danauns t1_jeew32o wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:44 PM

Fun fact, there is no such thing as compacted sand. Sand is the absolute worst base for anything.

It has a purpose in hard scaping, but filling isn't it.

mazurzapt t1_jeexaei wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:52 PM

I was building a green house in my back yard; my brother said to put sand and then gravel on top. I checked with a landscaper friend who made me remove every bit of sand and put small gravel in it instead. It worked out great. But it was a pain getting the sand out.

danauns t1_jef86bt wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:03 PM

Exactly. Sand doesn't compact.

JonJackjon t1_jeffmqz wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:51 PM

When we installed our above ground pool, I used what was called "dead" sand. It was very fine. It did compact to a very firm base.

I don't know if its appropriate in the OPs situation but it does compact.

Beach sand....can't say.

Acrobatic-Studio-298 OP t1_jeg4gj3 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 7:35 PM

They’re using compacted sand for the entire foundation of a new stadium they’re building in my home town - they had a huge sand compacter machine thumping into it for days, so it must be usable to some extent… Stadium build