Primary Aggregates

Building Sand (also called soft sand or bricklaying sand) has fine, smooth particles ideal for bricklaying mortar, rendering surfaces, and general building work. Sharp Sand has coarser, angular grains making it perfect for concrete foundations, drainage systems, and screeds. Building Sand provides workability for mortar, while Sharp Sand offers strength and drainage for concrete and base layers. Both are BS certified primary aggregates available for loose tipped bulk delivery throughout the local area.

Ballast is a mixture of sand and gravel combined in the correct ratio for concrete mixing. It's the all-in-one aggregate solution for general building applications, saving time by eliminating the need to mix separate sand and gravel. Ballast is ideal for concrete foundations, floor screeds, and general construction work where you need ready-mixed aggregates. We supply BS certified ballast for loose tipped bulk delivery suitable for both trade and residential projects.

10mm Pea Shingle is ideal for drainage systems, decorative applications, garden features, and paths — its smaller size provides good coverage and a neat appearance. 20mm Gravel works best for concrete mixing, larger drainage projects, and construction applications requiring more substantial aggregate. We also stock 6mm, 14mm, and 40mm sizes for specific applications — contact us on 01635 865679 to discuss which size suits your project requirements.

The amount of aggregate needed depends on your specific project — area coverage, depth required, and material type. As a rough guide: for concrete, you'll need approximately 2 tonnes of ballast per cubic meter. For mortar, calculate based on number of bricks and joint thickness. For base layers, depth determines quantity. Call us on 01635 865679 with your project measurements and we can calculate exactly how much Building Sand, Sharp Sand, Ballast or gravel you need and provide a quote for loose tipped bulk delivery.

Yes, all our primary aggregates including Building Sand, Sharp Sand, Ballast, 10mm Pea Shingle, and 20mm Gravel meet British Standard specifications and are BS certified. This certification ensures materials are properly graded, clean and washed, free from clay, silt and organic matter, and suitable for their intended purpose. BS certification guarantees consistent quality from local quarries for optimal performance in building and landscaping applications.

Yes, we provide professional loose tipped bulk delivery service for all aggregate types direct to your building site, home, or project location throughout Thatcham, Newbury, Reading and surrounding areas in Berkshire, North Hampshire and Southern Oxfordshire. We can deliver large quantities with minimum loads and competitive pricing for bulk orders. Our fresh stock comes direct from local quarries ensuring consistent quality and competitive pricing.

Primary aggregates serve multiple applications: Building Applications include concrete foundations, bricklaying mortar, rendering surfaces, and floor screeds. Landscaping Uses cover drainage systems, path construction, garden features, and base preparation. Commercial Projects encompass infrastructure work, car parks, industrial flooring, and road construction. Each aggregate type — Building Sand, Sharp Sand, Ballast, and gravel — is specifically suited to different applications based on particle size and characteristics.