When looking to carry out a construction or landscaping job in Perth it's crucial to make the correct choice regarding the type of sand you decide to purchase. Using the incorrect type of sand can result in the surface becoming unstable, structural problems occurring or the need for extensive remedial work further down the line. While they can appear similar to the naked eye, two of the most frequent confusing products will are Paving Sand vs Brickies Sand. They were designed for different applications! The staff here at Formula Transport, Perth's number one bulk sand and materials supplier, are going to take the guess work out of your decision and explain the differences, where to use each, and how to choose!
What Is Paving Sand?
Paving sand – more commonly know as “bedding” or “jointing sand” – is a coarser more angular form of sand, designed to be laid beneath the hard surfaces (pavers, tiles, etc.) when it's time to finish the installation. The sharper nature of the sand allows it to pack in firmly without migrating, creating an extremely stable and level base to lay your pavers on. When bought in Perth, Paving sand is washed to give a consistently sorted granular consistency and has its clay, silt and other fine content removed to ensure that there is absolutely no shifting in your pave surface or paver bases. As you would imagine the paving sand is also free draining, something you would expect of outdoor pave materials!
Uses For Paving Sand:-
- Paving layer under clay, concrete and porcelain pavers
- Paving layer for installing between the stones
- Bedding course for drive ways and pavements
- Leveling course for pool surrounding installation
- Sub-base leveling for outdoor entertainment areas and hard landscape designs
- Retaining wall construction (drainage layer)
What is bricklayer's sand?
Brick layer's sand is generally much finer, much softer than paving sand, and classified as a fine sand with a high clay and silt content. These characteristics make it an ideal choice for creating mortar that binds bricks, blocks, and masonry together when mixed with cement. Because of the size of the sand particles, the mortar is able to flow into all gaps and grooves of the surfaces being bonded together for very good workability and adhesion.
In WA, bricklayer's sand is commonly used in both residential and commercial construction. The colour of the sand can vary from yellow/orange naturally, due to the high levels of iron in the sand, to white when used for aesthetic purposes. Formula Transport has both standard and white bricklayer's sand.
Some of the many uses of bricklayer's sand include:
- Mortar for laying bricks, blocks and retaining wall units
- Rendering and plastering of exterior and interior walls
- Mortar bed for block paving (in conjunction with cement)
- General bonding applications for masonry and construction
- Use as a base mix for precast concrete products
Differences Between Paving and Brickies Sand
Being able to identify the differences between the two types of sands is going to be very beneficial in helping you save time and money and avoid the hassle of having to redo your work. Here is a simple breakdown of their difference.
- Type of Grains: Paving - Coarse grains with angular shapes, and Brickies - Fine grains with a soft consistency.
- Clay/Silt ratios: Paving - Low (Washed and Screened),and Brickies - Higher for better workability.
- Primary Purpose: Paving - Use as bedding material and for jointing of pavers, and Brickies - Use as a mortar material for brick laying and masonry.
- Drainage: Paving - Free draining and has permeability (can drain water), and Brickies - Retains moisture for bonding purposes.
- Cement Mixing: Paving - Not an ideal product for mixing with cement for creating mortar, and Brickies - An ideal product for mixing with cement to create mortar.
- Finish Texture: Paving - Rough in appearance and provides a stable working surface, and Brickies - Smooth in appearance and provides a workability factor through its consistency.
- Colour In WA: Paving - Grey to Off White (depending on where in WA), and Brickies - Yellow, Orange or White (depending on region in WA)
Can You Use Paving Sand Instead of Brickies Sand (or Brickies Sand Instead of Paving Sand)?
This is an answer that many people have asked our office and, quite simply put, it is a NO. You should not use Brickies Sand as a Bedding layer for Pavers. This is one of the major issues for DIY homeowners that will create significant problems down the road and is mainly due to the moisture retention and clay content of the Brickies Sand not compacting well. Therefore, over time it will shift or settle unevenly causing rocking, cracking or sinking of the paver or pavers. This is even more significant with Perth's soil movement due to climate conditions.
If you were to use Paving Sand to mix with your mortar for Bricklaying the final product would be a weak or brittle mortar that could crumble apart very easily. Paving Sand lacks the fine particles that are necessary to create a workable, cohesive mix sufficient to bond bricks or blocks together properly.
In summary: Always use the same sand for its intended purpose. The small cost difference is a cheap price to pay to avoid the structural failure or needing to re-do your completed work.
The Best Sand for Any Construction in Perth
Are you debating on which sand will be the right one for your construction project? Here is a brief overview of decisions based on application: If using sand for a driveway, pathway, or patio, paving sand should be used as the bedding material and also to fill the joints. If constructing a brick wall, garden bed edging, or retaining wall — brickies sand with the cement should be used as the mortar. Ultimately, rendering and/or plastering should be performed using brickies/ plasterers sand. If working on a large-scale commercial paving job, request bulk paving sand provided by Formula Transport. If you require both products for the same project, it is important that each item is requested separately. In no way should paving sand be paired with brickies sand.
What makes Formula Transport your first choice for sand delivery?
Formula Transport has been providing high-quality sand and bulk materials to both commercial and residential properties in Perth for more than 20 years. We can supply you with everything from 1 tonne of paving sand for a weekend driveway job to multi-load bulk deliveries of bricklaying sand for major constructions.
- Premium quality paving sand and brickies sand (including white brickies sand)
- Reliable on-time delivery within Perth and surrounding areas
- Competitive bulk prices without hidden fees
- Expert consultation regarding your project's specifications
- Modern fleet of tipper trucks for safe, efficient delivery
- Flexible methods of ordering (online or via telephone) 7 days/week
Our team members are always happy to help you determine the quantity of materials you need, type/s of materials needed, or scheduling of deliveries. If you have any questions regarding what you may require, please contact us as soon as possible, and we will resolve it quickly for you.
FAQs
Is paving sand same as sharp sand?
Paving and sharp sand in Perth are almost identical and you’ll likely hear the two mentioned in relation to one another. They’re a coarse, washed, stone aggregate perfect for paver beds and it’s often the case that in Perth the terms refer to the same thing.
How much paving sand do I need?
A bedding depth of 30mm beneath your pavers will be sufficient for most applications – this works out at around 80-90kg per square metre. Contact Formula Transport and we’ll run through the calculations before you place your order.
What colour is brickies sand in Perth?
A standard brickies sand in Perth will have yellow and orangey brown tones caused by the iron oxide contained naturally within the sand, or you can get it in white to achieve a lighter mortar finish.
What’s the difference between brickies sand and plasterers sand?
These both fall under the fine sand category, but plasterers sand is a further stage down and more refined to produce a finer, smoother wall render or plaster. Brickies sand will typically be used for Mortar and block laying.
Can I use brickies sand under pavers?
Brickies sand is a fine sand which will absorb and retain water over time, and shift and move, which will cause your pavers to cracks and sink. So always get a proper paver sand to go under you pavers to get the job done properly and prevent the job coming to pieces down the track.
Does Formula Transport deliver sand all over Perth?
Yes, Formula Transport supplies all types of sand and construction materials across the whole Perth metropolitan area and surrounds from Monday-Friday and Saturday morning, call us for delivery information to confirm we can help you at your location.
