Creating a blind area around your home is a crucial first step in preventing water damage to the foundation. The longevity and efficacy of your project can be greatly impacted by selecting the appropriate kind of sand for this purpose. Skilled builders stress that choosing high-quality materials is essential to creating a blind area that is durable and strong.
Sand comes in a variety of forms, and not all of them are appropriate for building a blind area. When debating which kind is best, builders frequently take stability, compaction, and drainage into account. You can avoid common pitfalls and make an informed decision by being aware of these differences.
We’ll offer insightful tips from professional builders on the best sand to use for a blind area surrounding your home in this article. These tips will help you choose the correct sand so that your blind area functions at its best for many years to come, regardless of whether you’re a do-it-yourself enthusiast or intend to hire experts.
- Design Feature
- Independent layer
- Concrete solution
- Types of raw materials
- River
- Career
- Selection rules
- Which one is better to use for the underlying layer??
- As part of the mixture
- The technology of creating a sandy base
- Material prices
- Video on the topic
- Do you need sand for a blind area? ?!
- Correct expansion joint in the blind area..
Design Feature
The kind of blind area determines the kind and quantity of sand needed. Three primary design categories exist:
- Hard: concrete (asphalt concrete), paving and ceramic tiles.
- Semi-rigid, consisting of an underlying layer of clay and crushed stone, as well as paving stones on top.
- Soft: natural stone, gravel or gravel.
Sand is a key component in all three of the design types; it can be used as an independent layer or as one of the solution’s elements.
Independent layer
The layer that will be used to align the area for the installation of the blind area’s primary material is known as the underlying layer.
The layer beneath is made up of:
- clay layer;
- sand;
- Crushed stone and gravel.
Lowing layer bypass for all kinds of areas without light. Moreover, the area where tiles are to be laid needs a sandy layer. The sandback has been rammed and positioned for additional work.
Concrete solution
Depending on the cement of choice, sand content in a concrete mixture varies. Cementing mixture M200 is typically used for blind areas.
The solution’s proportions:
- Cement mixture – 1 part;
- sand – 3 part;
- gravel – 4 part;
- water – half of the solution.
The number of cubic meters of blind area that needs to be filled with concrete is used to calculate the mixture’s component parts.
When building a blind area around your home, selecting the proper sand is essential to its long-term viability and efficiency. Expert builders advise utilizing coarse sand because it offers superior stability and drainage, keeping water from penetrating the foundation. A wise investment for the safety of your house, proper sand selection can greatly extend the life of your blind area.
Types of raw materials
In the construction industry, there are two popular types:
- River.
- Quarry (ravine).
Types vary in price and granule structure from one another.
River
The distinctiveness of the granules is the primary characteristic of river sand. There is a lot of empty space between the granules because they are big and spherical in shape.
Low shrinkage will be observed in a solution diluted with the relevant type.
Small pebbles and clay residues are common in unwashed river sand, which degrades the mixture’s quality.
Career
The crystals of quarry sand are smaller than those of river sand. Its irregularly shaped granules, which have a structure similar to that of table salt, allow water to fill the spaces between them. Dirt results from this.
The quarry variety is more widely distributed throughout Russia and is less expensive.
Selection rules
Whatever the reason for using sand, you should consider the following factors:
- degree of purification: small stones must be washed or sifted when extracting sand;
- It is better to choose medium- or coarse-grained sand granules (from 1.5 mm);
- impurities must be absent.
The purpose of use and construction budget determine which type of quarry or river to use.
Which one is better to use for the underlying layer??
Since the sandy base serves as a foundation for the future blind area, it needs to be well compacted. For this reason, medium or coarse granules ought to be chosen.
The river variety is twice as expensive as its quarry counterpart, but it has larger round particles and compacts better. Using this kind, compacting the entire perimeter is very costly.
For this reason, the sandy base of the blind area is typically composed of coarse quarry sand. It is crucial that its fractions are dirt- and impurity-free, with a coarse grain.
As part of the mixture
Large-faced sand that resists shrinking is ideal for use in the mixture, just like in the case of an independent layer.
It is preferable to use the washed river sand for this purpose because concrete mixtures require three parts of the total solution.
Cement will be added in greater quantities to the mixture with the river view than it will with the career. Builders will pay more for this option than for a comparable one with a wider range of career options. The blind area, however, will endure for several times longer.
The technology of creating a sandy base
The underlying layer, which serves as the foundation for the upper material, includes sand. First, measurements of the future blind area’s dimensions must be taken while the structure is being built.
- depth is about 30-32 cm;
- The width depends on the type of house, the number of floors and soil (for a two -story country house, this parameter is about 1 meter).
You can then start building a sand base right away:
- Prepare the area for the blind area (clean the soil, dig a trench).
- Measure layer width: 5-10 cm.
- Pour sand into the trench, compacting it according to the mark made.
- At the same time, water it with water so that it does not sag.
To increase the stability of the blind area, clay is occasionally layered over the top of the sand layer. The layer of sand and clay in this instance is 5 cm wide. The sand layer’s width shouldn’t be more than 10 cm.
Following the compacting of the base, crushed stone or pebbles can be added and compacted. At this point, the top material for the blind area, such as concrete, asphalt, or tiles, can be ready. It is preferable to use wire mesh to keep each subsequent material apart from the others.
Material prices
The region of production, washing, variety, and quality all affect the price. The average prices for every region in the Russian Federation are displayed in the table below:
| View | Cleaning type | Price, from RUR./ m3 |
| River | washed | 750 |
| River | unwashed | 550 |
| Career | building | 300 |
| Career | seeded | 350 |
| Career | washed | 400 |
Make accurate budgetary calculations. You will be responsible for paying for delivery to the construction site in addition to the cost per cubic meter.
This section contains important and helpful information regarding materials for the construction and finishing of blind areas surrounding the house.
| Advice | Details |
| Use Coarse Sand | For the blind area, coarse sand is preferred as it provides better drainage and stability. |
| Avoid Fine Sand | Fine sand tends to retain water, which can lead to erosion and weakening of the blind area. |
| Check for Cleanliness | Ensure the sand is clean and free from clay, silt, and organic materials to prevent settling and shifting. |
| Consider River Sand | River sand is often recommended due to its grain size and cleanliness, making it ideal for construction. |
| Compact the Sand | Proper compaction of the sand layer is essential to create a firm and stable base for the blind area. |
To prevent water damage to your foundation, you must build a strong and functional blind area around your home. Skilled builders advise using the proper kind of sand to guarantee the durability and functionality of your blind area.
Coarse sand is frequently recommended by builders for this use. Sand that is coarse helps to channel water away from the foundation and offers good drainage. Because of its bigger particles, the sand doesn’t compact as tightly, which over time can impede water flow and lead to erosion problems.
Further improving drainage can be achieved by adding a layer of gravel underneath the coarse sand. This combination lowers the possibility of foundation issues by forming a strong barrier against moisture. To maintain the blind area’s effectiveness, it’s crucial to properly compact the sand and give it regular maintenance.
You can guarantee that the foundation of your house is shielded from water damage by adhering to these professional advices. Long-term savings and the safety and sound maintenance of your home can be achieved by making the appropriate construction technique and material investments.
