Choose The Right Materials For Your Project

Which Materials Are Right for Your Project

When you are working on a new project in your garden, one thing you need to consider is the materials you are going to use. 9 times out of 10, people associate the materials with the type of fencing (wood or composite) or the types of timber they need to build their project.

However, one thing you’ll need to consider is the materials that will either help hold your posts up or finish your garden landscaping project. Each material we are going to cover has its purpose in your garden.

When choosing the right material for your project, you need to consider the price, how sustainable it is, how much maintenance is required, and what the project requires, as you can't lay your decking with cement.

All of the materials listed below can help you create a garden that is perfect for you and your family. Each one has a purpose for a different project; all this, plus so much more, will be covered below.

Grey Builders Sand

What Is Grey Builders Sand?

Grey Builders Sandis a strong, general-purpose building sand ideal for builders. The sand is perfect for both domestic and commercial jobs. The majority of the people who buy our Grey Sand are traders who are using bricks to create a project at a client's property.

 One thing to note about our Grey Builders sand is its use is solely for building use only. You should not use the sand for your home sand pits, as the sand may contain substances like silicones that are not under the safety standards of play sand for children. Great to build a house, but it's not something you want to play with.

What Is Grey Builders Sand Used For?

The main use of our grey builders' sand is to produce mortar for bricklaying or pointing. It can also be used for laying block paving or any other projects you would need a motor for. All our builder's sand has a similar size and colour, as they have been made naturally. But please note the sand will not be great before use but will dry grey when mixed as a mortar.

The Benefits of Grey Builders Sand!

Smooth Finish

When you are using the sand for bricklaying or pointing, your sand must give your mortar a smooth finish. Our grey builders' sand is smaller than 0.2 mm, so all your projects will look clean and smooth.

Budget Friendly

Our Grey Builders sand is available in 20kg bags starting at £2.49. This doesn't mean we have compromised on the quality of our sand; it is still perfect for your garden project.

 Brilliant Bonding

With our sand only being around 0.2mm, the small grains of sand are brilliant at bonding and will not crack or shrink once it's hardened. Making it the best solution for creating mortar.

The Challenges of Grey Builders Sand!

Heavy rain

One thing to note about builders' sand is that large amounts of rainfall can wash away vital parts of the sand that help with bonding; this means it needs to be kept dry before use to get the best outcome.

Home Use

Builders sand is not to be used for anything other than a building project. We highly recommend that you don’t buy this sand for our home sand pits. The chemicals within the sand could be harmful to young people.

10mm Trent Gravel

What Is Trent Gravel?

Trent Gravel is a mixture of rounded and angular stones that come in various colours. Our Trent Gravel is the perfect product to be used in a variety of landscaping projects. This gravel is ideal for any home; the stones are heavy enough to keep them on the ground, unlike others that can be distributed around your garden in windy conditions.

Our Trent comes in both 10mm and 20mm bags, both weighing 20kg. Giving you plenty of stones to go around your home and garden. It’s currently priced at £3.00 per bag, allowing you to get great value for your money.

What Is Trent Gravel Used For?

The main uses of trent gravel are within landscaping projects. They can be used to go around garden features to help cover up soil with something a little more attractive. It can also be used to line the bottom of a fence post hole to improve the life expectancy of a wooden post.

The Benefits of Trent Gravel!
Maintenance Free

Our 20mm Trent Gravel is trouble-free! It will require periodic raking to remove leaves and level out any high or low spots but nothing more than that. It can easily be power washed to remove any tough stains.

Improved Drainage

The 20mm tent gravel is perfect for any garden as it allows for the easy drainage of water; even in heavy rain, the gravel will allow water to easily pass through and into the ground. Keeping a steady flow to stop flooding.

Reduces weeds

Our trent gravel is also great for stopping weeds from growing in your garden. It keeps the moisture in the soil but removes the sunlight to stop weeds from growing.

The Challenges of Trent Gravel

Needs to be washed

Our 20mm Trent Gravel is a fish-friendly product for both indoor and outdoor locations. However, it is recommended the product is thoroughly washed before immersing it in water, just to make sure anything left on the stones is washed away.

Staffs M Grade Sharp Grit Sand

What is M Grade Sharp Grit Sand?

Our M Grade Sand, also known as manufactured sand, is an alternative to sand that might be found at a river or beach. Instead, this sand is created by crushing hard rocks and stones, usually made from granite. This is then ground into a fine powder. The machinery used means the sand is always a high-quality and consistent product.

Where should I use Staffs M Grade Sharp Grit Sand?

The main uses of M-grade sand are for construction projects like brickwork, concrete, or masonry. The sand is consistently made to a high quality so traders can rely on the sand, creating a smooth product that can be used for both personal and commercial use.

The Benefits of M Grade Sharp Grit Sand

Affordable

Because M-sand can be produced closer to construction sites, this will reduce transportation costs for the sand. It can also lead to a lower cement-to-sand ratio.

Availability

M-sand is available year-round, unlike river sand, which is often limited in supply and subject to seasonal fluctuations.

Good for the environment

M-sand is an environmentally friendly alternative to natural sand. It reduces the need for natural sand resources and the ecological impact of construction.

The Challenges of M Grade Sharp Grit Sand

Workability issues

Manufactured sand can be of a coarser and angular texture than natural sand, which is smooth and rounded due to natural gradation. This can lead to more water and cement requirements to achieve the expected workability, leading to increased costs.

A larger proportion of microfibers:

Manufactured sand can contain larger amounts of micro-fine particles than natural sand, owing to its production process. This again can affect the strength and workability of the screed or concrete.

General Purpose Cement

What is cement?

General-purpose cement offers strong support and solid stability during any job, big or small. This cement will stay steadfast and long-lasting throughout any project. All our cement comes in 25 kg bags at £7.24 per bag.

What can I use cement for?

Our general-purpose cement is the same as others. It can be used for concrete, mortar, rendering, grouting, paving, fencing, and much, much more. The cement is great for all these jobs and will hold your structures in place for a long time.

The benefits of cement
Cost-effective

Due to its high durability, cement is easy to maintain. Often lasting for a period without the need for work to be done. The combination of affordability and strength means cement is one of the best materials to use in your home and garden.

Strong, durable & resilient

Because of how cement is made, it has a range of strong and durable properties, which means it will stand up against any weather. The strength also allows it to be used for bridges and roads, holding heavy vehicles up with ease.

Versatile

Cement can be used for anything by anyone. As long as it's kept at the right temperature and is made using the right amount of water, it is made to last. Cement can also be easily moulded and shaped for whatever your project needs.

The Challenges of Cement

Aesthetics

Cement tends to be quite a rough and colourless material once it has hardened. This can be quite off-putting for some customers. However, people can find the beauty in almost anything. And many people will use it to create concrete that won't be seen.

Environmental impact

Because of the materials needed and the way cement is produced. Cement is not the most environmentally friendly material you can use for your project. But if you want something to last. Using products that are made for that is the best option.

Post Mix

What is Post Mix?

Post mix is your ready-to-use blend of cement and sand, ideal for fixing wooden, DuraPost, and concrete posts in place. Simply add water with no mixing required, and post-mix sets in 10 minutes. This extremely useful product comes in handy 20 kg weatherproof and tear-resistant plastic bags.

What can I use Post Mix for?

Post Mix is a useful readymade concrete mix that is ideal for many jobs, whether they are DIY or larger scale. It is often used for setting fence posts, gate posts, or even as a base for paving.

The Benefits of Post Mix

Less packaging

You don't need to buy multiple bags of cement and sand to create your own post mix. There is far less packaging for products, which is also better for the environment.

Cheaper

Similar to above, because you don't need to buy loads of extra supplies, Post Mix is cheaper than buying and mixing the products separately. Our post mix is only £5.90 per bag.

The Challenges of Post-Mix

Fast setting

Although it might be great that post-mix hardens and sets as quickly as 10 minutes. This can make it difficult to work with. You have a very limited time to make sure your post is in the right position and set before you have to start all over again.

Weak posts

If you are making the mix too wet to help it flow, it can weaken the post and make it take longer to cure. Using the wrong mix or mixing it incorrectly can also lead to weak posts that may crack or crumble.

When it comes to garden projects, choosing the right material for your project is crucial. If you are unsure and need some help, don’t be afraid to get in touch with us today.