Chenab sand — bulk supply in Lahore

Chenab sand is the sand many Lahore contractors ask for when they lay bricks and plaster walls. It is fine, smooth and workable in mortar. It is not usually the sand an engineer specifies for structural concrete on its own, which is why sites often stock two sands at once.

Types and specifications

Figures from a 2019 study at Capital University of Science and Technology (Khokhar et al., CUST). The study also noted that Chenab sand can be used in concrete when blended with a coarser sand. Batches vary, so a lab sieve test is the way to check a specific supply.

What it is used for

• Mortar for brickwork and blockwork
• Internal and external plaster
• Screeds and bedding, where specified
• Blended with coarse sand in concrete, only if your engineer approves

Quality checks on delivery

1. Colour and feel: clean, even grains with no clay lumps, roots or rubbish.
2. Hand rub test: rub a moist handful. Heavy staining on your palms means silt or clay.
3. Jar test: shake sand and water in a clear jar and let it settle; a thick silt layer on top is a warning sign. Ask your engineer what limit to apply.
4. Moisture: wet sand bulks and looks like more volume; note it before measuring.
5. Mixing check: ask the supplier to confirm it is not mixed with cheaper local sand.

How much you need

Your contractor should work out mortar and plaster quantities from the drawings and their mix ratio. We do not quote a per-sq-ft rule here, because it depends on wall thickness, plaster thickness and mix. Ask for the estimate in cft and compare it with deliveries.

Measuring a load: measure the inside length and width of the trolley or truck and the average height of sand in feet, then multiply to get cft.

Bulk-buying tips

• Order in batches so sand is not left in the open for weeks.
• Delivery: confirm vehicle size and street access.
• Unloading: on a clean base, separate from Ravi sand and crush so nothing gets mixed.
• Invoices: a slip per load with date, cft and rate.
• Payment: pay per measured load, not a large advance.
• Storage: cover against wind and rain; keep clear of drains.

What affects the price

Houseplot construction rate data puts river sand in Lahore at about Rs65 per cft (July 2026; data compiled 18 October 2026). That figure does not split Chenab and Ravi sand. Chenab sand travels further to reach Lahore, so get specific written quotes. Price factors:

• Haul distance and fuel prices
• Screened or unscreened
• Season and river supply
• Vehicle size and access to your site
• Delivery and unloading terms
• Order size

FAQs

Why use Chenab sand for plaster? Its fine grains make smooth, workable mortar. The CUST study found it made "a good cement sand mortar" (CUST).

Can I use Chenab sand in concrete? Only as your engineer specifies. The study found it not ideal on its own, but usable when blended with coarser sand.

How can I tell Chenab sand from Ravi sand? It is hard to tell by eye. Buy from a supplier you trust, look at stock before ordering and check silt with a jar test.

Should sand be dry when measured? Ideally. Wet sand bulks up, so a wet load measures larger than the dry sand in it.

Sources