Summer is officially in full swing and we hope you’ve had a chance to soak up some sun! For many of us, summer is a time when we can kick back and relax or tackle that backyard project that we’ve been waiting all year to finish. It’s also a great time to transform your property into that oasis you’ve been dreaming of! Whether you need to top up your waterfront beach, create a fun play area for the kids, or even do some work on your septic system, sand is an important component in many landscaping projects. At Greely Sand & Gravel, we stock many top quality varieties of sand, perfect for whatever project you are tackling this summer!
Let’s start with the basics - where does our sand come from? Most of the sand we stock at Greely Sand & Gravel is locally sourced from our pits here in the Ottawa region. Once removed from the pit by our excavators, the sand goes through a machine called a Powerscreen. When screening sand, a very fine screen is used to ensure that only the smallest particles get through. This makes the resulting product uniform in size, and also removes any stones, sticks, or roots that may be in the sand. Our Screened Sand can be used to backfill large areas or build up the grade around your home - it is a great value-conscious option for a project that requires a large quantity of sand. Looking for sand for a playground or patio area? Read on!
Greely Sand & Gravel’s Playground Sand is an ideal choice for families, contractors, and schools looking to create a safe and fun play area. This sand is washed, leaving only the sand grains with no silt or clay mixed in. All organic matter has been removed from this sand, making it a great product for beaches, playgrounds, outdoor volleyball courts, waterfronts, patios, and more. This sand does not compact, allowing water to flow through it and reducing weed growth. Additionally, this product has undergone rigorous impact testing which ensures it is safe for children and for use in play areas, so no need to worry!
Other washed sands include Concrete Sand and Brick Sand. Course washed Concrete Sand is ideal for levelling interlock bricks or patio stone and is installed on top of the granular compacted base in a 1”-2” depth. Washed Brick Sand is also known as Masonry Sand and is used for cement for brick laying. Brick Sand can also be used as a base for pool liners as it is always free moving and is soft against the pool liner.
Perhaps you need to do some work on your septic system this summer. At Greely Sand & Gravel, we stock Septic Sand that we wash in-house to ensure that it is the correct T-time for use around a conventional septic system and drainage pipes. T-time is a measure of how quickly treated wastewater is absorbed into the soil and it is used to determine the size and design of a septic system. Watch the video below to learn more about our Septic Sand.
If you have an Eljen system, we stock an Eljen/Enviro Sand which is a washed, coarse sand approved for Eljen Systems and Enviro Systems. The T-time for this sand is six to eight minutes.
At Greely Sand & Gravel we also stock Hydro Sand, a soft sand containing silt and clay, perfect for filling trenches and burying wires. Because it will compact if exposed to natural elements, it is not recommended for under playgrounds or on beach fronts. However, hydro sand is a wonderful option for smaller, contained sandboxes, as the sand will compact together nicely to build sandcastles. Its soft texture makes it a wonderful choice for burying utility wires with little risk of damage.
Dave Explains the different types of Sand
Still not sure exactly what sand is right for your project? Our online store has detailed project pages which provide more specific information on each project, including safety testing results and sieve analyses. Simply visit our homepage and hover over “Homeowners” on the top left. The second column from the left contains links to all our different varieties of sand.
You are also welcome to come see us in person at any of our three landscape depots: Greely, Barrhaven, and Kemptville! We are happy to help you find exactly what you need to complete your landscaping project this summer!