A sandbox built by dad himself is something very special for children. Read here how to build a sandbox yourself and what you should consider beforehand.
There is hardly a child who does not like to play in the sandbox. Build castles, bake cakes, moth and build roads for the toy cars - a sandbox is a real play paradise for children.
But why always go to the nearby playground when there is room for a sandpit at home? Building a sandbox yourself is not that difficult and can definitely be mastered by hobby craftsmen.
Make preliminary considerations
Before you start building, there are a few things to keep in mind. Once the sandpit is up, it's usually too late.
Choosing the right location
Proximity to the parents
Since children usually play extensively and for a long time in a sandbox, the right location is extremely important. Especially with small children, the sandbox should be close to the house or terrace so that you can always keep an eye on your little one.
Prefer a shady spot
The sandpit should be placed in a shady spot. Direct sunlight should be avoided as far as possible. If you don't have a tree or something similar within reach, a parasol or special sandpit roof is of course also suitable.
Set Sandpit Size
How much space do you have for your sandpit? Children need enough space to play, especially in the sandbox. Sandboxes with a size of 1 meter x 1 meter are not recommended. Most of the time children come to visit and then this is quickly too small.
We recommend sandboxes with a size of 1.50 meters x 1.50 meters to 2 meters x 2 meters. Here the children and the toys have enough space. You should calculate at least 30 centimeters in height, so that the children can really dig.
» My tip: An inexpensive storage box is ideal for storing sandbox toys. They're always handy, but they always look tidy at the end of the day.
Thecorrect underground
So that the water can drain off after rain, a tidy subsurface is important. Here you have two options.
- You can pave the piece under the sandbox with stones so that the water can drain through the gaps.
- Another option is to put gravel on the ground and put a layer of fleece on top. You can attach these to the frame with a staple gun. In addition to draining water, fleece also offers protection against weeds and small animals.
You can see how easy it is to implement the first variant in the video:
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Procure Material
Once you have decided on a size, you can get the material. For a sandpit 2 meters x 2 meters you need the following material:
- Fleece measuring 2 meters x 2 meters
- Gravel to fill hole
- 4 planks for exterior construction, 2 meters long, 30 centimeters wide and 2 centimeters thick
- 4 planks for interior construction, 1.64 meters long, 30 centimeters wide and 2 centimeters thick
- 4 boards for the seat with a length of 1.82 meters, a thickness of 2 centimeters and a width of 20 centimeters
- Cordless Impact Wrench
- about 250 kilograms of gravel
- Screws and nails
The right wood
Not all types of wood are suitable for a sandpit. If you build a sandbox yourself, you should use fir or spruce, for example. Ruby, larch or Douglas fir are a bit more expensive but resistant to wood rot. In the case of impregnated wood, you should ensure that the impregnation is as "child-friendly" as possible, with a very low proportion of harmful substances.
Build your own sandbox - Here's how it's done
Now that you have made all the preparations, you can start assembling the sandbox.
- Step 1: Dig a hole measuring 2.20m x 2.20m. The hole should be half as deep as the boards are wide. In our example, 15 centimetres.
- Step 2: Then the hole is filled with gravel.
- Step 3: Now start to build the inner construction of the sandbox. To do this, place the boards in a square and then screw them together.
- Step 4: Unfold the batting and secure it to the inside edges with nails or a staple gun.
- Step 5: Now place this construction in the gravel filled hole with the correct spacing.
- Step 6: Next, the outer construction is built. Proceed in the same way as with the interior construction. Arrange the boards in a square and screw them together.
- Step 7: This construction is now placed outside the inner construction. Here you should now work exactly to measure. The distance must be exactly the same at every point so that the seat rests exactly on top.
- Step 8: You only have to fasten the seat with screws. Please make sure that the screws are anchored in the wood.
- Step 9: Finally, of course, sand has to be put in the sandpit. Special play sand can be bought in hardware stores. Unfortunately, the children cannot really bake cakes or build castles with this one. Gravel is much more suitable here. A trip with a trailer to the nearby gravel works is the better and cheaper alternative.
» My tip: If you have problems with the implementation, you can call a gardening professional at MyHammer for help.
Cover for the sandbox
You should get a cover to prevent the sandpit from being used as a litter box. Nets that are often used for trailers or a self-made cover made of wooden boards are suitable here.