Aggregates

There are many different types of Aggregates used within the construction industry for a wide range of purposes.  Building Aggregates are excavated from quarries or dredged from the ocean. Types of Building Aggregates include Building Sand, Sharp Sand (sometimes referred to as Washed Sharp Sand), Plastering Sand, Ballast, Gravel, Pea Shingle and Type1 MOT.

For a simple product, Sand can cause much confusion. Sand is made up of varying sizes of rock grains from 0.06mm to 2.0mm, predominantly quartz (or silica), along with varying amounts of clay and iron. Sand occurs as natural deposits in marine, tidal and river environments, along with (in the case of the coarser grain sands) a by product from quarrying and mining rock. Sand is generally graded as Course, Medium or Fine with a uniform sand being made up of just one type, while a graded sand is made of a mixture.

Soft Building Sand and Sharp Sand are the two main types of sand used within general construction – Building Sand, or Soft Sand which is mainly used in producing mortars, and Sharp Sand (which is a grit based sand) which is mainly used as bedding material and in cement/screed mixes.

Ballast is used by many to describe a number of different types of aggregates – either a gravel and stone mix under 40mm mixed with sand for use in making concrete. To others it means coarse granular stone 40-50mm used for general fill material and to support railway lines.

MOT Type 1 is the most commonly used hardcore material for use in sub-base construction and constitutes a mixture of crushed limestone, granite, gritstone and slag. Plastering Sand is a washed graded sharp sand specifically used for plastering and rendering to give a uniform finish.

All types of Buidling Aggregates supplied by Building Materials, come in either Trade Packs of 25kgs for ease of manoeuvrability around site or Bulk Bags of a minimum of 855kg(note when comparing prices on Bulk Bags it is important to know the weight contained as many supply Bulk Bags in under 855kg quantities).

Once you have decided on the type of Building Aggregates you require, along with any associated Cement, Bricks, Blocks and Lintels you can buy them online at www.buildingmaterials.co.uk and have it delivered anywhere in the United Kingdom. We offer a standard delivery timescale of 2-3 days nationwide for these type of products.