Is block paving sand the same as silver sand?

[inwood]

I need a large quantity of silver sand for my final coat of lime plaster.

My local Travis Perkins do 1 tonne bags of silver sand (which can be ordered on the internet) but the local branch don't have it in stock. They say it's the same stuff as block paving sand (or kiln dried sand) but the sand in these bags is a dark colour not silver.

Is it the same thing and is this what others have used for their final coat?

 

[NT]

no. Silver sand is a fine sand, the sand used for block paving is not fine.


NT

 

[piper]

My local Travis Perkins do 1 tonne bags of silver sand (which can be ordered on the internet) but the local branch don't have it in stock.

I bought an "ordinary" size bag of silver sand (i.e. I could carry it) from my local Travis Perkins a couple of weeks ago, along with a bag of dry hydrated lime. No problem at all, they had a stack of bags in the yard next to the sharp sand and the ordinary soft builder's sand. I know this doesn't really help your problem, but perhaps you should shop around. It does seem to be easily obtainable. Garden Centres also sometimes have it, I think.

 

[chuckey]

Silver sand is often sold as sandpit sand and I think i have seen it in garden centres. You could try "Whitstable white" available from "the lime centre". What you are after is a very fine grain size, the colour is neither here nor there, because wiith a 1:1 finish mix, the excess of lime will always make it look white.
Frank

 

[Nigel Watts]

I bought some silversand from Lawsons builders' merchants a couple of weeks ago (small bag). It was very fine and made nice finish plaster when mixed with lime putty.