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If you really want to make your children happy, build them a sandbox in your own garden. There they can let off steam and have a lot of fun. Building a sandbox yourself is not difficult, but it does take some time.

In a nutshell

  • a sandbox in your own garden makes children happy
  • usually in a square or rectangular shape made of untreated wood
  • A lid or cover to protect the sand from dirt and moisture should be mandatory
  • not be too small, so that in case of doubt, children who are friends can also play along

materials and tools

The sandbox is usually made of wood. For this you need the following materials:

  • Eight wooden boards of the length you specify with a minimum thickness of two centimeters
  • four wooden boards with a width of 20 centimeters and a thickness of also two centimeters
  • angle pieces of metal
  • Various countersunk screws and nails for attaching the boards

In addition, for the substructure still required:

  • 200 to 250 kilograms of fine gravel
  • a fleece or a cover film

Both tools a circular saw with a saw blade for wood is required as standard. In addition, there should also be:

  • hammer
  • small shovel
  • cordless screwdriver
  • staple gun
  • tape measure

1. Determination of the location

The question of where exactly the new sandbox should be placed is not as trivial as it might sound at first. Two points are particularly important:

  • For safety reasons, always be clearly visible from the house
  • never stand in the blazing sun at any time of the day, but always have some shade.

In addition, a sandpit should never be placed near places where, for example, native birds or other animals nest. The background noise that children playing happily make would inevitably drive the animals away. If you want to build a sandpit yourself, you should think about the right location in the garden in advance. It is the first step to ensure that everyone involved is permanently happy with the new venue.

2. Defining the shape and size

The normal shape of a sandpit is a rectangle. This rectangle is often even a square, since this shape is usually easier to realize. In addition, the size before the start of construction is a very important point. The usual minimum size for sandboxes is side lengths of 1.5 x 1.5 meters. This area is perfectly adequate for one or two children. However, a sandbox is always a place for communication, where children meet and exchange ideas while playing with each other. Therefore, the base area of the sandbox should not be too small. It is also important to take into account that children are also growing and therefore need more space at a certain point.

Tip: The size of the sandbox should be rather generous. A minimum size of 2 x 2 meters is recommended.

In addition to the side lengths, the depth of the sandbox is also important. A depth of around 30 centimeters is common and advisable here. However, the full 30 cm should not be filled with sand, but only about 20 centimeters of it. For our sandbox we need a good 1000 kg of sand. This usually corresponds to around 45 bags of 25 kg each.

3. Mark out and dig the pit

Once the location and size have been clarified, the actual realization finally begins. To do this, the side lengths must first be staked out. For this you need

  • folding rule
  • four wooden pegs
  • line
  • possibly a spirit level
  • hammer

The four wooden pegs form the corners of what will later become the sandbox. They must therefore be driven into the ground in the right places. The side lengths between the pegs are precisely measured in order to determine the distances from the outset. Then connect the pegs with the cord.

Tip: A spirit level is helpful to get the lines as straight as possible. It may also be necessary to correct the position of the pegs.

The cord is wrapped around the respective stake. Once that is done, you have a rectangle in front of you and can start digging the pit for the sandbox. It is best to use a sharp-edged spade for this. With this spade, a part of the earth is first cut off along the cord in the inner area of the rectangle. It makes sense to make as straight a cut as possible with the spade. First you create a cut frame, then you start with the actual excavation. If the frame has been cut off correctly, the hole can be dug out with a shovel and possibly a rake.

Tip: When digging the pit, check the maximum depth of 30 cm from time to time.

4. Work in the substructure

A proper substructure is required at the bottom of the pit so that rainwater in particular can drain well out of the sandbox. A layer of gravel about 2 cm thick, over which you lay fleece, is ideal. The fleece also prevents weeds from sprouting in the sandbox at some point.

5. Build your own sandbox

Now it's time to assemble the actual sandbox. The sandbox is known to be built from wooden boards. To do this, cut four boards according to the side lengths you have specified. The easiest way to do this is with an electric wood saw or a circular saw. The boards should be about the depth of the sandpit. Place the four boards on the matching sides in the excavated pit and screw them together at the edges so that they form a stable rectangle overall.

Tip: You can now attach the previously placed fleece on the gravel base to the finished frame. It is simply attached to the wood with a tacker. For this, the fleece or the film used should be around five centimeters larger on each side than the base area.

The interior construction would then be complete. Now it's time for the exterior construction. In principle, it is built like the inner structure. However, the frame manufactured in this way is then placed outside of the internal structure. The distances to the inner part must be exactly right so that it does not get caught. There should be a distance of around 20 centimeters between the boards of the interior and exterior construction. You then close this gap by attaching the seat boards.

Tip: When screwing the seat boards, you must make sure that the screws actually end up in the wood and not just next to it.

6. Filling the sandbox

A sandpit needs sand, of course. It is best to fill it with a special sandbox sand, which is now available in many hardware stores. Alternatively, conventional construction sand will also do. Humus is absolutely not recommended, as it can lead to a weed problem. After all, about a tonne of sand is required for our sandbox. It also makes sense if you always have a certain amount of sand in stock to compensate for any losses that inevitably occur when children play.

frequently asked Questions

Which wood is suitable for a sandbox?

Larch or Douglas fir are ideal if you want to build a sandpit yourself. Inexpensive spruce wood is also suitable in principle, but is not as weather-resistant. In any case, you should choose a type of wood that is untreated and planed smooth so that the children cannot injure themselves on a protruding slate when playing.

How are the boards joined together?

The easiest way to do this is with so-called metal brackets, which are screwed onto the respective sides. It is best to use weather-resistant wood screws for this, which you insert with a cordless screwdriver.

How can you prevent earthworms or other creatures from getting into the sandbox from below?

It is helpful if you use a breathable film instead of the fleece described above. It also provides relatively reliable protection against weeds. By the way: Neither animals nor weeds should fight you with poisons. They definitely have no place in a sandpit.

Does the sandbox have to be painted?

Not necessarily. Depending on the type of wood, however, it may be advisable to apply a glaze that protects the wood from moisture. The glaze should then be non-toxic and safe for children.

How can the sandbox be covered?

Either with a waterproof film from the hardware store or with a cover constructed from boards, which you can also build yourself and attach to the side walls with hinges.

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Category:

Garden design