Industrial & Consumer Construction

All-Purpose Sand & Gravel for Building & Construction Needs

In general construction applications, the quality of your base materials can determine a project’s longevity. High-performance aggregates like sand and gravel provide essential structural support, efficient drainage and even load distribution for everything from commercial foundations to residential hardscapes. Without superior materials, projects risk uneven settling, cracking and premature structural failure.

Covia delivers the innovative mineral solutions necessary to meet these rigorous demands. Our consistently processed, high-purity sand and gravel ensure the durability and aesthetic control your applications require. Depend on Covia for the higher standards, cleaner materials and reliable coast-to-coast delivery network necessary to help you achieve your performance goals regardless of project size and location.

Versatile Construction Materials for a Range of Uses

RAILWAY TRACTION

Reliable traction is essential for safe and efficient rail operations—and sand plays a critical role in both stopping and starting. Railroad traction sand increases the friction between the wheels and rails to improve braking, acceleration and incline performance, ensuring trains maintain control under any condition. Covia offers traction sand with exceptional hardness, crush resistance and low dust, helping locomotives maintain steady traction for smooth takeoffs, controlled stops and reliable performance in all types of weather.

LANDSCAPE PAVING

When laying pavers, the strength of the joint between bricks, flagstones and other paving materials is critical. Regular sand can erode more quickly, leading to uneven settling. It can also more readily allow the penetration of insects and weeds. Polymeric sand, like the ACCEL® brand offered by Covia, creates strong, flexible joints that prevent weed growth, bug infestations and erosion over time. The exclusive polymer formula in our paving sand forms a powerful bond with concreate and stone materials, ensuring ideal, rubber-like flexibility while preventing stress cracking.

FOUNDATIONS FOR ROADWAYS & BUILDINGS

Any building or structure requires a firm foundation to ensure structural integrity, and gravel is the go-to material to provide stability and prevent settling. It distributes the weight of the structure evenly and acts as a natural drainage system. This allows water to flow away from the foundation and minimizes the risk of foundation failure. Covia offers a clean, high-quality gravel that is an ideal aggregate for general-purpose construction projects. Its mix of sizes and angular shapes allows for good compaction and water permeability, crucial for structural integrity and preventing water damage.

EROSION CONTROL

Coarse gravel and crushed stone aggregates are vital for stabilizing slopes and banks. Larger grades of crushed stone are particularly effective for erosion control along embankments because they provide a sturdy foundation that withstands heavy environmental stress. Additionally, gravel layers improve overall stability by allowing water to drain freely rather than pooling, which prevents the water pressure buildup that typically weakens soil and leads to erosion. Covia’s gravel and coarse aggregate solutions provide the flexibility, performance and availability that contractors demand.

Explore our full portfolio of products

ACCEL®

Dust-Preventing Polymeric Sand

CSG GRAVEL™

Multi-Purpose Gravel

TRACSAND®

Microcrystalline Silica

The Right Size - and the Right Material - For Every Project

The primary difference between sand and gravel is particle size. Both are derived from larger rocks, which are broken down to become smaller and smaller pieces. This can occur naturally, when forces associated with erosion and weathering act on rocks. Or, in the case of crushed material, this can occur in manmade processes where larger rocks and stones are broken mechanically into smaller pieces.

Sand
Sand ranges in size from 0.075 mm to 4.75 mm

Gravel
Gravel ranges in size from 4.75 mm to 75 mm

Rock
A rock is larger than 4.75 mm, ranging in size from small as pebbles or as large as boulders

Broad Product Portfolio

Covia is a leading supplier in silica and nepheline with a strong position in other minerals and solutions. In most markets, our products require tight tolerances and qualification by the customer to ensure specifications are met on chemistry composition and grain particle distribution.