Frequently Asked Questions

CCRs including ash can considerably cut down on the safety and produtivity of coal power plants. Coal ash can be removed through dredging with a cutter head and pump that is connected to a flexible pipe. The material is then pumped to another area for proper settling and dewatering. Mechanical dredging with an excavator can be performed as well.  The determination of the best method is often limited by access to the pond or lagoon from the shoreline and where the coal ash or fly ash needs to be disposed of.  If the dredge can pump the ash directly into the disposal area, that method may be most effecieint.  If the excavator can load trucks along the shoreline or a peninsula for offsite disposal then that method may be the best way to remove coal ash.   

Topdressing a lawn can improve your turf health and appeal.  Topdressing Sand is still the best material to level and topdress your lawn.  Compost has become a popular alternative because it is easy to apply and can cover a lot of area per ton.  However, most professional golf courses and sports fields still topdress with sand alone.  The method is backed with decades of turfgrass research.  Sand spreads and levels a surface easily.  Sand also increases porosity immediately within the rootzone to promote deep roots with good water and air infiltration.  Compost adds organic matter to the soil along with beneficial microbes.  However, a healthy turf may not need more organic matter as it produces its own (thatch) and it should already have an established microbial ecosystem.  The more practical side of compost application is that you end up with the larger pieces of debris (wood, peanut hulls, leaves, etc.) left on top and a portion of it blown off with the next mowing.  The issue with applying a good topsoil is that it is more difficult to spread and it may contain small rocks/pebbles that are not good for any mowers, especially reel mowers.  RSI still offers all types of sand topdressing, sand/compost topdressing blends, loamy soil topdressing, green topdressing, and sand/peat blends for topdressing.  If you have a preference let us know. 

First, keep in mind that there are a lot more types of sand than what you imagine.  Sand is not just sand.  Many companies will bring you the sand that is most available, cheapest, or something that they have used in the past for volleyball courts.  Sure, you can use masonry sand, concrete sand, or golf course bunker sand but all of these are designed for another purpose and may have issues that you don’t like.  Masonry can compact too fine, and the sand stick to your body.  Concrete sand can be too coarse and the larger particles hurt.  Bunker sand is a beautiful color but is designed to not let golf balls penetrate the surface resulting less cushioning.  RSI provides a Volleyball Sand that has a great white color and specs that remove the particles that are too little and too big creating a sand that is just right.

Potting Soil is the best soil for potted plants.  It is lightweight and drains rapidly while still maintaining moisture and nutrients for plants.  It is generally composed of a combination of compost, peat, soil, vermiculite, and perlite.

Topdressing is not a new practice for golf courses and athletic field turf.  Lawn turf is often a similar turf, usually bermuda or zoysia.  Sand has been the standard topdressing material for decades and it backed by decades of research and application by the leading turfgrass professionals.  Sand spreads evenly over the turf to provide a level surface for an even cut by the mower, preventing scalping.  Sand is also an inert material, meaning that it will stay within the soil creating pore space for infiltration of air and water.  Sand along with core aerating reduces compaction of high clay content soils.  Sand also helps alleviate excessive thatch build up.  A heathy turf already has beneficial microbes within the soil, but excessive thatch or shallow roots can lead to the loss of turfgrass health.  RSI has a variety of topdressing sands for different applications and turf types.  Our topdressing may be dyed green or blended with compost if preferred. 

Crusher run, or crush and run, is the most economical gravel used for a driveway.  It is a mixture of sand and stone that makes a smooth compactible surface. 

Typically, the difference between Construction Sand and Play Sand is the size of the particles.  Play Sand contains much finer, smaller particles that feel softer to the touch and stick together better for building sandcastles and best for playing with toy trucks.  Construction Sand typically contains larger particles that are better for improving drainage and adding strength to concrete. 

Topsoil is a sandier, fertile, usually dark brown or black, soil that contains nutrients and organic matter suitable for growing plants.  Fill dirt refers to any dirt that does not contain organic matter but instead contains higher amounts of clay.  Some fill dirt may be suitable for compactible fill.  Fill dirt is usually a more economical option and better option to fill in low areas for structured fill.  Topsoil is best used for areas that will be planted with grass, trees, or shrubs. 

Both gravel and river rock can be used for many of the same purposes.  Both come in a selection of sizes.  The primary difference is the cost of river rock is usually 2-3x more than the same size granite gravel.  River rock is generally more appealing aesthetically though. 

The most obvious difference is the place you put it, and the size of the people that use it.  Masonry Sand can be used for play sand.  However, play sand does not conform to any specifications, like ASTM c-144, for mason sand.  Both are very similar and often come from the same source.  Occasionally, mason sand can come from a source that is crushed granite and would not be suitable for play sand.  RSI has a preferred sand that is washed to remove a few more fine particles in Play Sand to keep it slightly cleaner than our standard masonry sand. 

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