Which type of sand should I use in construction of my house/apartment and why?
Gathering river sand is banned in many Indian states. A boom in the construction industry has led to a massive demand for sand leading to a shortage in river sand and a severe depletion in riverbanks. This is a serious ecological hazard.
M Sand is recommended to be used to meet ones construction demands due to the following reasons :
- • It costs less
- • The manufacturing units for M Sand are closer to construction sites, the transportation costs are reduced
- • M Sand is free of impurities such as clay, dust, silt, etc.
- • M Sand has higher strength and durability
What is the ideal ratio in which sand is mixed with other material?
The following table tell us the proportion of M Sand which must be used in combination with other materials :
| Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) | 1 part cement X 4 part jelly X 8 part sand |
| Reinforcement cement concrete(RCC) | 1 part cement X 1 part jelly X 2 part sand |
| Internal wall-plaster | 1 part cement X 6 part sand |
| External wall-plaster | 1 part cement X 5 part sand |
| Ceiling plaster | 1 part cement X 4 part sand |
| Flooring works – bed leveling | 1 part cement X 6 part sand |
Water proofing works: Along with Cement, Coarse aggregate (Jelly), brick bats & water proofing chemical in proportion as per recommendation of water proofing specialist. It is recommended to engage the services of a water proofing agency who provide a 10 year guarantee for the water proofing works against leakage.
How should I gauge the quality of M Sand?
Quality of M Sand is gauged based on its uniformity of shape & size. A superior quality M-Sand is non-flaky, uniform in size, has proper gradation of fines and smooth surface texture.
What precautions should I take while storing M Sand?
M Sand should be stored on a compact & clean platform. It is important to ensure that the same is not mixed with other materials like slushy soil, concrete/cement mortar waste, etc.
How should I clean M Sand before its use?
Since M Sand is a manufactured material; it is generally very clean and free of impurities. It is, however, important to clean M Sand from dirt, concrete/cement mortar waste, grass, etc. prior to using it for concrete or cement mortar mixing. This process of cleaning can be done manually.
How is M Sand transported/ delivered?
M Sand is delivered in higher capacity truck. M-Sand trucks come in 2 weights: 20 tons and 30 tons. 1 ton of M-Sand is 22.5 cubic feet by volume. M Sand material delivery calculation by volume will be around:
- • 20 MT (ton) truck: 450 cft (cubic feet)
- • 30 MT (ton) truck: 675 cft (cubic feet)
The weighing process of the total quantity of M sand to be delivered takes place as per the following steps:
- • An Empty truck is weighed at the vendors place
- • The total quantity of M Sand to be delivered is loaded on the empty truck and the same is weighed with material again
- • A weighment slip is generated which includes weight of the empty truck and the truck loaded with material. Material weight = loaded truck weight – empty truck weight
The invoice will be raised as per the material weight calculated as per the above three steps. Price charged will be material weight times price per metric ton.
The same can be cross checked by a customer (if he wishes) at the local weigh bridge.