proper proportions with other materials. If the amount of sand used surpasses the recommended amount, the sand could become hefty and provide the desired outcome.
It loses stability and resistance. When selecting sand for building construction, it is critical to select sand that is free of tiny pebbles, particles, and other pollutants. Let’s have a look at a few different types of sand used in the process of building and construction:
- Concrete Sand
Concrete Sand is a form of sand that is created from broken concrete. It’s a common ingredient in cement and asphalt. This sand is crushed and filtered at the quarry to remove big boulders and large particles.
It is coarse sand that, when combined with cement and water, may be used as a leveling ground for layers, patios, and walking walkways. After being mixed, It produces a huge block that is utilized to fill the gaps between bristly aggregates.
It has a finer grain than crushed stone sand and may thus be utilized to build softer pavements. However, because it is bigger than white sand, it may also be used as a filler material. This sand’s size and texture make it a perfect material for a variety of applications. It ensures the basic stability of a structure.
- Pit Sand
Pit sand is a type of sand utilized for building purposes that are best suited for building because of its higher binding properties. It is gritty sand found 2-3 meters beneath the earth.
It is naturally derived from deep holes. It is made up of rough, sharp, angular, and coarse grains with exceptional binding qualities. Because of the presence of iron-oxide, they appear red-orange.
Because the granules of these building sands are salt-free, they do not easily react with the moisture in the environment. They produce a robust and rigid structure as a result of this feature.
- Natural Sand
Natural sand is a fine type of building sand that may be found along river banks and streams. This sand is white-grey and is one of the fine-graded sands used in building construction.
They are mostly utilized in concrete and masonry construction. They may also be used for RCC, plastering, and a variety of other brick and block projects. This sand has a smoother texture and a more uniform grain shape.
Natural sand requires relatively little water. The moisture trapped between these particles is useful for a variety of concrete functions. Medium-quality river sand has a silt concentration ranging from 5 to 20%.
Natural sand is less expensive. This sort of sand is utilized in buildings and includes silica. As a result, before using it for building, it is required to examine the quantity of silica present and guarantee that it is less than 5%.
- Manufactured Sand
M-sand, which stands for manufactured sand, is a form of sand used in building in India. This kind of building sand is made at a factory. It can be used in place of river sand in a concrete building.
Manufactured sand has been employed because the demand for high-quality sand has skyrocketed. This form of building sand is made by crushing hard granite, which decreases transportation expenses associated with obtaining sand from river beds.
It comprises angular particles, which strengthen the strength of the concrete. The presence of these angular particles in the sand raises its water consumption. This water requirement can be offset by increasing the cement content. There are no large items discovered since there is no silt content.
- Utility Sand
Utility sand is a sort of sand that is commonly used in construction. This sort of sand is made from high-quality industrial quartz. Because of its consistent grain forms, this type of building sand offers great compaction and physical qualities.
Because it is non-reactive, it may be utilized in corrosive conditions. They are made entirely of natural minerals, which gives the construction exceptional durability and stability.
- Filling Sand
Fill sand is a sort of sand that is commonly used in buildings, mostly for filling. It is made up of numerous sand grains and particles. It is made up of very tiny rock fragments that have been subdivided and eroded.
Its primary application is as a base material for pouring concrete, paving, and filling huge holes. Its high compaction qualities make it the ideal base material for a variety of functions during building construction.
It has several advantages when utilized in damp locations to solve drainage issues by acting as infill around septic tanks.