Poiting flags with building sand

[markactive]

Has anyone got any views with regards to pointing light grey granite slabs with a building sand rather than sharp sand ?
The reason I ask is because I am having great difficulty in sourcing a non-red sharp sand. The red sand looks awful against the granite and I know it would be easier to obtain a yellow building sand.
Thanks.

[sy76uk]

The pointing always looks nicer with building sand because it's rich in clay and polishes up nice.
It won't last as long as a more granular sand though.
Plastering sand is probably your best bet but even if the sand is red once it's mixed 3-1 with cement it'll be fine.

[markactive]

Thanks for the info sy76uk.I have just been to Wickes and they have a silver sand that says on the bag is mainly used for fine pointing in mortar for joints, it is very,very fine though.

[sy76uk]

Kiln dried sand is mainly used for block paving and although it's fine it is very granular. When mixed with cement I find it cures very dark.

[markactive]

What is nice about the silver sand is that it is lime free so a reduced risk of calcium carbonate staining.

[Tony McC]

KDS isn't always silver/buff. ASrmstrongs in Northern Eng-er-land do a distinctly red KDS.

Also, I often worry that KDS will have insufficient fines to give the sort of smooth mortar finish you get with a building or plastering sand.

[lutonlagerlout]

for what its worth the plastering sand round here has faff all fines
its very strong but hard to use due to the lack of fines
LLL

[sy76uk]

We get mostly red kds round these parts Tony.