Plastering sand? grit sand? - Doubts about description of sand type

[Walter Wall]

Hi. First off thanks for an excellent site. I have just laid down x mms of scalpings as a sub base. I have two jumbo bags of sand sitting on my drive. I ordered course grit sand. I see your site suggest this throughout for flags with a 10 to 1 mix with cement for a dry mix bed.

The sand is described on the invoice as "plastering sand". It seems fairly soft to me, like beach sand! When I queried it they (Travis Perkins) said it was just an invoice term. I am still doubtful it is course grit sand sufficient for the job. It is fine as in typical beach sand that is gritty but with no obvious aggregate lumps, but is not the soft yellow (real yellow) pit sand. I think they said it can also be called holm sand. Is this grit sand or not? I don't think it is. Views welcome before I take them to task.

[Tony McC]

The only way to be sure is to have it seived and then see how small are the finest grains. Grit sand contains more of the 4-1mm grains, and far, far less of the <75µm dust. Plastering sand usually has very regularly-sized grains, with no obvious "grit".

Holm sand must be a local term as I've not come across it before and it's not in any of my Building/Civ.Eng dictionaries.

[Walter Wall]

Thanks for your reply. I also got a response direct from TP who confirmed it is Sharp sand and is fine (as in suitable!) for putting down paving slabs. Also a local builder when shown a bucket of my sand confirmed it was a sharp sand. So sharp it is and is being used at 10-1.

Incidentally holm sand is I believe a local term in the south west for sand from the estuary of the River Severn which has Flat holm and Steep holm islands, the area of the severn from which sand is dredged. I could be wrong.


Regards,
Walter.

[bobhughes]

For a description of various non-standard sand names go here

[nathan]

Holm sand,comes from between flatholm,steepholm in the bristol channel,this is SHARP sand,bideford grit(what some people call gritsand) comes from the same place,just further over,we used to use it years ago to lay setts ,here bristol,reinstatments or new,layed on bideford grit cement mix,then when laid to road camber,or level,wet bideford cement mix,just brushed into joints,like grouting up,then wait approx hour,depending on weather,and throw bideford acoss the top of setts,and use sweeping brush to clean off and shine up.,cobble setts,either granite,or blackrock(limestone).
So holmsand same as Bideford grit,but with a lot less shells ect...we used it back in the early 70`s when block paving 1st came out,laying bristol broadmead shopping centre.,holm sand used for paving,bricklaying,stonework,concrete,redering.Hope this helps.