There’s no disputing that the ancient Romans and the ancient Greeks made use of both dirt and cement in their construction techniques. Similarly, both civilisations used lime and a mixture of sand and volcanic ash that reacted once water was added. Once dry, the paste set into a permanent bond between rocks and stones of all sizes. Evidence of buildings and aqueducts still stand today as proof of their ingenuity, more than 2000 years after their completion. What is more interesting is the fact that floors, paved lanes and cobble-stoned streets still interlink these structures and long stretches of road still show the entrances and exits to most of their old towns and cities.
Although this bonding mixture was adopted by western civilisations much earlier, it would be a couple of millennia before it would be introduced to Southern Africa. The first proper use of it was in the construction of the Castle of Good Hope from 1665 to 1679. Of course, there was no trusted local sand and cement supplier back then, so the Dutch ingeniously burnt seashells to form a lime powder. They mixed the lime with indigenous soils, crushed shell chips and water which, when it dried, formed an extremely strong bonding element.
The Importance of a Modern Sand and Cement Supplier
From buildings, high-rise commercial complexes and shopping malls to paving bricks and blocks that cover the streets, roads, walkways and other spaces between them, a modern sand and cement supplier would be much more precise with the chemical mixtures and ingredients of the bonding powders that bind everything together. Of course, the correct soil would also need to be sourced and added to it in the correct proportions before water can be added to the powder to form the required bondage for the specific build being undertaken.
One form of soil mixture would be used for joining the bricks together, another for cementing the completed walls and yet another would be used to firmly and securely bed paving bricks and blocks. To differentiate between the various soils, you would need an experienced sand and cement supplier.
A Multipurpose Solution
Washed river sand is soil that wears many hats. It can be used for backfilling, topdressing lawns, sculpting golf greens and bunkers or levelling sports fields, but it’s most popular for its ability to bed paving bricks and blocks. As a leading sand and cement supplier, MVA Bricks would be able to advise you on all of these uses and guide you to achieving a professional, aesthetically pleasing finished project.
Choose the Best Sand and Cement Supplier
Producing only the best SABS-approved products, MVA Bricks has proven to be the leader in producing and supplying the ultimate in building bricks, paving bricks and blocks for more than 25 years.
Built on this irrefutable reputation, MVA Bricks have now also become the leading sand and cement supplier in South Africa. It’s only logical, MVA Bricks wants to ensure that their specialised product is set in only the best bedding material. Being specialists in paving and paved surfaces, MVA Bricks has completed square kilometre after square kilometre of the finished product. From domestic driveways, streets and private roads to walkways, pavements and parking lots, we get involved in the various processes of the build to ensure the longevity of our products. It is, therefore, only natural to use top-quality, washed river sand and cement to bed our products in.
Whether you’re a serious contractor, repaving streets or simply paving your patio, MVA Bricks can assist you as we are a leading sand and cement supplier to boot!
Contact us or request a quote. We’ll pave the way!