Pre Packed Aggregates

Building Sand (also called soft sand) has fine, smooth grains making it ideal for mortar mixes used in bricklaying, rendering and pointing. Our Whiteparish Building Sand produces a smooth, workable mortar with excellent consistency. Sharp Sand has coarser, angular grains that lock together for strength, making it the correct choice for concrete mixing, floor screeds, paving bedding and slabbing. Using the wrong sand can weaken your mortar or concrete, so it's important to choose the right product for the job.

Whiteparish Building Sand is a premium named sand sourced from the Whiteparish area, known for its consistent colour, fine texture and excellent workability in mortar mixes. Bricklayers and renderers across Berkshire, North Hampshire and Southern Oxfordshire prefer it because it produces a smooth, strong mortar that's easy to trowel and gives a reliable finish. Our 25KG pre pack bags are ideal for small walls, repointing, repairs and DIY projects where a full bulk bag would be too much.

10mm Shingle is a finer aggregate ideal for drainage around pipes, fine concrete mixes, decorative paths and pot toppings. 20mm Shingle is a coarser aggregate more commonly used in structural concrete, driveways, soakaways and general construction. For general-purpose concrete mixing, 20mm is the standard choice. Both are clean, washed aggregates supplied in 25KG pre pack bags for easy handling and transport.

A standard concrete mix uses roughly 1 part cement, 2 parts sharp sand and 4 parts 20mm shingle by volume. As a rough guide, one 25KG bag of cement mixed with approximately 50KG (two bags) of sharp sand and 100KG (four bags) of 20mm shingle will produce around 0.05 cubic metres of concrete. For larger projects requiring more than around 20 bags, it's usually more economical to order a bulk bag or loose tipped load. Call us on 01635 865679 and we'll help you calculate what you need.

Yes - all our 25KG pre packed building materials are available for collection from our Thatcham yard. The bags are small enough to load into a car boot, estate or small van, making them ideal for DIY customers without commercial vehicles. Trade customers are also welcome to collect for quick top-ups between bulk deliveries. Call 01635 865679 before visiting to check stock and current yard opening hours.

Building Sand (soft sand) is not suitable for concrete. The fine, smooth grains don't provide the strength needed for structural concrete - you should use Sharp Sand instead. Building Sand is specifically designed for mortar mixes used in bricklaying, rendering and pointing, where workability matters more than raw compressive strength. Using Building Sand in concrete will result in a weak, crumbly mix that won't meet structural requirements.

Yes - we offer competitive pricing and bulk discounts on 25KG pre pack bags when you buy in larger quantities. For trade customers and larger DIY projects, we can offer preferential rates. If your project needs more than around 500kg of material, it's often more economical to order a bulk bag or loose tipped delivery instead. Call 01635 865679 or 01635 40009 to discuss pricing and get a quote for your specific requirements.

25KG pre pack bags are sized to be manageable - most people can lift them, and they fit easily into car boots, estates, SUVs and small vans. Please note that weight adds up quickly: 20 bags is half a tonne, which may exceed your vehicle's payload limit. If you're collecting large quantities, consider multiple trips or a van, or contact us about delivery options. Our yard staff can help you load safely on collection.

Pre packed bags are primarily designed for collection from our Thatcham yard, but delivery may be possible on larger orders or when combined with bulk products. For larger projects we recommend bulk bags or loose tipped loads, which are more cost-effective per tonne. Call us on 01635 865679 (Thatcham) or 01635 40009 (Newbury) to discuss the most cost-effective option for your requirements.

BS EN 1177 is the British and European standard that specifies the safety requirements for impact-attenuating playground surfacing, including loose-fill materials like sand. Play Sand certified to BS EN 1177 has been tested for grain size, shape, cleanliness and impact-absorbing properties, helping reduce the severity of injuries from falls. For schools, nurseries, public playgrounds and home sandpits, choosing certified play sand is essential for safety and compliance.

Play Sand is washed, screened and certified safe for children's use - it's free from sharp particles, contaminants and clay binders. Building Sand (soft sand) is intended for mortar mixes and is not suitable for play areas as it can stain skin and clothing and is not tested to safety standards. Always use BS EN 1177 certified Play Sand in sandpits, playgrounds and any environment where children will be in direct contact with the sand.

Horticultural Grit is a clean, lime-free coarse aggregate used by gardeners and growers to improve drainage in pots and borders, mix into compost for cuttings and seedlings, top-dress alpine plants and cacti, and prevent waterlogging in containers. Our 20KG bags are professional grade and ideal for everything from small home pot plants to larger landscaping and propagation projects.

As a rough guide, a sandpit measuring 1.5m x 1.5m filled to a depth of 20cm needs around 450KG of sand - that's roughly 22 of our 20KG bags. For smaller home sandpits a few bags is usually enough, while school and nursery play areas often need a tipped bulk delivery. Call us on 01635 865679 with your dimensions and we'll help you calculate the right quantity.

Yes - all our 20KG pre packed Play Sand and Horticultural Grit bags are available for collection from our Thatcham yard. The bags are easy to lift and fit into a car boot, estate or small van. Schools, nurseries and trade customers are welcome to collect, and our yard staff can help you load. Call 01635 865679 before visiting to check stock and current yard opening hours.

Compost, woodchip and bark mulch are seasonal products and availability varies through the year. We typically have the widest selection in spring and autumn when gardening demand is highest. Because stock changes regularly, please call 01635 865679 (Thatcham) or 01635 40009 (Newbury) before travelling so we can confirm what's currently in stock.

Our Play Sand is washed and certified to BS EN 1177 for children's play areas, which makes it clean and free from harmful contaminants. While it is generally suitable for use in covered outdoor sandpits, it is not specifically marketed as cat litter and won't clump like cat-litter products. If you specifically need a pet product we'd recommend a dedicated cat litter, but BS EN 1177 Play Sand is a safe, clean choice for general outdoor sand applications.

Yes - we offer competitive pricing and bulk discounts on 20KG Play Sand and Horticultural Grit when buying in larger quantities. Schools, nurseries, landscapers and trade customers can access preferential rates. For larger play area installations or major landscaping jobs, a bulk bag or tipped delivery may be more economical. Call 01635 865679 or 01635 40009 to discuss your requirements and get a quote.