Product Description:

Our Sharp Sand is a coarse, gritty sand supplied in a 25kg bag for general building and landscaping use. It is used as a bedding layer for paving slabs and block paving, mixed with cement for concrete, screeds, and floor levelling, for haunching and bedding edgings, and as a drainage and soil conditioning material in gardens and lawns.

Sharp sand is distinguished from building sand by its grain. The particles are coarser and angular rather than fine and rounded, so they lock together under compaction to form a firm, stable bed that holds paving in position and resists the settlement and rutting that occur on a soft bedding layer. The same angularity gives concrete and screed their strength, which is why sharp sand is specified for those mixes while soft building sand is kept for mortar.

Getting the two the right way round matters. Sharp sand in mortar makes a harsh, difficult mix that will not spread or hold on the trowel; building sand in concrete or beneath paving produces a weak slab and a bed that settles under load. The simple rule is soft sand for mortar and pointing, sharp sand for concrete, screeds, and paving beds. The 25kg bag suits smaller jobs, repairs, and DIY projects where a bulk bag would be more than is needed, and keeps the sand clean and dry until use.