A sandbox for a child isa world of fantasies and games. It should not be missing in the garden where the toddler spends his time. DIYmaking a wooden sandbox in the gardenis very easy, especially with ourstep-by-step instructions for building a sandboxSeehow to make a sandbox for childrenthat it is comfortable to use and safe for the child, and at the same time it is an aesthetic element of the garden!
Wooden sandbox for children
What is needed to make a sandbox for children?
The simplestgarden sandboxes for childrenthat you can make yourself are the ones made of wood. Wood can be bought quite cheaply and it fits nicely with garden plants.
The sandbox depth should beusually 30 to 50 cm. Side walls can be made of pine boards, additionally painted with a special wood impregnation, which will protect the material against weather conditions and UV rays and give the color of your choice.
Length and width of the sandboxdepends on our preferences and the space in the garden. The most popular ready-made wooden sandboxes, available in construction stores, have the shape of a square with a side length of 140 cm. Therefore, we can make sandboxes similar to them or slightly larger. The design of a sandbox for children prepared by us has a size of 180x180 cm.
To make a sandbox for children, we need :
- 8 180x15 cm impregnated pine boards,
- 12 impregnated pine boards, dimensions: 180x15cm (used to make a cover for the sandbox),
- 4 impregnated pine boards, dimensions: 90x15cm (used to build a sandbox cover),
- 4 impregnated pine corner strips,
- 4 impregnated pine boards, dimensions: 220x30cm (used to build the casing, which is additionally used as seats),
- stainless wood screws,screwdriver,
- wood impregnation outside, resistant to weather conditions and UV rays in the selected color,
- permeable mat at the bottom of the sandbox,
- 22 pieces of 20 kg sand bags (the amount is calculated for the needs of a sandbox with a side length of 180 cm)
Sand for the sandboxshould not contain any substances harmful to the child's he alth. In stores, you can find cleaned and sieved sand, certified by the National Institute of Hygiene. It is usually sold in 20 kg bags.
Note!You absolutely must not use sand from the building depot to fill the sandbox. Such sand is not clean, and it does not guarantee that there are no sharp pebbles or glass fragments in it.
Step 1 - preparing a place for a sandbox
When we have completed the necessary things,we designate the place where the sandbox for children is to standThe younger the children are, the more important it is for them to play under parental supervision. For this reason, the sandbox should be clearly visible from the windows of the house.
For younger kids, plenty of shade is especially important, ideally if thesandbox is in the shade of a large umbrellanext to the sandbox. I do not recommend a place under the tree, because falling flowers, fruit and leaves will pollute the sand.
Preparation of the substrate for the sandbox for children. Remove the turf, dig a 10 cm deep basin and lay a permeable mat on its bottom
After determining the place for the sandbox, remove the possible turf and dig a 10 cm deep trough. The surface of the pit should be flat without stones and other debris.Put a permeable mat at the bottom of the bottom , thanks to which the water will be able to freely seep into the ground, and we will avoid damp sand and weeds overgrowing.
Good to know!Black foil can be used instead of a mat at the bottom of the sandbox. Then you need to puncture the foil to create drainage holes.
Step 2 - how to make sandbox sides
The next stepin building a sandbox for childrenis joining the 8 previously impregnated pine boards to form the side walls of the sandbox. Our sandbox has the shape of a square with sides 180x180 cm. We connect the boards with each other using a corner strip and stainless wood screws. Thanks to this, the construction will be much more durable than using nails.
Installation of sandbox sidewalls. We connect the pine boards with each other using a corner strip
Sandbox after folding the side walls
Step 3 - How To Make Seating Around The Sand Gutter
The next step isassembly of the sandbox cover, which will also act as a seatThe ends of four 220x30 cm pine boards should be cut at an angle of 45 ° and mounted to the corner slats at with wood screws. The sandbox housing is not only a neat finish, it will also serve as a comfortable seat.
Ready sandbox for children with a casing serving as a seat
Step 4 - How To Make A Sandbox Cover
When making a sandbox for childrenit is also worth making a cover for it. Firstly, because the cover will not allow animals to stain the sand, and secondly, it will protect the sandbox from rain.
Sandbox cover assembly
The installation of the sandbox coverstarts with placing two pieces of pine boards, 180 cm parallel to each other, at a distance of 180 cm (see the picture above). Then, perpendicularly to them, we attach 6 boards with dimensions of 180x15. Place the other 2 boards, 90 x 15 cm, one after the other and repeat the same operation. In this way, I have an easy to usetwo-piece sandbox cover , which will protect sandboxes from contamination.
Ready sandbox cover (one of two parts)
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
