Digging in the sand is not only very popular on playgrounds. Also on the balcony or in the hotel’s own garden, sandboxes provide children with limitless fun. While commercial sandboxes only provide a limited area, a DIY sandbox offers much more flexibility.
Considerations before the start of construction
Once the construction of a sandbox is in full swing, fundamental changes are usually difficult to make. Even best da sander for auto body work if there is a clear idea of what the finished sandbox should look like, it may still be worthwhile to sketch rough building instructions. This forms the basis for forward-looking material planning, which saves additional routes to the DIY store. In addition to the planning of the actual sandbox, the following preliminary considerations should also be made:
- Determine the optimal location
If you own your own garden and have an unused area, you first associate it with the location of the sandbox. Since a sandbox is usually a long-term purchase, other aspects should be taken into account when choosing a location:
Especially with small children, it is of great importance that the sandbox is always in the field of vision of an adult. Since children like to spend several hours in the sandbox, a shady spot is preferable. Alternatively, a roof or a movable parasol should be used as shade. Trees are popular shade providers, but it cannot be ruled out that roots damage the construction of the sandbox or even prevent its construction. To be on the safe side, a certain distance between the tree and the sandbox must be maintained.
- The size of the sandbox
How large a sandbox ultimately turns out is usually based on the available space. Models with dimensions of 1.50 m x 1.50 m or 2 m x 2 m are recommended. Compared to commercially available plastic sandboxes, these ensure a generous play area for children and their toys.
- The right surface
In sandboxes, the contents of which are directly exposed to rainwater, the subsoil plays an important role. This should be designed in such a way that the rainwater can drain off in any case. Suitable for this are, for example, paving stones, whose joints allow drainage. Alternatively, it is possible to cover the subsoil with some gravel. This is followed by a permeable fleece. The latter also reliably protects against weeds and small animals.
- The choice of material
When building a DIY sandbox, the first question is the right wood. If you want to build inexpensively and yet durable, fir or spruce is a good choice. Rubies, larch, and Douglas fir are slightly more expensive, but also weather-resistant to wood rot. Regardless of the type of wood, care must be taken to use only untreated wood, as pollutants can easily get into the sand.
Building instructions for your own sandbox
Once all preparatory measures for sandbox construction have been taken, nothing stands in the way of the actual production. Before it can start, however, all the necessary materials must be procured. For a classic square sandbox with the size of 2 m x 2 m, the following is required:
Gravel and fleece for the subsoil
- Exterior construction: 4 boards of the preferred type of wood with the dimensions 2 m x 30 cm x 2 cm
- Interior construction: 4 boards of the preferred type of wood with the dimensions 1.64 m x 30 cm x 2 cm
- Seat: 4 boards of the preferred type of wood with dimensions of 1.82 m x 20 cm x 2 cm
- Sufficient play or construction sand (approx. 250 kg)
Screws and nails
- Net for trailer or simple cover of the sandbox
- Cordless screwdriver
- Here’s how it’s done:
After all the materials mentioned have been procured, the Sandbox project can begin. Only the following ten steps have to be mastered, which every hobby craftsman is guaranteed to succeed with ease:
Digging the hole (2.20 m x 2.20 m) – the depth of the hole results from half the width of the board
Filling the hole with gravel
- Making the inner construction by placing the respective boards on the square and then screwing them together
- Attach the fleece to the inner construction with the help of nails or a stapler
- Place the construction at the intended place of the filled hole
- Preparation of the exterior construction as already described in step 3.
- Combining exterior construction and interior construction, precise work is particularly important here so that the seat can be mounted cleanly in the next step
Screwing the seat, the screws are to be firmly anchored in the wood
Filling the sandbox with play or construction sand until a filling quantity of about 60% is reached
Cover the finished sandbox with a net, foil cover, or boards to prevent contamination
Creative ideas for the special sandbox
Square or rectangular sandboxes can be found in almost every garden. On the other hand, it is much more unusual to bring the sand into a creative shape with the help of paving stones or various woods. The stones and/or woods are guaranteed to attract admiring glances as a border.
With a limited area, or if the sandbox is to be stored over the winter months, a sandbox made of plastic is extremely practical. best drum floor sander Depending on the model, individual elements can be combined as desired and depending on how the elements are arranged, one and the same sandbox takes on a new shape again and again. Flexible sandboxes on wheels are also popular in small gardens.
A sandbox with integrated benches is enjoyed not only by children but also by adults. Thanks to foldable models, the cover can be converted into a bench seat.
A tractor tire or an unused wooden boat also ensures enthusiasm. Both models are only to be filled with sand.