Selecting the appropriate sand for cement is essential for any building project. When building walls, laying a foundation, or applying a smooth finish, the kind of sand you use can have a big impact on the end product’s durability and quality.
Sand comes in a variety of forms, and each has special qualities that suit it for a particular use. You can guarantee the best results for your projects and make well-informed decisions by being aware of these distinctions.
This post will discuss the various sand types that are used in cement mixtures, their qualities, and how to select the best one for your particular requirements. You’ll know more clearly by the end which kind of sand is ideal for your upcoming building project.
| Type of Sand | Advantages |
| River Sand | Clean, smooth, ideal for concrete and plastering |
| Crushed Stone Sand | Good for strength, perfect for concrete mixes |
| M-Sand (Manufactured Sand) | Consistent quality, eco-friendly, good workability |
| Pit Sand | Coarse, good for strength, used in concrete |
| Natural Sand | Readily available, versatile for various uses |
- Classification of sands
- Use of sand in concrete production
- Using sand in mortar production
- Conclusion
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Classification of sands
The aforementioned building material is categorized based on multiple factors. The location and technique of extraction are the primary factors that dictate the use of sand for specific construction projects. The following kinds of sand are distinguished by expert builders and trading companies:
The following consumer factors are specific to each type of material: homogeneity of the geometric dimensions of the elements; presence of foreign impurities; and particle size and shape. River sand is the best quality sand available. Based on the grain size, this material appears to be quite big. There are no soil, stone, or clay impurities in it.
Its particles also have a high sedimentation density and a constant oval shape. The abundance of stone shells from aquatic animals is an unfavorable aspect. The material is successfully sorted through a sizable sieve to solve the issue.
In response to the many inquiries from private developers regarding the type of sand required for cement, river sand that has been cleaned of shells and sieved is the best choice. In the Moscow area, the typical cost of this kind of material is between 850 and 1250 rubles per cubic meter, including delivery.
There are a lot of foreign (dangerous) impurities in quarry sand in the form of clay, soil, and stones. Hazardous impurities can make up up to 30% of the total volume. As a result, the price of quarry sand is marginally less than that of river material.
The ease of use and relative affordability of the open-pit mining technique, which makes use of high-performance excavators, also has an impact on the cost. However, when considering that the quarry product requires extra cleaning and drying, its price cannot be compared to that of river sand and still be considered "very low." In the Moscow area, quarry sand typically costs between 550 and 800 rubles per cubic meter, including delivery.
Similar to quarry material, sea sand also requires extra cleaning. It should be mentioned that in order to prepare a concrete solution for plastering or facing a room, a thorough cleaning from tiny stones and shells is required.
Any sand that is available can be used to fill a foundation, wall, or floor slab if it has been thoroughly cleaned of impurities using an old armored bed’s mesh. In the St. Petersburg area, the typical cost of this product is between 580 and 830 rubles per cubic meter, including delivery.
The specifications of GOST 8736-2014 govern the technical properties of all sand used in building and the creation of products made of reinforced concrete. Including the percentage of hazardous impurities, grain size, and specific density.
The use of a particular type of filler in the production of concrete or mortars is regulated by a regulatory document for a specific material. For example, for heavy concrete this is GOST 26633-2012.
Use of sand in concrete production
Let’s talk about heavy concrete, which is the most widely used and popular type of concrete. According to the regulatory document GOST 26633-2012, any natural sand product that satisfies the specifications of GOST 8736-2014, "Sand for construction work," may be used in the production of heavy concrete.
As a result, when utilizing a specific kind of fine aggregate for building a structure, the developer only needs to consider one question: what is the proper proportion of cement, sand, and crushed stone in concrete of various grades?
The tables of proportions of the primary ingredients for the preparation of popular grades of material based on Portland cement CEM I 32.5N PC (M400) and CEM I 42.5N PC (M500) will provide the developer with the answer to this query.
Concrete made using CEM I 32.5N PC cement
| Brand | Proportions C:P:W:V for river sand, kg | Proportions C:P:W:V for quarry sand, kg |
| M100 | 1: 5.2: 7: 1.1 | 1: 4.4: 6.7: 1.1 |
| M150 | 1: 4.1: 5.6: 0.9 | 1: 3.4 : 5.3 : 0.9 |
| M200 | 1 : 3.3 : 4.7 : 0.7 | 1 : 2.8 : 4.4 : 0.7 |
| M300 | 1 : 2.4 : 3.5 : 0.6 | 1 : 2 : 3.3 : 0.6 |
| M400 | 1 : 1.8 : 2.7 : 0.5 | 1 : 1.5 : 2.6 : 0.5 |
Concrete made using CEM I 42.5N PC cement
| Brand | Proportions C:P:W:V for river sand, kg | Proportions C:P:Sh:V for quarry sand, kg |
| М100 | 1 : 5.7 : 7.7 : 1.2 | 1 : 4.9 : 7.3 : 1.2 |
| М150 | 1 : 4.7 : 6.3 : 1 | 1 : 3.9 : 6 : 1 |
| М200 | 1 : 3.9 : 5.3 : 0.8 | 1 : 3.3 : 5 : 0.8 |
| М300 | 1 : 2.9 : 4 : 0.7 | 1 : 2.4 : 3.8 : 0.7 |
| М400 | 1 : 2.3 : 3.2 : 0.5 | 1 : 1.9 : 3 : 0.5 |
Using the information from the tables, what proportion of sand to cement should be added?
Let’s use the most widely used concrete, M200, which is based on quarry filler and Portland cement CEM I 32.5N PC. Proportions in kg for the table are 1: 2.8: 4.4: 0.7. In other words, you need to add 3.4 kg of sand and 5.3 kg of crushed stone for every kg of cement. The concrete can be used for the intended purpose after thoroughly mixing, adding 0.9 liters of water, and mixing everything once more.
Certain websites provide the option to convert the given ratios from "kilograms" to "buckets" with varying capacities. This is not totally accurate, given the varying specific gravities of individual batches of material. Weighing each bucket separately that contains cement, sand, and crushed stone will be accurate. Then, recalculate how many buckets are needed based on the tabular data.
Using sand in mortar production
Similar to heavy concrete, cement-sand mortar is available in various grades. Masonry, face, and plastering mortar are separated based on GOST 28013-98 "Construction mortars" requirements.
Strict specifications are placed on the fine filler for the maximum grain size because all types of mortar are applied to the base in a relatively thin layer. Maximum sand grain size for different types of mortars:
- Masonry material: 2.5 mm.
- Rough plaster material: 2.5 mm.
- Sand for finishing plaster: 1.25 mm.
- Sand for facing work: 1.25 mm.
There is only one way to meet the requirements: sift the filler through a sieve with the right cell sizes. The following tables provide the answer to the query, "What is the ratio of cement to sand in mortars of different grades and for different purposes?"
Mortar based on cement, CEM I 32.5N PC
| Brand | Proportions C:P:V for river sand, kg | Proportions C:P:V for quarry sand, kg |
| M50 | 1:7.6:1.3 | 1:6.3:1.3 |
| M75 | 1:5.9:1 | 1:4.9:1 |
| M100 | 1:4.8:0.8 | 1:4:0.8 |
| M150 | 1:3.4:0.6 | 1:2.8:0.6 |
| M200 | 1:2.6:0.5 | 1:2.1:0.5 |
CEM I 42.5N PC mortar made of cement
| Brand | Proportions C:P:V for river sand, kg | Proportions C:P:V for quarry sand, kg |
| M50 | 1:8.3:1.4 | 1:6.9:1.4 |
| M75 | 1:6.6:1.1 | 1:5.5:1.1 |
| M100 | 1:5.4:0.9 | 1:4.5:0.9 |
| M150 | 1:4:0.7 | 1:3.3:0.7 |
| M200 | 1:3.1:0.6 | 1:2.5:0.6 |
In practical terms, tabular data is used to address the following frequently asked questions by private developers:
- In what ratio should cement be mixed with sand for masonry? The most popular brands of mortar for laying bricks, cinder blocks and foam blocks are M50 and M75. Accordingly, we take the proportions of the components from the tables and prepare the solution.
- What is the ratio of cement and sand for plastering? For grouting, use grade M50. Grade M100 is recommended for interior work. M150 mortar is used for plastering surfaces: facades, basements and walls of buildings that are used in high humidity conditions.
- What is the ratio of cement and sand for tiles? For laying tiles, use grades of mortar M75 or M100.
It is advised to use Grade M200 mortar when laying floor slabs, installing staircases, installing floor screeds, installing foundation blocks, and filling joints between reinforced concrete structures.
Recognizing that not all sand is created equal is crucial when selecting sand for cement. Clean, well-graded, and devoid of contaminants like clay and organic materials is the ideal sand for cement. River sand or manufactured sand is generally preferred because of its uniformity and sharp edges, which improve cement mix binding and guarantee a more robust and long-lasting finished product. The quality and durability of your concrete projects can be greatly impacted by your understanding of the properties of various sand types.
Conclusion
In addition to quartz and expanded clay, other artificial sand materials used in construction include crushed rock and waste from the metallurgical sector.
Production volumes are constrained by raw material availability and equipment power, and the cost of such building materials is objectively much higher than that of their natural counterparts. As a result, artificial sand is essentially never used in low-rise building and is only occasionally utilized in the manufacturing of products made of reinforced concrete and the erecting of multistory structures.
The strength and longevity of your building projects depend on the selection of sand for cement. The quality of the cement mix can be greatly affected by the kind of sand you choose.
Because of its fine texture and low impurity content, river sand is a dependable option for the majority of general construction applications. However, depending on the particular needs of the job at hand, you might need to take into account other types of sand for specialized projects, such as crushed stone sand or pit sand.
It’s crucial to constantly make sure the sand you use is pure and uncontaminated. Organic matter, silt, and clay are examples of impurities that can weaken the cement mixture and cause structural issues down the road.
In conclusion, knowing the various kinds of sand and their characteristics will enable you to make wise choices and guarantee that your construction projects are long-lasting. Always keep your project’s unique requirements in mind when selecting the right kind of sand.
