Which is better, river or quarry sand? What kind of sand is needed for the foundation: river or quarry? Selection of sand for construction. Which sand to choose for making concrete

Looking at a pile of sand brought to a site, two builders will behave differently.

The newcomer will cast an indifferent glance at her and take up the shovel.

An experienced builder will first take a handful of sand, look at it carefully and rub it in his palms. After that, he will give a verdict: it’s suitable for concrete, but not suitable for plaster and masonry.

What is the secret of construction sand that requires such careful evaluation? We will examine this issue in more detail.

Physical and mechanical characteristics

Volume weight

It shows the mass of 1 m3 of sand in its natural state (wet, with all impurities). Average volume weight of this material is from 1500 to 1800 kg.

The composition of construction sand is assessed according to the following parameters:

1. Granulometric;
2. Mineral;
3. Chemical.

Granulometric shows percentage grains of different sizes. To determine it, sand is sifted through calibrated sieves (from 0.16 mm to 10 mm).

A sieve with aperture sizes of 5 and 10 mm reveals gravel granules. GOST allows the presence of grains measuring 1 cm. However, their quantity should be no more than 0.5% of the total mass of sand.

Granules larger than 5 mm are normalized as follows:

1. Maximum content - up to 10% in natural;
2. up to 15% in crushed;
3. up to 5% in enriched sand.

Mineral composition

Chemical composition

It plays an important role in determining the suitability of bulk material in different areas construction. Red, yellow, and orange shades indicate the presence of oxidized metals. Green and blue colors characteristic of river sand, which contains aluminum salts.

Types of construction sand

The classic definition is that sand is a mixture of mineral particles (quartz, mica, limestone) formed as a result of natural or artificial destruction rocks.

"On the shelves" the most important properties lays out sand according to GOST 8736-93. According to this standard, sand is divided into two classes:

• Class I - very coarse, then comes sand of increased coarseness, coarse, medium and fine;
• Class II - very large, extra large, large, medium, small, very small, thin and very thin.

The main difference between these classes is that lower quality sand (second class) includes three additional fractions. Fine dust particles are an undesirable component of mortars. They impair the bond between the large sand granules that the cement binds.

IN real production there is no such fine gradation.

Here the extracted sand is conventionally divided into three fractions:

• 0.5-1 mm – small;
• 1.5-2 mm – average;
• 2.5-3.5 mm – large.

Sands with a particle size modulus of 2-2.5 mm are used for the production of concrete and reinforced concrete structures. Bulk material 1.5-2 mm in size is used for making bricks. The finest sand is used to prepare dry building mixtures.

Having taken note of the GOST classification, let’s move on to practical aspects origin and use of construction sand.

Based on the type of production, they are distinguished:

• Career;
• River;
• Nautical;
• Quartz (artificial) sand.

Career

The name clearly indicates the origin of the sand. It contains clay and stones, so quarry material is used to a limited extent: for site planning, backfilling concrete screeds or foundations.

To improve its properties, quarry sand is washed with water right at the mining site, freeing it from dust particles and clay. This is how alluvial (washed) sand is obtained. It is suitable for plastering and masonry mortars. In addition, sifting through sieves can be used to remove clay.

Important practical conclusion: If you are offered to buy quarry (gully) sand, do not forget to check whether it has been cleaned (washed, sifted) or not.

Areas of application of washed (sifted) quarry sand:

• cement screed, masonry and plaster mortars;
• Finishing work;
• brick production;
• foundation installation;
• preparation of concrete.

river sand

This building material is extracted by a dredger from the river bottom. There are no clay particles and very few stones in river sand. This allows you to use it for concrete work without restrictions.

It is very valuable that river sand medium size (1.8-2.2 mm) practically does not shrink. This makes it ideal for masonry and plastering.

Quarry sand is more difficult to use in this capacity. In the solution it settles to the bottom and has to be stirred periodically.

Areas of application of river sand:

• concrete production;
• brick production;
• masonry work and cement screed;
• preparation of asphalt concrete;
• drainage device;
• filler for paints and grouts.

Sea sand has similar properties to river sand. It is also highly valued in construction for its high purity and uniformity of particle size distribution.

Quartz sand

This material is obtained by mechanical crushing of quartz-containing rocks. It is homogeneous in structure, chemically inert and pure.

The main area of ​​application of this type of sand is the construction materials industry. It goes into dry construction mixtures, sand-lime brick, blocks and concrete, used for preparing grinding compounds. Landscape design, expensive interior and facade plasters also cannot do without quartz sand.

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question which sand is better., since each material is intended for certain types of work.

Still, the main conclusions are already obvious:

• For brick and large-block masonry, it is better to take river sand. If you mix it with a small amount of unwashed quarry sand, the solution will become more plastic (due to clay particles);
• for concrete, coarse or medium river sand is better suited (you can add a little fine washed quarry sand to it);
• for plaster would be better suited washed quarry sand with or without a small addition of river sand.

Approximate prices

Obviously, the cost of sand is higher, the more manipulations had to be done with it during extraction and cleaning.

The cheapest is quarry unwashed and unsown. Its price per cube ranges from 300 to 400 rubles. Quarry sand purified by water or sieving for construction work will cost from 550 to 700 rubles per 1 m3 with delivery.

River sand is significantly more expensive than quarry sand. Its price starts at 750 rubles and ends at 950 rubles/m3.

Fractionated quartz sand is the most expensive. When purchasing from 10 tons (1 KAMAZ), its price with delivery is from 4,500 rubles per cubic meter.

IN modern construction sand is used very actively and almost everywhere. Moreover, there are about 10 different varieties of this material, but in the practice of Russian builders, two types are most common: quarry and river. Naturally, each type has those properties that determine its advantages and disadvantages as a building or finishing material. Therefore, non-professionals who conceived on our own When building a structure, you are often faced with a choice:

Quarry sand - advantages and disadvantages

Quarry sand is sand mined in quarries from huge layers located at a certain depth underground. The qualities of such sand are largely determined by its origin. The fact is that such underground sand is formed as a result of the weathering of rocks. This process goes on for centuries; decay products are deposited underground, eventually turning into compacted masses of sand.

The formation of sand deposits is caused by the weathering of rocks such as mica, quartz, feldspar and partially limestone. The composition and characteristics of sand depend on which rocks predominate in a particular area.

What must be taken into account when deciding which sand is better, quarry or river sand, is the possible presence of impurities in the total mass natural material. Clay contamination is common in quarry sands and only the concentration of foreign matter varies depending on the deposit.

Other important characteristic– heterogeneity of fractions. The mass of quarry sand contains both very small and very large particles; it often contains fragments that, in terms of size, can be classified as fine gravel. However, in the case of using sand for construction purposes, call this property You can't use a minus. The fact is that the heterogeneity of sand fractions and the presence of various impurities in it determines the higher astringent characteristics of sand.

So, let's summarize. Quarry sand is characterized by increased surface roughness of the particles, as well as the angularity of their shape. This makes it ideal for use as an extra grip element. binder additives as part of building mixtures. There are also construction areas in which it is recommended to use quarry sand. It makes an excellent pillow for a recessed strip foundation. From this point of view, no other variety can be compared with quarry sand.

River sand - pros and cons

Now let’s look at the main characteristics and properties of river sand so that, through comparison, we can try to answer the question of which sand is better: quarry or river sand. River sand, as its name suggests, is mined from river beds. This circumstance is due extremely low content of various impurities in it, especially clayey rocks and loams. They are simply washed away by the current, which provides natural cleaning of the sand.

Also, the constant exposure to water to which river sand is exposed leads to the fact that it the particles are approximately the same size and almost perfect rounded shape . Thereby, this material actively used in landscape design to create the desired decorative effect.

One of the advantages of the material is the fact that to arrange children's sandboxes or volleyball courts, it is imperative to use river sand.

If we talk about construction, then the main properties of river sand, in addition to shape and size, should be recognized as low ability to absorb and retain moisture, as well as environmental cleanliness and safety.

Taking all this into account, river sand is used mainly to obtain decorative finishing materials. For example, if it is planned to arrange on the floor in the house cement screed, then river sand is better suited for these purposes. It will not accumulate moisture, and will also help to obtain a more even and smooth coating surface.

For the same reasons, river sand is the preferred material for making paving slabs. In Krasnoyarsk it is also used in the construction of drainage and filter systems.

In fact, the only, but very significant minus of river sand as building material – high price . The process of its extraction involves the use of complex, expensive equipment; special barges and powerful hydraulic pumps are required to lift rock layers from the bottom of the riverbed and subsequently wash it. As a result, the cost of the final product is very high.

It is precisely because of the significant cost that when deciding which sand is better, quarry or river sand, builders often give preference to the former. The issue of price becomes especially relevant when carrying out rough construction work, for example, arranging a foundation, creating open areas for cars, etc. And here For finishing works, especially internal ones, it is recommended not to save and choose river sand, the use of which provides better results.

Our company is engaged in retail and wholesale supplies of river and quarry sand in Krasnoyarsk. For getting additional information and order delivery, call the phone number indicated on the “” page.

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Before starting construction work, many people pre-calculate required amount material. This the right approach to such a serious matter. But on at this stage This is exactly where a lot of questions arise. One of them: what kind of sand is needed for the foundation?

The choice of such material should be given Special attention, since it is an important component, one of the main components used in the manufacture of concrete. The durability of the foundation - the future foundation of the house - will depend on the quality of the resulting mixture. Modern market offers huge assortment sand, both natural and artificial. The article will tell you how to make a choice so that the foundation does not suffer from it.

Sand Selection Basics

Even a person ignorant of construction issues can guess that only clean sand is suitable for the foundation. Initially, it may contain various organic elements: small twigs, grass, etc. Such material is not suitable for construction work, so there must be sifted sand, cleared of foreign debris.

However, simple pouring will not do if we're talking about about impurities such as lime or clay. Cleaning such sand is much more difficult, so when purchasing building materials you should immediately pay attention to this. The clay content in sand should not exceed five percent of the total mass, especially if a solution is being made for the foundation. Otherwise, after some time the structure will shrink, crack and will not be particularly reliable.

Checking the cleanliness of the sand

Before choosing what kind of sand you need for your foundation, you should check its cleanliness. A simple method is usually used for this. You will need any empty transparent bottle (glass or plastic). One third of it is filled with sand and half filled with water. Then shake the bottle vigorously so that the components are thoroughly mixed with each other. After that, they place it and wait for five to ten minutes. If the water in the bottle has become cloudy and dirty, then such sand is not suitable for the foundation. If a foreign substance appears on the surface, the layer of which exceeds half a centimeter, then such material cannot be taken either.

Now let's look at what exist

Types of sand for embankment under the foundation

To ensure the reliability of the structure under construction, according to SNiP standards, it is necessary to use bulk mixtures. The market sells sedimentary rocks in three types, depending on where they are mined. This is sand:

• career;
• river;
• nautical.

To answer the question of which of them is most suitable for a foundation pillow, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the characteristics and nuances of using each type.

Quarry sand

These raw materials are extracted in quarries by breaking down rocks. An important indicator The reliability and strength of quarry sand is determined by its moisture content. An acceptable ratio is from one to five percent. Suitable humidity can be determined visually. It will not be possible to form a dense lump from sand - it will simply crumble.

The cheapest material is considered to be quarry construction sand. The price for it ranges from three hundred to seven hundred rubles per cubic meter. This is due to his low quality because of large quantity impurities of clay and other substances. Nevertheless, it is in considerable demand.

Types of quarry sand

Depending on the type of processing, quartz raw materials are classified as follows.

1. Sandy soil. This is an unrefined mixture with various impurities. As a rule, it is leveled summer cottages and fill up the trenches.

2. Washed sand. It is extracted from flooded deposits using hydromechanical equipment. The technology allows you to assemble the mixture without any impurities or unnecessary components. This material is used in the production of roads, bricks and reinforced concrete products.

3. Seeded sand. It is cleaned using a technical and mechanical method to remove large particles and stones. Typically, such raw materials are used for the preparation of plaster, masonry mortars and in the casting of stone products.

river sand

These raw materials are mined from the very bottom of freshwater rivers. It rarely contains organic compounds and impurities. Therefore, river sand is considered clean and natural product, which is designed for multi-purpose use. This is an ideal material for laying foundations, creating drainages and diluting solutions necessary for interior decoration Houses. Due to natural polishing, river sand has a perfectly smooth shape and a fine fraction within two millimeters.

Thanks to all the listed advantages, this material becomes a universal and desirable, but rather expensive raw material for the foundation. Thus, the price of construction sand extracted from the river can vary from seven hundred to one thousand rubles per cubic meter.

Classification of river sand

Raw materials from the river bottom can differ greatly from each other. Therefore, you should understand the variety of grains of sand. They can be of several fractions: from 0.7 to 5 millimeters. The filling of small grains of sand shrinks and compacts strongly, so it is only suitable for lightweight buildings. Also distinguish the following types loose river material.

1. These are pebbles about five millimeters in size. They are obtained by splitting rocks using special crushing and grinding equipment.

2. Coarse sand. It has an unobtrusive neutral color and is mined from dry rivers. Ideal for finishing and decorating a room.

3. Washed river sand. These are medium-sized grains. Have gray or yellow, since they contain iron and silicon oxides.

Positive aspects of river sand

Fluvial sedimentary rocks have several positive qualities who have great importance for foundation construction. They meet technical and aesthetic requirements, do not rot and are not exposed to aggressive environments. River sand is characterized by high moisture resistance and excellent sound insulation. It is also a safe and environmentally friendly material.

For the construction of multi-storey buildings, only the large-fraction type is used, and for capital buildings, the medium-sized type is suitable. Also, river sand is ideal for landscaping areas, playgrounds, landscape work and decorating rooms.

Sea sand

Sea chips are also exactly the material needed for the foundation. Sand is initially no better than river sand, and sometimes even worse. This is due to the presence of organic impurities (algae, shells) and foreign objects. But sea sand must be cleared of foreign substances and washed, so it is considered clean and of high quality. Due to this, this material is the most expensive, and not everyone is willing to pay for it. It is more appropriate to use sea crumbs for construction where they are sold nearby and are cheaper.

Sand fractions

Any sand can be classified by its size. Experts distinguish the following types of fractions.

• Very thin. These are grains of sand about 0.7 millimeters in size. They are suitable for arranging playgrounds and are not suitable for construction.
• Thin. The grains range in size from 0.7 to 1.0 millimeters. This is not a dense material. This kind of sand cannot be used for construction, but it will be good for making lean concrete.
• Small fraction. It is grains measuring 1.5-2.0 millimeters. When using it, the consumption of cement mixture increases.
• Average. Grains (2.0-2.5 millimeters) can be used to create standard concrete.

• Large. Sand particles reach three millimeters in size. This fraction is ideal for diluting high-quality concrete mixtures that will be used in large-scale construction.
• Very large. The particles are more than three millimeters in diameter. They are added to the foundation cushion and used to distribute the mass of the structure.

Choosing sand for the foundation

So what kind of sand is needed, river or quarry? Experts agree that the first option is most suitable for building foundations. It will create a layer that will increase the strength and stability of the building, and prevent “walking” and the formation of cracks.

However, river sand will not be affordable for everyone. In this case, it is allowed to use quarry crumbs, but they must be washed. Also suitable Sand and gravel, which improves the quality of the composition for laying under the pillow.

Required amount of sand

Usually take one part cement to five parts sand. But this calculation is suitable if the solution is made only from these two components. The ratio of sand, crushed stone and cement for the foundation will be completely different. As a rule, they are taken in following proportions: four parts sand, two parts crushed stone and one part cement.

As can be seen from the calculations, it is always necessary to take more sand than other components. The sheer amount of materials directly depends on the height of the pillow and the building itself. It is better to buy sand with a small reserve so that you do not have to buy more at the wrong time. The remains can be used to prepare solutions for finishing walls or laying them.

Summarizing

When answering the question of what kind of sand is needed for the foundation, it should be noted that river grains of the middle fraction are considered the ideal option. This material has excellent properties for construction purposes. It allows you to build the strongest possible foundation, which will last for a long time and will be an excellent basis for construction.

It is necessary to purchase sand from reliable manufacturers so as not to stumble upon low-quality raw materials. It is recommended to check the material before purchasing for moisture level and quantity. foreign impurities. It is also worth paying attention to the size of the purchase. As a rule, there should be about one and a half tons of sand per cubic meter.

Sand is a loose mixture of small particles of various minerals and rocks. It is formed during their long-term erosion and destruction. The most common sand constituents are silicon dioxide (quartz) and calcium carbonate. The size of sand grains is 0.06 – 2 mm. By origin, all sands are divided into: marine, aeolian, lacustrine, alluvial and deluvial. If the cause of the appearance of sand was the activity of water, then its particles have a smoother and more rounded shape.

The sands are divided into categories based on characteristics such as: composition, density, origin, type, shape of grains, strength, dust and clay content, presence or absence of harmful impurities, as well as physical properties.

By origin, sand can be river, sea or quarry. River is mined in river beds. It is usually cleaner and contains few impurities, including clay. It is more uniform, and the grains of sand are smoother and more rounded. The disadvantage of its extraction is that it disrupts river ecosystems, which can lead to adverse consequences. River sand is quite heavy and can precipitate, so when cooking mortar Frequent stirring is required.

Sea sand is similar to river sand in many ways. But it has a drawback: the presence of larger particles - pebbles (sometimes) and fragments of mollusk shells. In general, it is a high-quality building material, but at the same time it is the most expensive.

Sea sand

Quarry sand is obtained directly from the thickness of sedimentary rocks - at sand quarries. It contains an admixture of clay and stones and requires cleaning. Its advantage is its low price.

Sand can have artificial origin. It is obtained by crushing hard rocks, for which special devices are used. The raw material is quartz rock. This sand contains almost no impurities, as it is purified immediately after crushing. For this purpose, washing and sifting are used. Washing provides a greater degree of purification from impurities, but such sand also costs more. Artificial sand is quite uniform in color and composition.

Sand particles can be fine, medium or coarse in size. A more precise classification involves dividing into 8 categories according to the size of the fractions. The smallest falls into the “very fine” category, with grains of sand measuring less than 0.7 mm. The coarsest grain is classified as “very coarse” with a particle size of more than 3.5 mm.

General requirements for sand for concrete

Concrete sand plays an important role in the composition of the concrete mixture. The strength and wear resistance of future buildings depends on it. There are certain standards established by GOST that the sand used for concrete must comply with. In accordance with them, the dust fraction (particle size less than 0.14 mm) should be less than 10% of the total mass of sand, dust and clay - less than 3%. Control over the clay content is especially important, since its presence negatively affects the strength of concrete and its resistance to frost. Also, in accordance with GOST, the content of particles with a size of 0.5 - 1 cm should be no more than 5 percent of the total mass, and even larger particles are not allowed. Organic impurities are also not allowed.

River sand for concrete is best

To determine the particle size, the sand is passed one by one through sieves with different sizes holes.

For concrete, it is better to use sand with a lower specific gravity (optimally 1.5 t/cubic meter). One cubic meter of wet sand weighs in the range of 1300 – 1800 kg.

The moisture content of the sand also matters. In wet sand it is 5–10%, and in dried sand it drops to 1%. The amount of water that will need to be added to the solution depends on the humidity. To determine it, one kilogram of wet sand is dried under the influence of high temperature. The difference in the weight of sand before and after drying shows the mass of evaporated water. Directly at the construction site, the moisture content of sand can be approximately determined by squeezing it in your fist. If it still crumbles after this, it means it is dry enough. If not, then its humidity is more than 5 percent.

Which sand to choose for making concrete?

Quarry sand is best added in limited quantities.

To make concrete, it is advisable to use medium- or coarse-grained river sand. You can mix a small amount of purified sand from the quarry with it. Particles of quarry sand have more rough surface than river sand, and, ideally, this is a plus, since such grains of sand create a stronger bond with the components of concrete. But in such sand, even if it is cleaned, there may still be an admixture of clay, which deteriorates the quality of the solution. That is why it is recommended to put more river sand into the solution than quarry sand.

Harmful impurities

In addition to clay, other components that may be included in sand are also undesirable impurities. Iron oxides can cause brown spots to appear on the surface of concrete and also make it less reliable in use. Mica plates weaken the adhesion of concrete components, which can lead to its corrosion in the future. Sulfur compounds can cause cracks in concrete. Gypsum and pyrite have such properties, which are able to interact with water.

Preparation of concrete

To get high-quality and durable concrete it is required to maintain the required proportion of its constituent components. The ratio of the number of buckets of cement, sand and crushed stone should be 1:3:5. If there are more buckets, then all terms of this ratio must be multiplied by the same factor. The optimal sand for preparing concrete should consist of granules measuring 1.5 - 3.5 mm. Coarse sand is used to produce concrete grade M350 and higher. To prepare M200 concrete, finer sand is used. Such concrete can also be used to pour the foundation.

To paraphrase the famous phrase about water, in connection with construction, we can say – “sand, sand, sand all around” - and this exactly describes the process that occurs during the construction of the foundation of your country residence. A lot of this building material is used on a construction site - sand for the foundation, for cushions, in interior and exterior finishing, in fastening mixtures - you need a lot of it, and all of it must be of the proper quality.

Construction of the cottage foundation occurs with the direct use of huge volumes of sand, which is selected and calculated at the design stage by InnovaStroy specialists. TO this process are approached responsibly, since such parameters as structural stability, durability, shrinkage, drainage, adhesiveness of components to each other, environmental friendliness, and strength directly depend on the quality of the material. In order to correctly select the required volumes and types of sand, you need to understand the differences that the proposed construction market variants of this sedimentary fossil material.

Foundation sand: what does it look like?

If we consider it from the point of view of geology, then sand is a very fine type of sedimentary rock, represented by fragments of various minerals, mined open method or produced industrial enterprises. At their core, these are very small pebbles various shapes, sizes – resulting from natural or artificial processes. There are several varieties of sand on sale, each of which has its own unique properties, and is suitable for various construction processes:

• Career is the most common and cheap option. It is mined in open pits and contains a lot of impurities from clay, lime and earth, which must be taken into account when choosing of this type sand;
• River - a cleaner option, mined from the bottom of rivers - is most suitable for the construction of foundations and use in branded monolithic concrete. By the way, the famous skyscrapers of Dubai were built using river sand from Europe;
• Mineral - obtained by processing various rocks - that is, these are finely ground remains of granite, crushed stone, limestone, marble and other varieties. It is almost never used in concrete mixtures, as it has certain limitations on adhesion and strength - but is suitable for finishing;
• Marine - it is mined from the bottom of the seas and further purified. This sand is considered to be of the highest quality and most expensive, and is used in vintage concrete and has increased strength characteristics, since it does not contain organics or harmful clay inclusions.

Based on the above, what sand is needed for the foundation must be determined at the design and development stage of the construction process. Professional specialists Our company will offer several options that will be optimally matched in quality and cost. Though country cottages and are built for many years of use, apply very expensive materials not always rational, since in such small volumes the qualities of different types of sand are almost identical. Moreover, if the project involves the use of ready-made concrete mixtures from a manufacturer that itself monitors the quality of the sand used in monolithic concrete.

What sand is needed for the foundation: technical parameters

When they talk about the properties of the described sedimentary material, many begin to wonder - why all this, and isn’t it easier to just buy sand in the nearest quarry so as not to bother? The answer is obvious and simple - not simpler! After all, sand remains one of the important components of the structure, designed to improve and ensure the reliability of the structure, its durability and stability.

In the construction practice of InnovaStroy, the most different varieties sand, each of which has its own technical parameters. Below we will describe only those that allow you to choose the right sand for the foundation so that the foundation of the house is as reliable as possible. The selection is made according to different criteria, in accordance with accepted standards GOST and SNiP:

By variety

Depending on the method of extraction and purification, each option has its own clear direction of use. Quarry sand, due to the special faceted structure of its fractions, is most suitable for creating a cushion for the foundation of a building, as it allows you to create a dense damping layer - softens the impact of the soil and does not lead to strong shrinkage of the building. For fastening mixtures, purified quarry sand is also used, as it has very high adhesiveness - the ability to bind the components of the solution together. River sand is most used in monolithic concrete and when installing drainage layers - due to its more uniform size of fractions, which are larger than those of its quarry counterpart. Sea sand is used in high-quality concrete and reinforced concrete structures, has the lowest content of foreign impurities. Mineral option It is better to use it for finishing, since it contains many very small fractions, practically dust, which are completely unsuitable for concrete.

By granule size

It is well known that size matters when creating concrete mixtures, mortars, foundation cushions and drainage. The larger the sand fraction, the better its properties during the construction and arrangement of cottage foundations. For example, to pour a monolithic foundation, price InnovaStroy does not take into account the creation of a sand cushion, which should be located throughout the entire building area and reach a significant thickness. In construction, the following subclasses of sand are used, both for strip and for pile foundations of a house:

• Small– the size of the pebbles varies from 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters – can be used in lightweight foundations that are not deep;
• Average– fractions in the range of 2.0-2.5 millimeters – the most perfect option when pouring any type of foundation for a private house. Also suitable for backfilling free space, if carried out installation of a pile foundation, price which is significantly lower than other analogues;
• Large– pebble sizes from 2.5 to 3.0 millimeters – suitable for concrete mixtures with a high grade, as the only one capable of ensuring its strength and necessary technical specifications. This sand is used by concrete mix manufacturers throughout the country;
• Extra large– with fractions from 3.0 to 3.5 millimeters - ideal for creating a foundation cushion, drainage layers under the base of a building, in a blind area, when constructing garden paths.

By composition

Naturally, it is quite difficult to calculate sand for the foundation, since it is impossible to predict its overuse. Our company’s specialists use modern computer modeling and many years of experience to determine with maximum accuracy the amount of sand needed to build a cottage. This allows you to keep installed on strip foundation prices in the Moscow region and Moscow at an accessible and acceptable level. Most often, one type of sand is purchased in order to optimize financial costs. Medium-fraction building material is perfect for both cushions and concrete mixtures when construction is carried out in a temperate climate zone.

The main thing that is required from the supplier is to provide clean and dry building materials, since all of its specifications. In construction, sand is used only with the following characteristics:

• Density – not lower than 1.5 tons/m3. If this indicator is lower, then there is too much moisture in the sand, and if it is higher, then there are foreign impurities;
• The composition is free of organic inclusions, which are completely unacceptable for building materials. The amount of impurities of clay, lime and earth cannot exceed 5% of the total mass;
• The shape of the fractions - it is believed that faceted pebbles of quarry sand hold solutions together much better, while smooth river and sea counterparts do not allow achieving the required strength. Such maxims can be confirmed or refuted only by laboratory methods, and this does not in any way affect the quality of construction of the cottage foundation;
• Availability - the cheaper and faster the logistics, the easier it is for both builders and customers. When wondering what sand to choose for the foundation, our specialists always study the market in your region to understand how expensive it will be to bring quarry or river sand.

High-quality concrete foundation: sand proportions

One of the criteria that will allow us to more or less approximately know the amount of sand required for construction is the generally accepted proportions and ratios in mixtures. As a rule, a ratio of 1:4 is used - that is, for one part of cement there are four parts of sand. And even when crushed stone is used in solutions, the percentage does not change - you still need 4 times more sand than cement. This is provided that the concrete is mixed on site and a constant, continuous supply of it to the formwork is required.

If the matter is limited only to creating a cushion and drainage for the foundation, the proportions of sand will differ sharply, since they are calculated according to cubic meters, based on the thickness of the required layer. In any case, there is never too much sand, since it is used in any construction process– from laying foundation walls to rubbing joints and exterior finishing. InnovaStroy specialists will calculate the required amount of material for high-quality construction of the building’s foundation. Even if there is some sand left, you can safely set up a playground near the house - both the children will be happy and the sand will not be wasted.

Which sand to choose for the foundation: results

Based on the data described above, you need to select the type of sedimentary building material based on the characteristics of the cottage, its characteristics, soil properties and construction work being carried out. IN Russian practice Quarry and river sand of various fractions are equally often used, which does not differ much in cost and quality characteristics.

It is best to contact our architects and designers, who have been building country cottages for more than seven years - they will be able to suggest the most optimal and profitable option. Of course, no one excludes the possibility of elite construction, when the country palace itself simply requires the use of only high-quality sea sand, and not simple and common analogues.