Bluestone Hearths for Sale in NJ

Bluestone Hearth for Sale in NJ and NYIndoor and outdoor fireplaces are very attractive decorative features that can add significant value to your NJ home.

If you’re thinking about installing a new fireplace or refurbishing an existing fireplace, a bluestone hearth is a striking option that complements the quality and character of virtually every major architectural and interior design style.

The bluestone hearth has become one of the most popular options on the market. Homeowners love the durability, versatility and ease of maintenance.

However, it’s important to carefully evaluate the various suppliers on the market to be sure you’re getting the best available quality at the lowest possible price.

With that in mind, here are the factors you should consider when shopping for a bluestone hearth and looking for a reputable supplier.

Buying a Bluestone Hearth in NJ: Stylistic Considerations

The main reason people choose bluestone for hearths and fireplaces is the material’s powerful, natural beauty and its ability to draw the eye. It is particularly effective when used in combination with other stone elements, whether indoors or outdoors. Bluestone creates a rustic yet luxurious look that works in both casual and formal settings.

A Bluestone hearth comes in a blueish gray color and is thermaled but it can be roackfaced on the face of the hearth for a more rustic look.

Choosing a Bluestone Hearth Supplier in NJ

Finding a reputable bluestone hearth supplier in NJ requires that you understand some basic principles. While you might find rock-bottom prices through big-box retailers, you’re likely trading off quality and value to save some money.

Over the long run, this strategy won’t save you money, as inferior products don’t add as much value to your home and won’t perform as well.

Instead, choose a bluestone supplier that offers these important value propositions:

  • Dedication and expertise: When you choose a supplier that deals only in stone products, you’ll benefit from their advanced expertise and deep understanding of production and application principles.
  • Excellent service: The best suppliers back up their quality and value by providing customers with flexible delivery and drop-off options, as well as helpful expert advice.

Bluestone Hearth Prices in NJ

Factors that influence the cost of bluestone include the source of the raw material, the quality of the craftsmanship and the amount of product you’re buying.

Suppliers who offer their own fabrication on site are able to offer superior workmanship without inflated price tags. Finally, as with many products, you’ll save more when you buy more.

Why You Should Choose Braen Supply for Your New Bluestone Hearth

Braen Supply is New Jersey’s leading supplier of bluestone hearths and stone products for outdoor landscaping and interior design.

At Braen Supply, we fabricate the stone on site, ensuring premium quality at the lowest possible prices.

Our expert technicians apply elite skills to the manufacturing and finishing of all our products, along with affordable and flexible delivery and drop-off services.

Gravel Calculator: Free Online Tool

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Using a gravel calculator is an ideal way to accurately plan your inventory needs for larger-scale projects, and to make sure you purchase just the right amount of gravel for one-off jobs.

Understanding how these handy online tools work is essential to harnessing their power to help you save money and maximize your budget.

What Is a Gravel Calculator?

A gravel calculator is an online tool that allows you to enter known information regarding your project, such as the surface area you need to cover and the depth to fill it.

Once you’ve filled in these fields, the calculator will automatically determine the volume of gravel you need to buy to complete your project.

Online gravel calculators are widely available for instant use, free of cost or obligation.

Benefits of Using a Gravel Calculator

The primary benefit of using a gravel calculator is that it allows you to plan your inventory needs quickly and accurately. You’ll be able to proceed with your job secure that you have enough gravel on hand to finish it, and without worrying that you’ve purchased too much.

To that end, a gravel calculator can also help you save money. You’ll avoid overstocking your supply, leaving you with excess gravel that you have no immediate purpose for.

Similarly, you won’t have to scramble to buy more gravel at the last minute, which could come at a premium if you’re forced to use a different supplier than you’re used to, or if you have to pay extra for rush delivery.

Finally, gravel calculators are convenient. Because you won’t have a lot of leftover supply, you won’t have to worry about finding a place to store a large volume of excess material.

They also help construction projects proceed on schedule, which can be a boon to contractors looking to enhance their reputations for getting jobs done in a timely manner.

How Do I Use a Gravel Calculator?

It’s easy to use gravel calculators. Begin by determining the length and width of the area to be covered, and the depth to which you need to fill it.

Pay close attention to units of measurement; most gravel calculators are calibrated to calculate length and width in feet and depth in inches, but this may vary. If necessary, use an online measurement conversion tool.

Once you’ve filled in the required fields, simply click the “calculate” button (or its equivalent) to generate your answer.

From there, you can contact local gravel suppliers to see which of them offers the best price and service terms for the amount of product you need.

What Will a Gravel Calculator Tell Me?

Gravel calculators are designed to tell you how much gravel you will need to complete a project, not how much that gravel will cost.

You’ll have to determine costs on your own by shopping around with various suppliers until you find the right product at the right price.

Note that not all gravel calculators are designed to help you figure out how much gravel you need to fill in oddly shaped areas, or projects being undertaken in complex or nontraditional locations.

For example, if depth measurements vary, or if the surface can’t be measured in linear terms (because it is circular, ovular or irregularly shaped), you may not be able to calculate your material needs with a simple gravel calculator.

In such cases, don’t hesitate to draw on the help of an expert. Find a reputable local gravel supply company and give them a call to discuss your needs in detail.

If they’re worthy of your business, they’ll be more than happy to take the time to talk through your project-specific needs in detail.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][templatera id=”7545″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

 

 

 

How to Choose Pea Gravel for your Driveway

Pea gravel driveways offer many benefits to homeowners, including curb appeal and a relatively low cost of installation.

These advantages make it one of the more popular alternatives to asphalt, and it’s also environmentally friendly.

Installing a pea gravel driveway is relatively easy and inexpensive, especially if you’re building a brand-new driveway from scratch.

However, if you’re going to replace an aging asphalt or brick driveway, you may want to enlist the help of an experienced contractor, since loosening and removing these types of permanent materials requires specialized equipment and expertise.

With those factors in mind, here’s a breakdown of the various considerations you should make if you’re thinking about switching to a pea gravel driveway.

Driveway Shape

Is your driveway going to be straight, or do you want it to bend or twist? How wide or long is it going to be? Certain styles of gravel suit specific shapes and designs in different ways. For example, pea gravel products with smaller stones make driving over the driveway easier.

Larger driveways benefit from smaller varieties of pea gravel. This will give the driveway a more refined appearance; large chunks of stone covering a relatively broad area tends to create a somewhat haphazard look, which you’ll most likely want to avoid.

Driveway Use

When choosing a variety of gravel for your driveway, you should also consider how much use you expect the driveway to get.

While pea gravel is a highly durable material no matter what size you choose, you should keep in mind that smaller types of gravel will demand more maintenance in heavier-traffic situations. This is because moving vehicles will dislodge small gravel stones more easily, making ongoing maintenance a more likely necessity.

Larger stones will stay in place a little more easily, but again, they might not be the best option from an aesthetic standpoint. If you need any help choosing a gravel size or style, don’t hesitate to consult an expert — they’ll be more than happy to offer you the guidance you require to make the best selection for your purposes.

Pea Gravel Maintenance

One of the very best things about gravel driveways is that they are very low-maintenance. Concrete driveways crack and chip over time, creating unsightly gaps that can be costly and inconvenient to repair.

Asphalt driveways need regular coats of tar and other protective products or they, too, will start to wear down. Interlocking brick does liberate you from these drawbacks, but only if you’re willing to pay slightly more for installation.

Pea gravel requires very little maintenance, other than the occasional topping up of dislodged pebbles.

Otherwise, gravel is highly weather-resistant and you will never need to worry about the material losing its natural appearance. If you’re looking for a no-chipping, no-cracking, low-cost driveway material, pea gravel simply can’t be beat.

Buying Pea Gravel

Before you purchase gravel, you should take the time to research various local suppliers to determine which of them offers the best product at the best possible price.

Remember: there’s more to consider than just the bottom line. You should also consider the supplier’s customer service track record and expertise, since these intangibles can make a huge difference when it comes to getting value for your money.

To that end, it’s best to buy your gravel from a quarry that produces it themselves. Not only does this ensure you’ll get a top-quality product for a competitive price, but it also ensures you’ll have access to knowledgeable staff who can help you choose the right gravel product for your specific application.

Third-party vendors and suppliers often lack the specialized knowledge needed to guide their customers to the best decisions.

Braen Supply is a leading supplier of pea gravel, with the capability to make bulk deliveries to areas across New Jersey as well as New York State, New York City and Pennsylvania.

Braen Supply quarries its own gravel, and its expert staff is always happy to help customers make the right decisions for their unique project needs.

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Where Can I Find Drainage Solutions in NJ?

Drainage Solutions in NJAlthough most homeowners are concerned with properly irrigating their lawns, too many fail to give much consideration to a drainage system until it becomes a problem. After periods of heavy rainfall, you may notice that your property becomes saturated and flooded with water – either in its entirety or in specific areas.

In either case, poor drainage can lead to a host of problems, ranging from damage to your homes’ foundation to drowned plants and erosion issues. You may even run into trouble with the city if your home contributes to excessive storm water runoff.

In order to avoid the stress and expense of dealing with such problems, it’s in your best interest to seek out reliable drainage solutions in NJ.

We’ve been in the industry for more than a decade and we’ve seen the things that work and don’t work. We’re here to provide you with information about the various types of drainage issues and solutions that are available, and where to go to get started.

Popular Drainage Solutions in NJ

  • French Drain – As one of the most popular of drainage solutions in NJ, french drains work to prevent ground and surface water from damaging the landscape or penetrating a home’s foundation. This type of system is also effective in its ability to relieve ground water pressure from behind retaining walls.
  • Channel Drain – These drains are installed in hardscape areas that are subject to runoff and flooding due to their inability to absorb water. A channel drain can be the perfect solution for preventing water from draining towards the home, pooling, or excessively running off into the street. You might install this type of drain in driveways, walkways, pool decks and patios.
  • Catch Basins & Grates – These drainage solutions work to effectively catch and collect surface water in localized areas of the landscape. Grates can be purchased in a number of colors so that they blend in with their surroundings. The basins often include a sump or other means of preventing debris from entering and clogging the pipeline. Catch basins are affective in collecting surface water and through underground piping help defer that water to appropriate storm water areas.

Installing a Drainage System

Regardless of the type of drainage system that you choose for your property, you should contact an experienced storm water management expert. Be sure to to speak with an expert to discuss the necessary steps, tools, and procedures and to obtain their advice and input.

Where to Purchase Your Drainage System

When looking for drainage solutions in NJ, it’s important that you work with a supplier who has a vested interest in you and your landscape.

Your supply company should have the knowledge and experience required to evaluate your current situation and provide you with the information that you need about the types of drainage systems that can remedy your problems.

The supplier you choose should also have a variety of different types of drainage solutions for you to choose from, offering a customized fix for your lawn.

At Braen Supply, we’re passionate about helping our customers improve their landscapes and to protect their property from any damages associated with excessive water retention.

We’re well known for being one of the largest suppliers of drainage solutions in NJ, and we can help you make a decision about which system is the right fit for your specific needs.

After decades in the industry, we are also familiar with numerous installation experts who can accurately handle the process on your behalf.

Norwegian Buff Stone: Reviews and Suppliers

Norwegian Buff Stone ReviewedWhen you’re planning to upgrade your landscape or outdoor living area, you have many options with regards to the materials that you would like to use.

Although all types of stone come with their own set of benefits, few are as versatile or unique as Norwegian Buff Stone.

If you’ve been considering this stone for your next project, you may be looking for some helpful Norwegian Buff Stone reviews, tips and professional advice.

By spending a few moments reading up on the many advantages of this hardscaping material and where it can be purchased, you’ll feel more confident about your decision to use it.

Norwegian Buff Stone is Highly Functional

Countless Norwegian Buff Stone reviews offer the same opinion: the material is extremely durable and very useful in a wide variety of projects.

Because the stone is known to be as strong as granite, it can withstand heavy volumes of traffic. This makes it a great choice for driveways, walkways, terraces, patios and poolsides. Because the natural colors of the stone can work well with any style of decor, it will continue to look great and function beautifully in the many years to come.

Norwegian Buff Stone Offers Numerous Advantages

One of the primary reasons that Norwegian Buff Stone reviews are so favorable is that it offers a plethora of benefits to users, such as:

One-of-a-Kind Beauty – When investing in a stone for your landscaping project, it’s very important that it gives off an attractive and inviting appeal. Not only does Norwegian Buff Stone accomplish this objective, but it also enables your property to stand out. The stone features visually interesting patterns and an interplay of warm, rich colors in the gold and beige family, with some flecks of gray, orange, rust and similar hues. No two batches of the stone are the same, meaning that no one else on the block will have a landscape that looks like yours.

Heat-Resistance – The stone doesn’t retain heat, even when the sun is baring down on a hot summer’s day. Because of this, Norwegian Buff Stone is ideal for pool decks, and for patios that need to be kept cool for entertaining.

Durability – As mentioned previously, Norwegian Buff Stone is extremely strong, and it can hold its own against the forces of nature as well. During strong summer storms, wintertime blizzards and the springtime thaw, you’ll find that your landscape will remain intact, and looking as wonderful as ever.

Affordability – Not to be overlooked is the affordability of Norwegian Buff Stone. In terms of its beauty, quality and longevity, the stone is very competitively priced and is an excellent long-term investment for your landscape and outdoor spaces. The cost of the material is even lower when you are able to find a great supplier.

Finding Suppliers of Norwegian Buff Stone

In order for the material to live up to the stellar Norwegian Buff Stone reviews that have been given by satisfied users, it’s important that you purchase from a Norwegian Buff Stone supplier who offers the highest-quality stone at the best rates. By buying directly from Braen Supply, you can purchase stone that is cut to the exact dimensions that you require for your project and enjoy paying at fair, wholesale rates.

Norwegian Buff Stone can be picked up or bulk delivered throughout the Northeast.

For a landscape that you and your wallet will love, purchase Norwegian Buff Stone directly from a quality manufacturer.

What Are Some of the Best Drainage Solutions for My NJ Home?

Drainage Solutions NJDrainage solutions are something that homeowners seldom think of, usually not until it is too late.

The recent hectic, snowy winters (along with our introduction to the polar vortex) and torrential rains in the spring can wreak havoc on your property and make it all but impossible to maintain your landscaping.

We suggest addressing these problems before you find out the limitations of your property’s drainage capabilities the hard way.

One heavier than average rainfall can leave all of your hard work under water or even worse, washed away.

There is one, more urgent drainage matter, that should be taken care of immediately. If you are getting water in your basement or crawl space, you should make it a priority to eliminate this problem right away.

Basement Flooding Issues

Many homeowners (especially in low lying areas) have encountered a flooded basement or crawl space at one time or another. There are a couple of things that a lot of these homeowners don’t realize about the water that is collecting in their homes.

First of all, even the smallest amount of water collecting in your basement can cause health issues. A damp basement promotes mildew and the growth of mold spores. Among other things, these mold spores can cause the occupants of the home to develop respiratory ailments. Over an extended period of time this can develop into very serious health problems.

If your home has a finished basement then you may already be all to familiar with some of the drawbacks of not having adequate drainage for your home.

If your finished basement takes on even the smallest amount of water, this can quickly become a big and very expensive problem.

For homeowners who are planning to remodel their basement, you should seriously take into account your home’s drainage system’s ability to keep your basement dry. Before you begin your planned project it is a good idea to consult with a qualified professional who can offer you a solution to your drainage issues.

To manage the flow of exterior water run off, your home is most likely equipped with a sump pump/pit system. This system works by utilizing a pit that is installed at the lowest level of your home (usually in your basement).

This pit is an area for excess ground water and rain water run off to collect. This is necessary because of water’s ability to “find it’s way” into the smallest cracks and crevices in your homes foundation and basement floor.

The second part of this system is the sump pump. This pump is fully automated. Once supplied with electricity, it will operate autonomously. It is also equipped with a built in float that activates the power supply when the water reaches a predetermined level in the sump pit.

Once activated, the sump pump will pump the accumulated water from the pit. Even if your basement doesn’t leak, condensation can accumulate on the interior of your foundation walls.

Some older home’s sump pits and sump pumps are constructed of brick and mortar. Over time these brick and mortar pits can deteriorate from the constant presence of water. Braen Supply has a wide range of sizes of sump pits and sump pumps available for pick up or delivery.

A simple phone consultation with one of Braen’s experts can help to determine the best sump pit/pump combination to fit your home’s drainage needs. When you call, you can also schedule a time for Braen to deliver your new drainage solution right to your home.

Landscape Irrigation

The proper drainage solution for your yard or landscaped areas begins with a landscape fabric. As the name suggests, this fabric material provides a barrier between your landscaping and the earth below. This fabric inhibits weed growth. Many people make the mistake of using plastic sheeting in place of landscape fabric. Although it will serve as a great weed barrier, it’s benefits end there. Unlike landscaping fabric, plastic does not allow water and air to pass through it and can contribute to the accumulation of water.

Landscape fabric is usually used in collaboration with other supplies offered at wholesale prices by Braen Supply to construct a variety of effective outdoor drainage solutions such as:

  • Retaining Walls
  • French Drains
  • Footing Drains
  • Curtain Drains
  • Septic Fields

New Jersey Drainage Solutions

Inside or out, when you decide to address the capabilities of your home’s drainage system, consulting the expert sales people at Braen supply should be your first step. With over a decade of experience dealing with the drainage problems of New Jersey homeowners, the employees of Braen are the best at what they do.

Braen Supply carries only NDS products, which are the most reliable drainage supplies available on the market today. Being one of New Jersey’s largest purveyors of drainage supplies allows Braen Supply to offer a complete line of drainage solutions at the area’s most competitive prices.

 

What Materials Should I Build My Retaining Wall From?

Retaining Wall MaterialsAt first glance, it may appear that retaining walls are nothing more than simply stacked stones or blocks.

In reality, retaining walls are carefully built piece by piece as they constantly battle against the laws of gravity, working to prevent soil from sliding and eroding away from a foundation or landscape.

When used to create multiple levels or tiers in a sloped landscape, these attractive barriers can also hold flower gardens, places to sit and socialize, and increase yard space.

For these walls to be able to handle these tasks and be both functional and beautiful, the right retaining wall materials must be utilized.

The Importance of Retaining Wall Materials

The general principle behind a retaining wall is quite simple, but a quick look around your neighborhood will reveal plenty of unsightly or unsound walls that are bulging, cracked, or even leaning.

This is because many homeowners are unfamiliar with the different types of available retaining wall materials, and the considerations that go along with each. Certain materials have special drainage requirements, or cannot be constructed as high as others.

As a result, it’s extremely important that careful planning goes into the selection of the materials used before the wall is ever erected. The two most popular options are:

  • Concrete Blocks – Concrete blocks are popular as retaining wall materials due to affordability and versatility. Since the units are man-made, they can be manufactured in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Another perk is that the blocks usually feature an interlocking lip at the base, enabling each to be easily fitted together and held in place.
  • Natural Stone – Natural stone looks gorgeous when used to build retaining walls, and offer homeowners a lot of variety in terms of the types of available stone, shape, size, color, and texture. Special considerations must be made for drainage in these walls, though, and more labor is required to set the stones correctly. It’s important to also keep in mind that using natural stone for taller or larger retaining walls may drastically increase your budget.

Successfully Constructing Retaining Walls

Skill and precision are an absolute must throughout the construction of a retaining wall.. When you consider the fact that even a wall that’s just 4 feet high and 15 feet long could be holding as much as 20 tons of soil, it becomes clear that the structural integrity of the barrier is extremely important.

Unless each stone or block is carefully fitted together and unless proper drainage is allowed for, the wall could begin to deteriorate prematurely and compromise your entire landscape.

Because of this, the majority of homeowners choose to enlist the help of a professional to ensure that the wall is constructed properly. Unless you have experience building retaining walls in the past, we recommend working with a local contractor.

Retaining Wall Materials in NJ

Our team at Braen Supply is eager to help you to construct a structurally sound and highly attractive retaining wall for your property. Drop by to take a look at our huge inventory of retaining wall materials, including a variety of different types of natural stone and concrete blocks.

We’ve got the knowledge required to help you select a material that will meet your budgetary needs, fit your style, and look great within the scope of your landscape.

We’re also well-connected with a number of reliable landscapers and contractors and are more than happy to connect you with a professional that can get the job done right.

Which Bluestone Hearths are Perfect for My NJ Home?

Bluestone Hearth in NJThe warm glow of a crackling fire is always a welcome sight.

Whether you’re gathered with family and friends on your patio, roasting marshmallows around an outdoor fireplace or are curled up indoors on a crisp NJ winter’s eve, the fireplace is truly a focal point of your home.

No fireplace is truly complete, however, without an attractive hearth.

Bluestone is one of the more popular choices among NJ homeowners as it provides a unique touch to their home.

If you’ve been considering bluestone as your material-of-choice for your fireplace’s hearth, you may be curious about the benefits of bluestone, how much it costs and which one would fit your home perfectly.

As we’ve worked with countless NJ homeowners on these questions, we wanted to break down each aspect to give you the best perspective on bluestone hearths for your home.

Benefits of a Bluestone Hearth

Historically, the hearth was an integral part of the household that it nearly became synonymous with the word “home” (this is where the saying “of hearth and home” was derived).

For many years people lost sight of the importance of the hearth, however it is now becoming increasingly popular to revamp the bottom of the fireplace to include a hearth.

Bluestone is an excellent solution for this need because it offers a stunning beauty that immediately attracts the eye, but it’s subtle enough that it doesn’t overshadow the fireplace itself.

The non-combustible nature of bluestone also helps to promote safety both inside and outside of the home. Depending on the size of the hearth, it can be utilized to display spark screens and other objects or  to store firewood.

Bluestone Hearth Sizes

Bluestone hearths can easily be fitted to almost any fireplace, regardless of size. You’ll find that bluestone hearths are typically 2″ in thickness, but can be purchased in widths of 16″, 18″, 20″ or 24″.

Lengths are traditionally stocked in full foot lengths ranging from 4 foot through 9 foot.  Other sizes can be custom cute or ordered on a custom basis. Ideally, the hearth will be between 1ft-4ft wide.

Should you require a larger hearth, you’ll need to speak with your stone supplier about the purchase of a bluestone slab, as stone cut greater than 24″ is considered to be a slab.

Bluestone Hearth Cost

Bluestone is considered to be the most common choice of fireplace hearths. As a result, it may be more expensive than other hearth materials, like brick.

Despite it costing more than some alternatives, homeowners consistently say that the cost is well worth the beauty and final product.

You should plan your budget for your new bluestone hearth based upon the size of the hearth (or slab) that you require in order to complete the project.

For obvious reasons, a larger natural stone hearth will cost more than one of a smaller size. You’ll also find that while some home improvement stores sell stone hearths, they will be more expensive than those that come directly from a stone supplier.

Buying Bluestone Hearths in NJ

If you’re looking to spruce up your fireplace with a bluestone hearth, Braen Supply has a large variety of options for you to choose from. We have been in the industry for more than a decade and have helped homeowners with hearths of all shapes and sizes.

Our hearth materials are produced with care and precision so that you can get the one that fits your home perfectly. Depending on the quantity, hearths can be delivered to NJ, NY, PA and CT.

What Sand Should I Use to Level Underneath My Pool?

Sand underneath poolWhen undertaking the project of installing a swimming pool many homeowners don’t realize how large the project truly is.

There are a ton of factors that will impact the project, however one of the most frequent questions we get about installing a swimming pool is which sand should be used underneath it.

Before your pool can actually be installed a level surface must be created that will allow for support of the pool shell. This surface is created with sand.

Whether a pool professional or yourself will be installing your swimming pool, you’ll need to be aware of the different types of sand that are available, and which is the right choice for creating a level base for your pool.

We’ve decided to explore the different options that are available to you and which sand you should use for your pool.

The Importance of Sand in Pool Installations

Although many homeowners take the time to determine the actual size, depth, installation and pricing requirements for a swimming pool, many fail to consider the fact that the pools shell will need to have a stable base beneath it. The last thing that you want is for the floor of your swimming pool to be uneven. This creates safety issues and inconsistencies in depth.

Being required to repair these problems in the future can result in the need to excavate, which can quickly become very expensive. It’s important to understand that an extra 2-4″ of depth should be excavated to account for a layer of quality sand. Because of the small particle size, sand will not feature any voids which could cause the material to settle and result in an uneven surface after the shell is set into place.

As such, sand is the most popular option for establishing a solid base for underground swimming pools.

Types of Sand

We’ve broken down some of the various types of sand that are available for purchase, and which you might be considering for use as a level material beneath your underground swimming pool:

Concrete Sand

Otherwise known as washed clean sand, manufactured sand and utility sand, it quickly becomes evident that concrete sand is most commonly utilized for construction and industrial functions. The sand is an aggregate material that is typically comprised of gneiss, granite, limestone, or traprock, depending on the quarry where it was crushed and screened.

In many instances, this type of sand is utilized for purposes including the development of cement or hot mix asphalt, but it’s also useful for holding paving stones in place, and can make a good solution for establishing a level surface for above-ground swimming pools.

Yellow Mason Sand

Yellow mason sand has long been a popular option for those requiring a smooth, clean sand aggregate for landscaping, construction and recreational projects. This is due to the fact that it features a beautiful sandy coloration, is able to easily drain water and because of its low ration of particle setting.

As a result, yellow mason sand is a top pick for creating Portland cement mixtures, for mason grout and mortar combinations and as a base layer for bricks and paving stones. It is extremely popular for recreational uses such as volleyball courts and beaches and in the development of swimming pools.

We’ve found that many homeowners and contractors prefer to use mason sand for use with swimming pools.

White Sand

As the name might suggest, white sand is lighter in color than some of the other sand materials. It’s popular for use in recreational applications. As an example, white stone is commonly chosen as an alternative to beach sand, and may also be incorporated in volleyball courts, play sand boxes and in golf course bunkers.

Though less commonly used than yellow mason sand, it’s also possible to find white sand in use as a base material for pavers, or in swimming pools.

Which Type of Sand Is Best?

When it comes to choosing the right type of sand for your pools base, you’ll likely realize that you have many options to choose from. Although everyone has their own opinion about which material is best, it’s most common to employ either mason sand or white sand for the project.

It’s true that concrete sand is an excellent choice for creating a level surface beneath an above-ground pool, but the particle size of the sand may be bigger, resulting in the chance for voids.

If you’re still unsure of which sand you want to use for your swimming pool project we recommend speaking with a local expert, such as Braen Supply.

 

Where Can I Buy Recycled Concrete Aggregate in NJ?

Recycled Concrete Aggregate in NJAfter sidewalks, roads, driveways, buildings, and other concrete structures are excavated or demoed, there is usually a large amount of concrete left over. In the past, these concrete pieces would have been hauled away to a local New Jersey landfill, where it would’ve remained forever – taking up limited space.

Today, out of a growing concern for our environment, it’s becoming more common for the scraps to be utilized by contractors and property owners in the form of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA).

While RCA is available to residents of NJ and its surrounding states, many individuals are unsure of where to purchase the material, and how to be certain that it’s safe for use. In order to help you get the most out of RCA, we decided to explore its uses and benefits, as well as how to find the best place in New Jersey for recycled concrete aggregate.

Recycled Concrete Aggregate: Uses & Benefits

Although old, broken concrete can be a source of annoyance to those who have it, the rubble can actually be recycled and reused. Recycled concrete has grown in popularity with homeowners and contractors due to it’s environmental impact as well as its pricing.

It is cheaper than many other landscaping materials you may be considering for a project. We’ve been developing high-quality RCA for more than a decade and we’ve found that it can be the perfect material for a wide range of projects.

Recycled concrete is so popular with homeowners and contractors because it is a green solution that promotes eco-friendliness. In addition to preserving natural resources and reducing landfill size, RCA actually weighs less than the virgin materials utilized in concrete development. This means that, when hauled by trucks, less fuel is consumed and less pollutants are emitted.

Recycled concrete aggregate is also a more affordable option, which can cut down on building and construction costs. RCA can be utilized for a variety of reasons including, establishing a base material for roads, pathways, and building foundations and can rage to serving as erosion control or railroad ballast.

Factors to Consider When Buying Recycled Concrete Aggregate in NJ

When purchasing recycled concrete aggregate, it’s extremely important that you take the time to consider its source. This is because the supplier you purchase the materials from will play a role in the total cost of the material, as well as its overall quality and safety factor.

You may find that there are some vendors who are attempting to sell RCA at extremely discounted rates. Although this can be tempting, you should think twice before buying. Unless the vendor is licensed and insured with the state of NJ, there’s a good chance that the RCA could still contain bits of steel, metal and other potential contaminants. These elements can compromise the integrity and safety of the material.

In order to get the highest quality recycled concrete aggregate at the best prices, you should always choose to work with a direct stone supplier and manufacturer.

A well-established business that is knowledgeable about how their RCA is made will have the ability to provide you with a great product. Safety and excellence will always be traits to look for in a landscape materials supplier.

The Largest Recycled Concrete Aggregate Supplier in NJ

Braen Supply has been dedicated to being environmentally friendly for more than a decade. As a result, we’re very experienced in the process of recycling old and broken concrete.

We work out of our recycling facility located in Haledon, NJ, where we crush and screen the rubble to the appropriate size and remove any steel or other metal components.

Because we locally manufacture our own RCA, we’re able to guarantee consistency, and can offer our customers wholesale prices on the product. That’s why we’ve become one of the largest recycled concrete aggregate suppliers in northern NJ.

Our recycled concrete aggregate and other products are available for pickup or bulk delivery throughout NJ, NY, PA and CT.