How to make a lid for a sandbox with your own hands. How to make a wooden children's sandbox with a lid with your own hands. DIY sandbox photo

Even the simplest sandbox becomes a source of great joy for children. Here you can build castles, bake sand pies and do a million other interesting things. So there is no doubt that the idea of ​​making a children's sandbox with your own hands will be greeted with delight by your children. In theory, the idea looks remarkably simple, but a few tips definitely wouldn’t hurt.

Of course, first of all you need to determine the location of the future sandbox. Under no circumstances should it be placed in the open sun. If you don’t have a suitable shaded place under a tree in mind, then you should immediately assume that the sandbox will need a canopy.

Children's sandbox under a canopy

Also, when choosing a place for a sandbox, you need to take into account the age of the children. The younger they are, the better the sandbox should be visible from different parts of the site.

Materials for building a sandbox with your own hands

The simplest option for building a children's sandbox with your own hands is ready-made solutions sold in construction stores. In this case, you will purchase a set of parts already cut to the required sizes, which you just need to fasten together. But here it will be difficult to implement your own ideas: it will not be possible to develop a model that meets your own needs. You should also take into account that for the sandbox you will need high-quality fine sand without impurities, which, like other bulk building materials, can be ordered from specialized companies.

DIY sandbox made of wood

If you are planning to build a wooden sandbox, use untreated wood. Various chemicals very quickly get into the sand, which children sometimes taste. To prevent wood from rotting, use resistant species: larch, Douglas fir or Robinia. It will cost more, but the sandbox will please you longer. But spruce and fir wood is also suitable for building a sandbox with your own hands.

Stone or concrete

Instead of wood, you can also use paving stones. Stone has an undeniable advantage: a stone sandbox will last you forever, and neither humidity nor temperature changes will harm it. In addition, a paving stone sandbox is quick and easy to build. Do not forget to coat the joints of individual stones with concrete for greater reliability.

Corner in the garden

You can even build an entire children's castle from paving stones. Choose an unused spot in the garden and build relatively high walls of any shape. In the photo above there is a huge sandbox-castle where your child can play to his heart's content.

Concrete blocks with flowers

Building a sandbox from concrete blocks is very convenient: you just need to set a border of blocks. But if suddenly the resulting sandbox seems gray and boring to you, then here’s a great idea: plant flowers in the recesses in the blocks, introducing children to community service. And the task of watering flowers and caring for them will help develop a sense of responsibility in children.

Do-it-yourself sandbox made from tires

Here's another simple, low-cost idea: If you have a large old tire in mind, it's easy to make a sandbox out of it. To make it even more beautiful, paint it with your kids in their favorite color.

Is it worth digging a sandbox?

The sandbox can be built directly on the ground, or it can be dug in. Which option you choose depends on how much time you are willing to devote to building the sandbox. In any case, a dug-in sandbox has a more reliable design.

Practical ideas for a DIY sandbox

It is very convenient to be able to cover the sandbox when not in use. Then the wind will not blow garbage into the sand, and animals will not be able to do their business in the sandbox. The lid can be designed so that when open it becomes a comfortable bench on which the child can rest during a break between games.

Here, however, a problem arises that the lid will prevent rainwater from entering the sandbox, and it will not be possible to make Easter cakes from dry sand. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for how the sand can be wetted before playing.

A double-leaf lid for a sandbox has a great advantage: if desired, one of the doors can be left closed and used as a place to store small items or a platform for building Easter cakes.

If the sandbox does not have a lid, it will quickly fill with water during any rain. The sand can dry out on its own, but still, before building a sandbox with your own hands, you should think about drainage. To do this, you can put crushed stone at the bottom of the sandbox, cover it with a water-permeable fabric and secure it to the frame of the sandbox. This measure will also avoid unexpected guests in the form of insects and worms.

Toy box

Do you like practical solutions? Then we have this idea for you: place a place to store toys next to the sandbox. On the one hand, all the toys will always be at hand, and on the other hand, you will not need to remove the sand that has fallen off the bucket every time.

2 in 1: storage chest and bench backrest

By installing a stopper, you can turn the lid of a toy chest into the back of a bench. After all, even the most active children sometimes need a moment to relax.

Sandbox on wheels

If your garden is not so large, you can save space by attaching wheels to the sandbox, then you can rearrange the garden at any time. Here, too, it is advisable to take care of drainage, especially if the sandbox will most often be outdoors. It is best to use wooden boards as the bottom, leaving gaps between them. And so that the sand does not “run away”, line the day with water-permeable fabric.

Sandbox of unusual shape

When we talk about a sandbox, we immediately imagine a wooden square filled with sand. But this does not mean at all that we should limit our imagination to this idea. Why not make the sandbox, for example, hexagonal? A fairly simple idea, but it gives the sandbox a completely different look.

A tarpaulin cape can be a worthy replacement for a lid

It doesn't matter what shape you choose for your sandbox. But it is still important to take care of protecting the sand. If building a cover seems like an unnecessary extra waste of time to you, here’s a simpler option: an ordinary tarpaulin, which will perfectly protect the sandbox and its contents from wind, rain, and the neighbor’s cats.

DIY sandbox in the shape of a ship

In such a sandbox you can not only build castles, but also play pirates. And the “sail” will additionally protect from the scorching sun. Original, isn't it?

Photo: ziegler-spielplatz.de, deavita.com

The cost of building a sandbox is minimal, and children will enjoy it immensely. Of course, you can buy a ready-made structure and simply fill it with sand, but a sandbox made by yourself is much more interesting and convenient.

Selecting a location

Before you start building a sandbox, you need to find the most suitable place for it, because the comfort and safety of the baby depends on this. There are several rules for sandbox placement:

To protect from the sun, you can place a sandbox under a small strong tree or build one. But you shouldn’t do this under old trees: at any time a heavy branch can fall from a tree onto a child.

Prices for children's sandboxes

Children's sandboxes

Sandbox construction

If a place for the sandbox has been chosen, you can begin the main process. First you need to calculate the dimensions of the structure, choose a shape, and properly prepare the base. The size of the sandbox depends on the age and number of children who will play in it. For three children aged 1-3 years, an area of ​​1.5x1.5 m is sufficient; for older children, it is recommended to make sandboxes 2x2 m, and standard designs have dimensions of 1.7x1.7 m.

Most often, the sandbox has a rectangular or square shape, but sometimes round and hexagonal designs are found. Here a lot depends on the imagination of the master and his skills; if your experience in such matters is minimal, it is better to stick to the standard square shape. Wood is used as a building material, namely pine boards.

Additionally you will need:

• shovel;
• roulette;
• pegs and rope;
• geotextiles;
• sand;
• tamping;
• timber 50x50 mm;
• hacksaw;
• antiseptic impregnation;
• liquid bitumen;
• sander

Step 1. Site preparation

The selected area is cleared of stones, branches, weeds, and the surface is leveled. If the dimensions of the sandbox are 1.5x1.5 m, then the cleaned area should be 10-15 cm larger on each side - this is necessary for more accurate marking.

Step 2. Marking

Now you will need 4 pegs, a tape measure and a long rope. Visually determine the location of one of the corners of the structure, drive in a peg, draw two perpendicular lines from it, and mark the location of the last corner. A rope is pulled between the pegs and the length of the diagonals inside the markings is checked. They must be absolutely the same.

Step 3. Preparing the base

Inside the fence, a layer of soil is selected to a depth of at least 20-25 cm. The walls of the pit must be leveled so that they are strictly vertical. When all the soil has been removed, the bottom is trimmed and compacted. Sprinkle sifted fine sand on top in a 5 cm layer and compact it well.

Step 4. Making the frame

The timber is sawn into pieces 45 cm long, the lower ends are sharpened, ground, treated with impregnation and coated halfway with liquid bitumen. Now you need to install them at the corners of the perimeter and bury them 15 cm into the soil. The next stage is attaching the boards: they are knocked down in pairs and screwed to the bars with self-tapping screws. You can do it another way: first, completely assemble the frame, and then install it above the pit.

The boards can be narrow or wide, the main thing is that the width of the walls is at least 30 cm. Be sure to treat the surface of each board with a sanding attachment on both sides, then soak and dry. After this, the boards are knocked down into a square box and reinforced at the corners with bars, which on one side should protrude beyond the perimeter of the box by 15 cm.

Step 5. Installation of sides

For the convenience of the child, small sides need to be made around the perimeter of the frame. To do this, take 4 boards 20cm wide, sand them very well, coat them with an antiseptic and cut the edges at an angle of 45 degrees. Lay the boards on top of the walls, align and align the joints, and screw tightly with self-tapping screws. The heads of the screws should be well sunk into the wood so that the child does not get hurt. Sometimes, instead of sides, they make corner benches: they take a board of short length, process it well, lay it on two adjacent walls, stepping back a few centimeters from the corner. After this, the board is nailed on both sides, and the edges protruding beyond the perimeter are cut off.

Step 6. Finishing the structure

Now the sandbox needs to be painted correctly. To do this, choose paints of 2-4 colors, always bright and contrasting. The sides or benches can be not just painted, but painted with ornaments, images of animals, flowers. As soon as the paint has dried, the structure is filled with sand.

Prices for various types of construction boards

Construction boards

Making a lid for a sandbox

An open sandbox gets clogged very quickly, so you have to periodically sift the sand or change it altogether. To avoid such problems, it is recommended to install a wooden cover. It’s not difficult to make, and the result is not only good protection from debris, but also comfortable benches. It is best to install the cover before installing the frame in a permanent place.

To work you will need:

• pine boards 25 mm thick;
• jigsaw;
• long loops;
• bolts with nuts;
• self-tapping screws;
• timber with a section of 30x50 mm;
• primer;
• dye;
• drill.

Step 1. Preparing the material

The boards are cut to the width of the sandbox, and all surfaces and edges are treated with a sanding attachment. After this, it is primed, dried and covered with two layers of paint. The hinges also need to be painted, otherwise traces of corrosion will appear after the first rain.

Step 2: Assembling the first half of the cover

On one side, two boards are screwed onto the sandbox frame with self-tapping screws. Two more boards are connected with bars and attached with hinges to the first ones. In this case, the bars should be at the bottom, and the hinges should be on top of the lid. They take two more boards and connect them with bars, the length of which exceeds the width of the shield. That is, on one side the bars protrude beyond the edge of the board by a third. This shield is also connected to the previous one using loops, only this time the loops should be at the bottom and the bars at the top. The hinges are screwed to the wood using bolts, since the screws quickly become loose.

Step 3. Assembling the second half

This half can be made without a backrest, which makes the process a little easier. On the free side of the frame, not 2, but 3 boards are stuffed, then a shield of two boards is knocked down and secured with loops, as in the previous case. To prevent the lid from bending under the weight of children, it is strengthened in the middle with a block. Now, when opened, the first half folds into a comfortable bench with a backrest, and the second simply reclines to half its width.

Frame installation

For installation, you will need an assistant: the structure is lifted, turned over with the protruding bars down and carefully lowered into the pit. The edges of the frame must coincide with the edges of the pit. To ensure that the sandbox stands level, you should check the location of the walls with a building level. If necessary, remove excess soil or add more, leveling the frame horizontally. After this, cover the bottom of the future sandbox so that its edges extend 3-5 cm onto the walls on each side. Dense material will protect the sand from erosion, will not allow moisture to accumulate, and will not allow insects and moles to crawl through from underneath. Finally, the soil is compacted from the outside and backfilled with gravel or sand.

The layer of sand for playing should be about 15 cm thick; To fill a standard sandbox you will need about a ton of it. It is recommended to choose river sand or quartz sand, which does not caking. Before filling, it must be sifted through a fine sieve to remove debris, plant impurities, and insects.

Canopy installation

Canopies for sandboxes can have a variety of shapes and are made of different materials. The most common option is fungus. To make it, you will need a beam 3 m long and a cross-section of 100x100 mm, boards and plywood. This fungus is installed at the stage of preparing the base, since it needs to be dug in the center of the sandbox to a depth of 1 m.

The manufacturing process is very simple:

• the timber is polished and treated with an antiseptic;
• the lower part is coated with bitumen mastic to a height of at least a meter;
• 4 triangles are knocked out of boards and covered with plywood;
• connect the triangles together and attach them to the top of the beam using spacers;
• in the center of the pit they dig a hole 1 m deep;
• insert the beam, level it using a plumb line;
• fill the hole with crushed stone and soil, compact it.

There is another canopy option: vertical posts are bolted in the center of two opposite walls of the frame. Height of racks 2 m; in the upper part, the supports are connected by a horizontal rail, over which a rectangular piece of dense fabric or a special canopy is thrown. The ends of the canopy on each side are fixed with metal hooks to the walls of the sandbox.

The described options are the simplest and most popular; if desired, they can be supplemented at your discretion. The most important thing is that the structure is as safe as possible, then the baby will be happy to play in it, and the parents will be able to relax a little.

Video - DIY sandbox

Happy are those whose garden is filled not only with flowers and all kinds of decorations, but also with children's laughter. Children are the main connoisseurs of country adventures. We try to take them away from city noise and smog so that they can enjoy nature and breathe fresh air. But it’s not enough to bring a child to the dacha; he needs to be occupied with something. A do-it-yourself sandbox built in the garden is an excellent place for children to play.

When creating a sandbox for your child and his friends, you must be guided by the basic principles of its placement:

• Forethought. Children should be within sight of adults, so the sandbox should be placed so that it is clearly visible and accessible.
• Hygienic requirements. There is no point in placing a play area under trees, otherwise not only falling leaves, but also bird droppings will create unnecessary problems.
• Protection. Direct sunlight does more harm than good, so sun protection is a must.
• Ease of use. When calculating the size of the structure, it is necessary to take into account the approximate number of children who will use it.

There are standard standards for children's facilities. The structure is made of wood, as the most environmentally friendly material. Usually this is a square, the side of which is from 2.5 to 3 m. Approximately 2 m³ of sand is needed to fill such a structure. If you make a standard sandbox, then you need to take pine boards 25-30 mm thick as the material for it.

It is important to follow the basic principles of placing a sandbox so that your child will play with pleasure, but under supervision and in a place protected from the sun and debris

The sandbox is quite standard in appearance, but it has everything you need: the child is under the mother’s supervision, the surface of the structure is treated, and the sides make the playing process more convenient

The process of constructing a standard sandbox

When thinking about how to make a sandbox with your own hands, you should initially determine the type of future structure. If the design is standard, then it is enough to select an area of ​​approximately 2x2 m in the garden, free from overhanging tree branches, and you can begin to create a future place for games.

Preparing the site for installation of the structure

Let's be realistic and choose a structure with dimensions of 1.7 x 1.7 m. For two or even three kids, such a sandbox will not be small, but it will take up little space in the garden.

Marking the area for the sandbox is not difficult at all; you need to have four pegs, several meters of twine and a tape measure to correctly measure the distance

The site for the future structure must be prepared. For this purpose we take a cord and pegs. We mark the perimeter of the sandbox and dig a hole 25 cm deep inside the fence. The fertile layer that we removed will be very useful in other parts of the garden. So, we got a platform 170x170x25 cm.

Sandbox base

You can limit yourself to digging a hole, but the earthen base of the sandbox will create problems in the future: the sand will quickly lose its original appearance, will be dirty and will have to be changed frequently. It is better to think in advance about how to make the garden sandbox as clean as possible. A dense base that will prevent soil and sand from mixing is an excellent way out of the situation.

A sand cushion will help level the soil surface. Pour sand into the bottom of the hole. A layer of 5cm will be enough. The sand must be compacted well, after which it is covered with special material.

In principle, paving slabs can also be used as a base, but sand covered with geotextiles is no worse, and there is less hassle with it

Geotextiles or agrofibre are modern materials that provide a quick and elegant solution to the problem. If we take, for example, polyethylene, the protection will be airtight, but after the first rain, the structure will have to be dismantled due to accumulated water. Geotextiles allow moisture to pass through perfectly: all the water will simply go into the ground. But neither moles nor insects that live in the ground will be able to get to the top. If you use film or plywood, you need to make drainage holes in them.

There is little left: start and finish

We prepare bars 450x50x50 mm. They will be located in the corners of the structure. Considering the fact that part of the 15cm long bar will be in the ground, these parts must first be treated with an antiseptic. Bitumen is perfect for this purpose. We hammer the bars into the ground at the corners of the future sandbox.

For each of the four sides of the structure we construct a shield from pine boards. Its width will be 30 cm, and its thickness will be 2.5 cm. You can take one wide or several narrow boards - it doesn’t matter. It is much more important to thoroughly treat the surface of the shields so that there are no knots, protruding chips, or nicks. We definitely don't need splinters and scratches!

The sandbox is almost ready, and the sides give it a completely finished look; There are only a few final touches left, which we will discuss below.

It should be comfortable for children to play; for this purpose, sides can be made into the structure. We lay 4 boards along the perimeter of the structure, which we also carefully plan and inspect. Children can use the sides as seats, as display cases for Easter cakes or stands for buckets, molds and spatulas.

Small but useful additions

Cover - a measure of protection

Let's slightly modernize the standard version and add a lid to the finished structure. A sandbox with a lid is an option for prudent parents. Why is such an unusual detail needed? It's simple, using the lid we:

• protect the sand from rain;
• we will not allow the wind to carry leaves and other possible debris here;
• We will not allow cats and dogs into the building: let them look for another place for the toilet.

So, we came to the conclusion that a cover is necessary, so we will make a wooden shield by securing several boards to the blocks. It will need to be picked up and put away before the game. But the baby will not be able to do this on his own. It is worth thinking about a door lid, which can consist of two parts. For it you need to make two shields of appropriate sizes and fasten them on hinges. Equipped with handles, such doors can be opened even by a child.

This creative structure is equipped with a convenient lid: even a child can open it, and it can also be transformed into benches

If the procedure for constructing a lid turns out to be impossible for some reason, you can limit yourself to an awning or film. Fixed with an elastic band or simply with bricks, these canvases will perform the main function - protective.

Canopy or fungus

Fungus is an element without which the creation of the sandbox of our childhood was indispensable. This rather decorative detail also has a certain protective function. Under the fungus you can wait out sudden rain, and it protects babies well from the sun. Often a table was attached to the base of the fungus, which performs the same function in the structure as the sides.

A sandbox with a fungus is a safe and easy-to-play structure, in which there is nothing superfluous and has everything you need

Let's choose wood as the most reliable material for children's structures. For the fungus stem, take a 100x100 mm beam. Approximately 3 m of beam length will be enough. Indeed, for greater stability, the stem of the fungus must be dug into the ground to a depth of at least a meter. Do not forget to treat the leg of the structure with an antiseptic. For the mushroom cap, we make triangles from boards in advance. They should be nailed from the inside to the stem of the fungus, and sheathed on the outside with thin plywood. The width for a cap within 2.5 m will be quite sufficient.

Of course, this type of canopy is not the only one that can be built over a sandbox. Human imagination is limitless, and you can come up with other options that are no worse.

Choosing the right sand

Usually river sand is chosen for children's games. It is considered to be the purest and contains the minimum of foreign impurities. Quartz sand bought at a building materials store is also good. Any sand requires sifting. You never know what can get into it and ruin the child’s fun.

By the way, there are even special sands for children’s structures, from which it is more convenient to sculpt figures: they have a higher clay content. Special fragrances are added to this material, which can repel unwanted visitors to children's sandboxes - cats and dogs.

We could also talk about all sorts of ways to decorate a sandbox, but let the parents’ imagination supplement this article with original ideas. Now you know how to make a cozy children's sandbox. It is quite possible that the structure in your garden will become the real highlight of subsequent publications.

In suburban areas, sometimes the pressing question is how to arrange them so that young children have fun and safely playing. One solution is to make a sandbox with your own hands. The simplest structure can occupy the attention of children for many hours.

When creating, you should consider some rules for placing the playground:

• From a safety point of view, children should always be visible, which means it is better to place the sandbox in a clearly visible and accessible place.
• According to hygiene requirements, the sandbox should not be located under trees so that falling leaves and bird droppings do not contaminate the sand.

• Direct rays of the sun are more harmful than beneficial for young children, so the play area must be covered.

There are a number of standard designs for children's sandboxes. As a rule, they are based on a square with sides of 2.5–3 m. To fill it, about 3 m 3 of well-sifted river sand is required. When assembling the structure, environmental materials should be used, and pine boards 25–30 mm thick are best suited here.

Having chosen a place for construction, mark the perimeter. For a good foundation, it is preferable to remove the top layer of soil. Therefore, it is necessary to dig a shallow pit, about 25 cm. This could be limited, however, the sand, in contact with the ground, will quickly become contaminated and will have to be changed. The working volume of sand must be isolated from the ground, and geotextiles or agrofibre are perfect for this.

A sand cushion is poured into the bottom of our pit, which is carefully compacted, and a cloth is spread over it. Its structure is capable of transmitting atmospheric moisture into the ground. This compares favorably with, for example, polyethylene, which will not allow water to escape and the sandbox will be constantly wet. Geotextiles can be replaced with ordinary plywood, only drainage holes must be drilled in it.

To build the sides of the sandbox you will need bars measuring 450x50x50 mm. They must be treated with an antiseptic and placed in the corners of the structure. The bars are driven into the ground at the corners by about 15 cm. These will be the support posts.

A shield of pine boards is assembled for each side of the structure. The width of such a side should be about 30 cm. All surfaces should be sanded well so that there are no protruding chips or nicks left.

You can also assemble benches around the perimeter of the structure where children can sit down and place buckets or other toys. Of course, they must also be carefully aligned and even covered with paint or varnish, so that the child does not risk getting a splinter.

Lid

The design can and should be improved by adding a lid to it. It will protect the sand from rain, leaves and other debris, and also will not allow animals to relieve themselves in clean sand.

The lid will be a removable wooden panel equipped with handles for easy lifting. Can be made in the form of doors mounted on hinges.

In the simplest case, you can use an awning or film. Such a canvas needs to be secured with an elastic band or with bricks; it will protect the sandbox.

Canopy or fungus

The fungus over the sandbox is an excellent decorative element that also serves as protection from the weather. Under it you can wait out the rain or protect yourself from the sun's rays. Often a table is attached to the fungus column, which can perform various functions, including serving as a storage place for toys.

For the stem of the fungus you will need a beam with a cross section of 100x100 mm. In order for the canopy to be stable, part of the beam, at least 1 m, must go deep into the ground. The wood should be pre-treated with an antiseptic to protect against rot and insects.

In order to make a mushroom cap, you need to build triangles from boards. On the inside they should be nailed to the support, and on the outside they should be covered with thin plywood. The span of the cap is desirable about 2.5 m.

Choosing the right sand

River sand is usually used for children's games. The edges of its granules are polished with water and are not capable of injuring, moreover, there are almost no foreign impurities in it. If you decide to buy quartz sand, this can be done in shopping centers specializing in building materials. Any sand must first be sifted before pouring into the sandbox bowl.

Note! There is a special mixture for the playground; it is well suited for sculpting figures, since it additionally contains clay. Special fragrances are added to it to repel animals and insects from the sandbox.

There are many different ways to decorate a sandbox and make it more attractive to young children. The main thing in this case is the ability to show your imagination and not be afraid to embody ideas. And then your playground will become your child’s favorite place to play.

Video

Photo

Options for children's sandboxes:

Making a sandbox with a lid: