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🏗️ Brick Sand vs Washed Sand: What’s Best for Your DIY Project? | ID Garden & Landscape Centre

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🏗️ When to Use Brick Sand vs Washed Sand in DIY Projects

If you’ve got a paving, bricklaying, or concreting job on the go, choosing the right sand can make or break your project. At ID Garden & Landscape Centre, we stock both Brick Sand and Washed Sand in bulk — and each one has its strengths depending on the task.

Let’s break down when and why to use each.

Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to choosing the right mix for your job.

🧱 Brick Sand – Smooth, Fine, and Made for Mortar

Brick Sand is a soft, finely graded sand with a reddish-yellow tint. It’s specially formulated for mixing with cement and lime to make mortar.

Best for:

·      Bricklaying and block work

·      Bagging/rendering over masonry

·      Small repairs to mortar joints

Why use it:

·      Creates a smooth, workable mortar

·      Binds well to bricks and blocks

·      Easy to shape and finish with a trowel

·      Offers a consistent texture and colour

✨ Pro Tip: Pair it with GP Cement and Hydrated Lime for a classic, strong brick mortar mix.

Washed Sand – Clean, Coarse and Multi-Purpose

Washed Sand (also known as concrete or river sand) is a clean, coarse-textured sand that’s been washed to remove silt and clay. It’s more granular and free-draining than brick sand.

Best for:

·      Bedding under pavers or stepping stones

·      Mixing with cement for concrete

·      Drainage layers or garden base prep

·      Horse arenas and sandpits

Why use it:

·      Excellent for setting pavers in place

·      Drains well, reducing pooling or movement

·      Gives concrete mixes structure and durability

·      Versatile across garden and building applications

✨ Pro Tip: Mix Washed Sand with GP Cement and 20mm or ¼" Screenings to create your own DIY concrete blend — ideal for footings, slabs, or setting posts. A common ratio is 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 3 parts screenings. Just add water gradually until it reaches a workable consistency.

 

Project Type

Use Brick Sand

Use Washed Sand

Bricklaying / Mortar / Paving Mud

✅ Yes

🚫 No

DIY Paving / Stepping Stone base

🚫 No

✅ Yes

Rendering / Bagging walls

✅ Yes

🚫 No

Concrete mix (with gravel)

🚫 No

✅ Yes

Propagation / potting mix amendment

🚫 No

✅ Yes

 

🛒 Available Now in Bulk or by the bag in Eltham

Whether you need a small amount for a weekend project or several cubic metres for a bigger job, we’ve got you covered:

·      Brick Sand

·      Washed Sand

Plus a full range of cement products, from GP Cement to pre-blended Concrete Mixes!

Order online or visit our yard in Eltham — our team will help you get exactly what you need, no guesswork required.

ID Garden & Landscape Centre – Building materials made easy. Local advice that lasts.