Types of Sand Best Used for Brick Work

Sharp Sand

• Sharp sand is one of the grittier types of sand, commonly used as part of the mix to create floor screeds (border edges of concrete used as height guides when floating the rest of the floor) for areas such as shower pans or larger entryways that have a drop-down sub-floor. The coarser grit of the sand allows for a thicker consistency in the concrete.
  
  

Soft Sand

• Soft sand is most commonly used in products such as thinset mortar and grout for ceramic tile and natural stone installations. It is also used to create the mortar in finished brick installations, such as the brickwork on the exterior of a home where finer sand and detail is required for the finished installation. It is commonly known as builder's sand.
  
  

Aggregate Sand

• Aggregate sand is used for foundations of homes, for the foundation of planters, and as the below-ground section of many types of buildings. Aggregate can be anything from river stones to crushed gravel, and is used as a mixture with concrete and sharp sand; it can be used to strengthen the base foundation level of any brick structure, as well as fill interior sections of brick for added stability.
  
  

Ballast Sand

• The roughest form of sand, ballast sand is mixed with aggregate, sharp sand and cement as the stability for everything else. This is the foundation level material, usually used as a base and poured around the rebar, which is then extended upwards throughout the brick installation. It is too rough to be used as a finished mortar, and is called "all in" due to the fact that anything can be thrown into the mix.