Yes, washed sand is good for concrete and is a preferred choice for many construction applications.
Why Washed Sand is Beneficial for Concrete
Washed sand, also known as concrete sand or sharp sand, is specifically processed to remove impurities such as clay, silt, organic matter, and fine dust particles. These impurities can significantly weaken a concrete mix and affect its durability and strength.
According to the provided reference, washed sand offers considerable strength benefits:
"Washed sand benefits from being a lot stronger than other types of sand... When mixed with concrete it also makes a high strength and versatile construction material that is suitable for a range of different projects."
This indicates that using washed sand contributes directly to creating durable and robust concrete.
Key Benefits of Using Washed Sand in Concrete:
- Improved Strength: The lack of impurities allows for better bonding between the cement paste and the aggregate (sand and gravel), resulting in higher compressive strength.
- Enhanced Durability: Cleaner sand leads to concrete that is less susceptible to cracking, shrinkage, and deterioration over time.
- Consistent Quality: The washing process ensures a more uniform particle size distribution and cleanliness, leading to more predictable and reliable concrete mixes.
- Better Workability: While 'sharp' or coarse washed sand can sometimes make a mix feel slightly less smooth than dirty sand with fines, a well-graded washed sand allows for proper water-cement ratios, contributing to workable concrete that is easy to place and finish.
- Reduced Risk of Failure: Impurities like clay can absorb water, affecting the water-cement ratio and potentially causing expansion or weakening over time. Organic matter can interfere with the setting process of cement. Washing removes these risks.
Using washed sand is fundamental to producing high-quality concrete suitable for everything from foundations and slabs to pavements and structural elements. Its inherent cleanliness and strength contribution, as highlighted in the reference, make it an excellent choice for projects demanding reliability and longevity.
