Help - sharp sand or grit sand? - What is this?

All forms of block paving, brick paving, flexible or rigid, concrete or clays, new construction or renovation
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newblock paver
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:09 pm
Location: manchester

Post: # 66829Post newblock paver

Hi Im new to block paving so be gentle.
I have used and well aware of sharp sand however, my builders merchants has supplied what they describe as "Grit sand C/M grade"
I have never used this material and would apreciate some advice.

Is this a graded crushed stone?
Is it suitable for block paving or should I actually use sharp sand?

I can attach some photos if someone kindly tells me how to.

Please Help!

Thanks

Carberry
Posts: 1366
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: Edinburgh

Post: # 66832Post Carberry

As far as I know grit sand is sharp sand. C / M means coarse / medium so it should be fine for block paving. It won't be crushed stone.

Can't attach photos, have to upload to something like photobucket, imageshack etc then post link here.

Bob_A
Posts: 861
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:30 pm
Location: SE London/ NW Kent

Post: # 66840Post Bob_A

According to the main site c/m does mean coarse/medium
http://www.pavingexpert.com/aggs01.html#sand

Also grit sand is mentioned as the bedding layer for blocks so all seems well?
Taken from here
http://www.pavingexpert.com/blocks2.htm

Bedding layer
Also known as the "Laying Course"
The paving blocks or bricks should be laid directly onto a bed of coarse, grit sand, 25-40mm thick. This sand may also be known as sharp sand, concreting sand, Zone 2 or Class M - see the Sand section of the Aggregates page for a fuller explanation of these terms.

In some parts of Britain and Ireland, a grit or a stone dust (whin dust) is used in place of the more usual grit sand. Grit is also used with permeable paving and on some commercial applications. However, the vast majority of conventional projects are laid using a plain, simple, straightforward grit sand.

darrenba
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:47 pm
Location: Dorset, UK
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Post: # 66843Post darrenba

This is the grit sand that my local quarry supplies:

Image

lutonlagerlout
Site Admin
Posts: 15184
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
Location: bedfordshire

Post: # 66852Post lutonlagerlout

it has many names but you need grit sand,sharp sand is for rendering
river wash sand
flooring sand
screeding sand
pratts yard sand
it is sand with small bits of grit no bigger than about 3-4mm
plastering sand is not suitable for block paving
LLL :)
"what,you want paying today??"

YOUR TEXT GOES HERE

Big Phil
Posts: 193
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: UK

Post: # 66896Post Big Phil

your builders merchant are correct mate. it's a coarse/medium grained sand
i used to love using tarmac, but got fed up with getting my asphalt

local patios and driveway
Posts: 1568
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 9:58 pm
Location: Gatwick
Contact:

Post: # 66899Post local patios and driveway

dont want to tell how to suck eggs but the science is: we need a course sand that the finer grit locks in with the larger grit and that stops the sand washing away from water erosion which is why using building sand will eventually lead to a sunken driveway (takes about 3-5 years before you see signs in most cases. i speak from experience after having to repair a bodge by someone else)

newblock paver
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:09 pm
Location: manchester

Post: # 67059Post newblock paver

Thanks all
It would help if I could upload a picture(still trying).

Its not sand inb the true sense more like crushed stone along the lines Bob_A is saying.

what do you think?

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