what is the difference between building sand and plastering sand the builders merchants told me that plastering sand is finer than building sand is he right as i have been advised on this forum not to use building sand as it causes so many problems when plastering as its to soft,thanks
sand
- Thread starter ruddez
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johniosaif
Private Member
Building is forbuilding plastering for plastering, but some are similar , good sand is hard to find , you can mix the two , two to one if they are good quality, or even mix sharp with building to do a scratch coat, lots of variants, but the first statement is the general rule.
johniosaif
Private Member
By the look of it ,by the feel of it , by its feel on the trowel when mixed, by the way it looks when you trowel it on, by the way it floats up, experience basically, some sand sold for plastering is far from fit for purpose,
johniosaif
Private Member
@essexandy @gooner59 sand quality
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SpankySouthport
Private Member
Just got some 'plasterers washed sand' delivered today looked like building sand really red!! Ask the driver what it was as it wasnt really the right colour! Massive grains in it as well not good! Couldn't use it for a rendering job lucky it's on for DPC
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johniosaif
Private Member
Sounds wrong for dpc.
SpankySouthport
Private Member
Why bud? You use building sand?
johniosaif
Private Member
Smaller grains would be better, bigger grains would leave it more porous I think, if you used screeding sand for example it would not close all capillaries .
SpankySouthport
Private Member
Yeah that's what I was saying before but know where near me does fine washed sand..
johniosaif
Private Member
That's peculiar. But even in London, you need to know where to get good sand, essexandy knows his sand types and quality far more than I do and he has only one bad knee.
essexandy
The Lake Governor
I always use building sand for internal work, although the sand I get is fairly clean but not washed like plastering sand. I've been offered some very cheap local sand that I would only use for filling trenches, so choose carefully. Use the water test I mentioned on gooners other thread.
For external work I try to use either a fairly coarse sand or put some sharp in with softer sand for the scratch coat.
On the top coat, if a plain faced finish is required then again I prefer a coarse sand, although I would use soft washed, but wouldn't add sharp to soft sand as that can compromise the surface quality. For panelled work I use soft washed as a rule.
For external work I try to use either a fairly coarse sand or put some sharp in with softer sand for the scratch coat.
On the top coat, if a plain faced finish is required then again I prefer a coarse sand, although I would use soft washed, but wouldn't add sharp to soft sand as that can compromise the surface quality. For panelled work I use soft washed as a rule.
johniosaif
Private Member
I would never use building sand for render but it depends on the sand, I can only say I never have had building sand that I thought good enough but I know Andy is very experienced in rendering
raggles
Private Member
@essexandy put a very good reply to this on a thread yesterday. Basically grab a hand full and clench your hand into a fist then, submerge in water and rub your fingers against each other the silt and loam will (if any) show as a dark cloud in the water the more there is the worse the sand is. I'm sure andy will correct me if i'm wrong
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SpankySouthport
Private Member
Whats the sand names Andy? Can't remember? Why use building for internals?
yeah I would like to use coarse for scratch, Fine for top coats but I don't do many external renders so kind of put up with what I get..
SpankySouthport
Private Member
gooner59
Private Member
Sand Plastering sand is ------sharp washed sand sharp meaning if you look at it under a microscope the grain's are jaggerdy and angular and lock-together very well so it's a great choice for rendering /plastering.
Sand soft or building sand is not good to use for plastering !! if you look at this sand under a microscope then they are round like a football and so do-not lock together like sharp sand does, you can use a mix of the two to a certain degree but you don't want to compromise on strengths do -you lads
Sand soft or building sand is not good to use for plastering !! if you look at this sand under a microscope then they are round like a football and so do-not lock together like sharp sand does, you can use a mix of the two to a certain degree but you don't want to compromise on strengths do -you lads
jamesthefirst
Private Member
Sand Plastering sand is ------sharp washed sand sharp meaning if you look at it under a microscope the grain's are jaggerdy and angular and lock-together very well so it's a great choice for rendering /plastering.
Sand soft or building sand is not good to use for plastering !! if you look at this sand under a microscope then they are round like a football and so do-not lock together like sharp sand does, you can use a mix of the two to a certain degree but you don't want to compromise on strengths do -you lads
Do the builders merchants supply the microscope or do we have to hire one?:RpS_wink:
superspread
Well-Known Member
Sand Plastering sand is ------sharp washed sand sharp meaning if you look at it under a microscope the grain's are jaggerdy and angular and lock-together very well so it's a great choice for rendering /plastering.
Sand soft or building sand is not good to use for plastering !! if you look at this sand under a microscope then they are round like a football and so do-not lock together like sharp sand does, you can use a mix of the two to a certain degree but you don't want to compromise on strengths do -you lads
Spot on gooner you go to the top of the class, although I would never mix the two sands ,anyway why would you if you use a good waterproofer/plasterciser It will spread like butter anyway :RpS_thumbup:
essexandy
The Lake Governor
I use building sand for internals because a: it gives a lovely smooth drop of gear to use which helps with ruling off and b: it gives a nice steady suction when skimming. I've done several hundred houses using this with not one come back, so it works for me.
The one I use comes through Brett Aggregates from Elsenham pit.
For plastering sand I just go to Travis as it's always been good gear and they'll deliver 10 ton loads just like direct from the pits.
Builderboi
Well-Known Member
Down south raymond browns your boys for loose bulk all aggregates
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