Screened Sand and Its Various Uses
May 24, 2019
What exactly is Screened Sand?
Screened sand is pretty much what it sounds like. It is sand put through a screen with up to three eighths of an inch holes. It is made up of small rocks, sand, and less than seven percent of silt and clay. The process of screening the sand keeps it at a consistent size, and also ensures that is compacts together very well.
What is it used for?
Screened sand has several uses; it can also be used both for commercial and everyday home uses. Below are all the ways it can be used and why.
Drainage
Screened sand is incredibly useful for channeling natural puddles in places with uneven ground or heavy clay. It can be used to drain water into a designated area to prevent pooling and soil erosion. You can also use screened sand to create a naturally flowing creek at the base of a flood-prone hill, for a lovely water feature in your yard.
Electrical Trenches
Surrounding an underground electrical cable with screened sand is vital to proper thermal conductivity. Without the sand, there is no sort of insulation between the cable and the natural soil in the area. This, unfortunately, leaves the cable exposed to possible water damage, as well as leaving the surrounding soil at risk of too much heat and of drying out.
Pipe and Foundation Bedding
Screened sand is used as a backfill for these two things to provide strong and level support. In regard to the piping and foundations, it is extremely important to have a proper base. Without this, a pipe is put at a much higher risk of breakage, and a foundation is at a higher risk of collapse.
Ice Control
Screened sand has much better traction than road salt. It also remains just as effective in the extreme cold, whereas salt loses its usefulness at that point.
Septic Systems.
To make up for insufficient or inadequate soil in the area where a septic tank is placed, screened sand is used as a filler. It creates a quality support system, which provides stability necessary to keep the tank upright and level. .
Horse Rings
To give horses proper footing and traction, screened sand is used in horse rings. It is not slippery like grass or regular soil would be, and it does not have large rocks in it that may cause injury.
Sandbox For Kids.
The process in which screened sand is made makes it perfect for a kid’s sandbox. The size is uniform, so there will not be any large or sharp pieces in it that might cause injury. It’s compaction quality makes it easy to build and play with. A sandbox can provide hours of fun for kids, and, it can teach children early concepts of physics, texture, and architecture.
Underneath Pavers
A layer of screened sand is placed under pavers to create a continuously flat and level base for roadways. Without it, roads would be liable to crack and collapse in places without its support.
Now that you know all the ways you can use screened sand, be sure that you are getting it from a quality company with all the necessary permits involved with this kind of product. A Title V permit is a good example of what to look for. This permit was created by the Clean Air Act to regulate and monitor air pollutants from large facilities. Be sure to check out your chosen supplier to make certain they are held to these kinds of standards of environmental safety.