AGGREGATES AND CEMENT

Aggregates & Cement

Browse our range of aggregates, decorative stones and cement for all your landscaping needs.

Building Sand

Building Sand (also known as River Sand, Screeding Sand, Plasterer’s Sand, Mason’s Sand or Bricklayer’s Sand) is finely-graded building sand and it is suitable for all general building uses including internal rendering and can also be made up to make bricklaying mortar.

Frequently used in construction to mix mortars and cement or as a levelling aggregate. Can be used as support when laying flagstones, concrete slabs and block paving.

Building sand is extracted from quarries or by marine edging.

Our Building Sand in Bulk Bags comes in a minimum of 850kg weight.

Features & benefits:

  • Consistent quality and colour.
  • Multi-purpose.
  • Can be utilised in a variety of applications including bricklaying mortar.
  • Suited for landscaping and building applications.

MOT Type 1

MOT Type 1 is a crushed material, usually made from granite or limestone. Once compacted, it’s an extremely strong and hardwearing material. The size of MOT Type 1 crushed material is typically between 0-40mm. 

Minimum packed weight 850kg

It is an extremely strong material once it has been compacted. Therefore it’s ideal for sub-base for driveways and paths, with excellent load-bearing properties. 

MOT Type 1 is fairly permeable, so it assists with drainage. Due to its larger stones, it won’t easily wash away.

How deep should MOT Type 1 be?

For most patio projects it is usual to lay MOT Type 1 at a compacted depth of 100mm. For domestic driveway projects, where higher load bearing is required, a compacted depth of 150mm is recommended.

Sharp Sand

Sharp Sand (or concrete/coarse) sand is the ideal sand for laying block paving upon. It also makes an excellent ‘stiff’ mortar mix for laying all types of patio paving on.

Being general-purpose sand it is also used for lawn top dressing and internal floor screeds. It is normally used where more strength and less flexibility is required.

As the name implies the sharp (or coarse) sand contains less of the smaller particles than the soft sand. Therefore sharp sand should only be used for concreting jobs, while soft sand should only be used for render or mortar.

The Sharp Sand we offer is delivered in large bulk bags. 

One bulk bag will cover approximately 8m2 (coverage is calculated assuming a depth of 5cm).

Minimum packed weight 850kg

Features & benefits:

  • Suitable for screeding and external rendering sand.
  • Consistent colour and quality.
  • Suitable for laying slab and block paving.

Ballast 20mm

Ballast is widely used in construction and domestic applications. This 20mm ballast is ideal for making general purpose concrete for use in paths, over sites, shed bases, wall footings, securing fence posts, path edgings and kerbs and general hard landscaping uses.

20mm Ballast, also known as All-in Ballast is a mixture of sharp sand and 20mm crushed aggregate in equal measures. 

Ballast is used to make concrete for a variety of landscaping uses. Used as a strong base in many projects, such as paving, bedding and making up levels.

A full bulk bag will cover approximately 10-12m² at a depth of 5cm.

Minimum packed weight 850kg.

Washed Gravel 20-10mm in Bulk Bag

Gravel is suitable for many different construction applications making it an extremely useful and versatile material.

Bulk bag of Shingle (gravel) 20mm-10mm comes in a minimum of 850kg weight.

Loose aggregates priced per 1 tonne. Loose option – collection only.

Features & benefits:

  • Multipurpose use in various building applications.
  • Used for decorative purposes.
  • A stone mix of varying weights and sizes.
  • Ideal for drainage, surface dressing and pipe bedding.
  • Used for weed growth elimination.
  • Locally sourced.

Slate Chippings

Slate chippings are a commonly used aggregate in most British gardens for covering the ground and other landscape projects. They are easy to maintain and are known for being one of the most cost-effective decorative aggregates.

Our best-selling Plum Slate Chippings are an ideal choice when you’re looking to add intensity to your patio and garden. The material they are made of is highly durable and therefore very convenient to use throughout all seasons.

After a rain, or a clean with a garden hose, slate chippings obtain a darker tone, hence they look great in any weather condition. By adding slate chippings to your garden design, you can achieve a lively and classy look that goes hand in hand with patio paving and shapes a relaxing and stylish space.

Slate Chippings are mainly used by landscape architects to deter weeds from growing and prevent the compost from ending on the leaves while watering.

Cotswold Chippings in Bulk Bag

Cotswold Stone Chippings 20-10mm is an angular coloured limestone perfect for brightening up footpaths, borders and general landscaping. The range of sizes ensures this Cotswold Gravel compacts better than most gravels.

Although being a softer gravel type, Cotswold chippings are regularly used on driveways. Therefore many customers prefer this product as they consider the softer nature of the stone causes the product to “lock down” and provide a more stable surface than the more durable limestones and granites.

Our Cotswold Stone Chippings 20-10mm in Bulk Bags comes in a minimum of 850kg weight.

Loose aggregates priced per 1 tonne. Loose option – collection only.

Recycled Crushed Concrete in Bulk Bag

Recycled Crushed Concrete (Bulk Bag or Loose Option), otherwise known as Type 1 Recycled Crushed Concrete or Type 1 Crushed Concrete is one of the most popular aggregates within the construction industry. As the name suggests, this aggregate is recycled from high-quality concrete and brick. It is perfect for use in trench fills, backfills, oversite fills and as a granular sub-base.

Our Recycled Crushed Concrete in Bulk Bags comes in a minimum of 850kg weight.

Loose aggregates priced per 1 tonne. Loose option – collection only.

Frequently used for:

  • Paths
  • Roads
  • Patios
  • Sub Bases
  • Drainage Layers
  • Haul Roads
  • Retaining Walls
  • Barriers
  • Terraced Gardens
  • Compactors

Are aggregates necessary for making concrete?

While making concrete, you must choose aggregates wisely and consider many conditions for your project. Aggregates consist of around 60 to even 75% of the total volume of concrete.

Depending on the required thickness and end results you want to achieve, it is best to learn as much as possible about aggregates and their benefits and features. 

While some aggregates are ideal for creating a strong, durable sub-base, some are much more suitable when it comes to their permeability.

Building sand, for example, thanks to its’ extremely fine, regular particles, is perfect to create mortar which is a mixture of fine aggregates, cement and water. Mortar is essential to bind building blocks like stones, bricks, and concrete masonry, to seal and fill the gaps between them and spread their weight evenly.

On the other hand, our washed gravel when mixed with sand and cement will provide ballast for high-strength concrete that is ideal for path edgings and shed bases to kerbs and securing fence posts.

If you are not sure which aggregate to use for your project, we provide a thorough description of each aggregate under its listing.

If after reading all the information on the website, you are still unsure – contact us and we will assist you.

 

Areas we deliver bulk bags to:

Aggregate bulk bag delivery includes Northamptonshire: Northampton, Moulton, Brixworth, Wellingborough, Kettering, Rushden, Corby and Daventry.