Sources Of Sand

Steve Manning

Hey, I'm specing a grasspave product (reinforced grass surface) which requires the plastic reinforcing grid to be backfilled with builders sand. Is builders sand just quarried sand?

Where the job is located (North Carolina Mountains) concrete is an expensive product. Which makes me think there are not many rock quarries in the area. I have found a sand company that sells "river sand" which they say is used in concrete around there.

Does anybody have any thoughts.

Vinny

I would say builders sand is probably a course grain sand much like concrete sand. Stone dust or manufactured sand would probably also do it, but natural sand is probably cheaper.

Most of the flat work products out there for driving surfaces spec a course grade sand. I'll bet the river sand you speak of is good for that, if they told you they use it in concrete.

I have priced a couple of those jobs recently and concrete sand or stone dust is what I'll use if they come in.

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The Right Way Driveway Company
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mdshunk

I've noticed that when any product being referred to as "builder's"-anything, they just mean something regular, ordinary, and nothing special.

tgeb

I think what you are looking for is sand that is angular. For instance, it has sharp edges as opposed to smooth rounded edges.

Sharp angular sand is more structural in that it will "lock" together. Smooth sand (think play ground/ sand box) has smooth rounded edges and is less structural in that it will not "lock" together.

A quick look at a handful would give you an indication of what you have there with the "River sand".

E-Mail me a sample and I'll take a look at it, if you like.

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

Vinny

Well one thing for sure, river sand is probably more round than sharp. This may be best done with manufactured sand like "stone dust" or "stone fines". The aspahlt plants normaly use this for mixes and most mason yards carry it also.

But I also know from experience and going to a couple of training events for these typs of products a generaly available course sand is fine. Like shunk said, builder grade, run of the mill.

Keep in mind only 1" is used in this application for a clean setting bed. Below that is where processed stone base creates the stuctural stability needed.

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Roccies Asphalt Paving
The Right Way Driveway Company
If you say you cant, your a loser. If you say you wont, your a quiter. Which one do you want to be?

tgeb

I would agree, but it depends on the region, and what someone calls river sand may not actually be from the river, so a hands on test would likely be the best way to determine what material to use.


Are you thinking of the grass pavers? I got the impression it was to be a geo-grid type product that could accept traffic, I am guessing something like this product below.

Can you get a little more specific on what you are doing Steve?

Attached Thumbnails

   

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

Vinny

Yea Tom, I assume somthing like that. Either plastic or concrete is what the thread starter was thinking. I thought the geogrid material he mentioned would be used subsurface to add stability to the base and after a 1 inch setting bed is installed the grass pavers, plastic or concrete, would be placed and then top soil and seed. Ether system can handle traffic.

Is that your crew doing that install in the picture? Looks good. Those are plastic, right?

__________________
Roccies Asphalt Paving
The Right Way Driveway Company
If you say you cant, your a loser. If you say you wont, your a quiter. Which one do you want to be?

Kgmz

Looks like Ecogrid in those pics.

If this is something like he is using then he does need like stated before a sharp edged sand or a very fine crushed rock with fines or crushed with binder as we call it around here

tgeb

No, I just swiped those pics off the Net.
We have never done this type work, but do get involved in the concrete pavers occasionally, and have looked at these open grid systems before.

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

Steve Manning

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. The pictures above are very similar to what we will be spec'ed. Final product choice has not been made yet. They are considering grasspave 2 or Modi garden grid. This product will take the place of a currently mostly graveled fair grounds site which receives large truck traffic on some events. I did some more research and found that builders/concrete sand is being used for its angular nature which would help it lock together. I ended up getting a hold of a local contractor who was able to offer a good local unit price.

Thanks again