How to Build a Homemade Sandbox for the Kids to Play In
Another reason is, if you have more kids and need a larger sandbox, you can easily disassemble the current one and build a bigger one. After the kids are gone and you want to do away with the sandbox, that will be easy to do as well.
By building your own sandbox for the kids, you decide how large or small you want it to be. A six by six foot sandbox is a nice size for two kids to play in. But, a word of caution- you should first check with your local building codes and permits department before you build to make sure you stay within the law.
Once you know you’re legal, it’s time to build a homemade sandbox for the kids to play in. The materials you’ll need for this project are four pieces of pressure-treated wood and some two-and-a-half inch galvanized wood screws. To build a 6X6 foot sandbox, the wood will need to be six feet long. Two by eights work well for this project. Eight inches is a nice depth for a sandbox. It makes tall-enough sides to keep the sand in, but it’s low enough so your kids can easily get in and out of the box.
You’ll need pressure-treated wood because it’s weather resistant. It won’t rot and the insects won’t chew on it either. If you cut your own wood pieces, be sure to wear safety goggles and a face mask as the sawdust can be irritating.
Likewise with the galvanized screws. They’ll be exposed to the weather, but they won’t rust.
The first step to actually build a homemade sandbox for the kids to play in is to find the perfect location. Look for a spot that receives plenty of shade so the kids won’t be cooking in the sun and soaking up harmful UV rays. You’ll also want the location to be someplace in the yard where you can watch the kids while they’re playing in the sandbox.
The second step is to layout the location by using a measuring tape, string and four posts. To build a 6 X6 foot sandbox, you’ll need an area that measures a few inches over six square feet.
Next, clear the location of debris. Then, you’ll need to remove the sod and level the dirt out in order to build a homemade sandbox for the kids to play in.
And finally, the actual construction can begin! Lay the pressure-treated wood out in the shape of a square inside the stringed area. Grab two pieces of the eight-inch wide lumber and butt them together at the ends to make a corner. You may need a helper to hold the pieces in place while you use a battery-operated drill with a Phillips head bit to begin inserting the galvanized wood screws into the wood. Start two inches up and insert a screw. Then, advance two more inches and insert a second wood screw. Go up an additional two inches and secure the two pieces of wood together with the third screw. Repeat the process with the other three corners, and the frame of the homemade sandbox for the kids to play in is basically complete! But, before you move onto the next step, make sure the frame is in the center of the cleared out spot in your yard.
Now all you need to do is to fill your homemade sandbox with sand, and it’s ready for the kids to enjoy!
Notes: I helped my friend Jack build this sandbox for his kids. He was going to put screw hooks along the outside of the lumber so he could easily slip the grommet holes of a tarp over it to cover the sandbox up. But he quickly realized the kids could get scraped or otherwise injured by the hooks, so he nixed that idea. He finally decided to buy a tarp that is larger than the frame and weight it down instead.
Jack has cats, plus, there are neighborhood felines roaming around, but they have yet to bother the sandbox. He made the sand about seven inches deep, and he credits the depth of it for not having problems with cats digging in it.
