Is this “PROPER” sharp sand? (1 pic)

[mart]

I ask this question aiming at members who know, as opposed to those with just an opinion or guessing, and no disrespect is intended.

The photo shows two lots of sand. The darker sand on the left side is very gritty, and is sharp sand. The sand on the right of the picture is the one in question. I would describe it as building sand with a few tiny white bits of (what looks like) limestone chippings. This latter has been supplied as sharp sand (also known as grit sand). I don’t feel it is the genuine article. I am not an expert on aggregates , but would welcome the opinion of anyone who is an authority on the subject.

 

[Welderpaul]

It looks to me like fill sand. Poor quality sand that is extracted as it is and sold with no further refinement or grading.
Send it back if you have ordered grit sand, they are trying it on. We used to buy thousands of tonnes a week of various sands for backfilling around cables.

 

[Benji]

One on the right looks like mixed building sand. I certainly wouldnt fire it into a floor screed if that was your intention, far too soft.
regards, Ben.

 

[mike os]

would need a close up to even guess

as a rule sharp sand should be a mix of fine agregates, sand & fines probably 3-4mm down

soft sand/builders sand feels totally different ( but 30 years in the industry will do that to you

 

[mart]

One on the right looks like mixed building sand. I certainly wouldnt fire it into a floor screed if that was your intention, far too soft.
regards, Ben.

I ordered the sand to make concrete with, and requested grit sand not building sand.

 

[Hitch]

The one on the right looks like sharp sand, a few small lumps, as Mike said, a few mm or so down. Theses thing vary round the country, in both texture and colour. The stuff on the Left doesn't look like the sharp sand we get round here.

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

I ask this question aiming at members who know, as opposed to those with just an opinion or guessing, and no disrespect is intended.

The photo shows two lots of sand. The darker sand on the left side is very gritty, and is sharp sand. The sand on the right of the picture is the one in question. I would describe it as building sand with a few tiny white bits of (what looks like) limestone chippings. This latter has been supplied as sharp sand (also known as grit sand). I don’t feel it is the genuine article. I am not an expert on aggregates , but would welcome the opinion of anyone who is an authority on the subject.

Therre are two types of sharp sand as well as the various grades .

Type one... from the seaside sesa or adjacent areas that were former sea beds it has a high calciumn content in the form of sea creatures that will be released by rain ( carbonic acid content ) and is no good for horticultural purposes as it changes the Ph of the compost or ground if added. It also often has a salt content that makes using it leave white residues and often has mierle ( sp ) content .( a sort of coral growth )

Type two extracted from inland sand and gravel pits or fresh water stream beds & banks it has little or no calcium content is high in silicon content . Good for horticulture as it is rain safe and still allows drainage etc.


You should enquire of an extracting sand and gravel company supplier as to the type and varieties of sharp grit they supply and for the make up content rather than to a builders merchants .

 

[pedrobedro]

That looks like the grit sand in my bags of aggregate I used to make the concrete for the shed and it's been fine for the last 12 years.