How to make a sandbox and fungus step by step drawings. DIY sandbox

There is no need to explain why children need a sandbox. There is hardly anyone who did not play in the sand as a child. You can make a good sandbox on your own in literally half a day. This will not only save some money, but, perhaps more importantly, will make dad’s authority much more significant. A do-it-yourself sandbox is built for family use when the first-born is already vigorously stomping around, and a collective sandbox is built at the beginning of arranging a children’s playground in the local area.

A sandbox for children's games is, as is known, low, 25-40 cm high above the ground, a fence or box, with or without a bottom, 1.2-3 m in diameter, into which sand is poured. It's important in the sandbox, because... most susceptible to contamination, and the children's sandbox must meet sanitary and hygienic requirements for children's household items. For a relatively small, 2x2 m sandbox, it requires approx. 1 cubic meter. To prepare such a quantity of ordinary sand at home for a children's sandbox, you will need to set up an entire production facility. Store-bought mixtures are not cheap, and no one can give a reliable guarantee that they will retain their properties outdoors. If they still correspond to the declared ones. However, a certain type of construction sand (not at all the most expensive) may be suitable for a sandbox, provided it is replaced annually or prepared for refilling. Therefore further A special section will be devoted to choosing sand for the sandbox.

Selecting a location

To make a sandbox correctly, you must first choose a suitable place for it. Place the sandbox on the site, as shown in Fig. in general, in the sector from north to southeast. It's all about ultraviolet light (UV). In the morning, when the air is fresher and clearer, its share of sunlight is greater, but the UV radiation itself is softer. Remember, doctors recommend sunbathing in the morning. In the afternoon, due to physical phenomena with dusty air and more saturated with water vapor, the share of UV decreases somewhat, but its spectrum becomes more severe. Therefore, in the afternoon, a shadow should fall on the sandbox.

However, building a sandbox under a tree is not recommended. You don’t have to wait for leaf fall: even in the summer, garbage, bird droppings and insects will fall into the sandbox. There is absolutely no need for spiders in the sandbox: a spider venom, which is safe for an adult, can bite through a child’s skin, and spider venom does not cause immunity, but, on the contrary, sensitization, increased sensitivity to it. Most spiders cannot stand bright light or dry conditions, so the sandbox should be located no closer than 3-4 m from frequently watered beds, bushes, ponds, fountains, etc. sources of moisture.

The next factor concerns not the sandbox itself, but the house and the landscaped area near it. Sand is an excellent abrasive. Grains of sand carried on shoes can quickly ruin not only parquet or laminate flooring, but also a paved garden path. Therefore, it is highly desirable that there be at least 1.5-2 m of lawn or blind area around the sandbox to remove sand from shoes. If the sandbox is not on the lawn, you can put cleaning mats around it for the hallway, but options from scrap materials are also possible, see below.

Preparing the site

Sandboxes are made permanent, which overwinter in the open air, and seasonal, which are put under a roof for the winter. The latter do not necessarily have a bottom, which requires more material consumption and adds weight. Permanent sandboxes are usually built for several generations of children, and seasonal sandboxes are a typical sandbox for a country house. With more or less careful use, it will serve not only children, but also grandchildren. The construction of both types of sandbox differs, in essence, only in the method of installing the box, see below.

Anyway Preparing a place for the sandbox and fixing it on it is carried out in stages as follows:

In the selected area, remove the turf or the top loose/littered layer of soil by 15-20 cm, i.e. half a bayonet of a shovel, and with the same exit to the sides;
The area is leveled, covered with any sand in a layer of 5-6 cm, and passed with a rake;
The sand backfill is covered with geotextiles, agrofibre or, in a very budget version, propylene matting from old bags unraveled into panels, with a contour extension of 30-40 cm. Such insulation will not allow roots and soil animals to enter the sandbox, but will release them into the ground excess moisture;
After installing the box (see figure), the insulation flaps are folded up and temporarily attached with tape to the sides of the box;

The trench bordering the box is filled with the excavated soil, compacting it;
Excess insulation is cut off or tucked in, tucked with a sliver, ruler, etc.

Note: If the sandbox is seasonal, then it is better to tuck in the insulation. In the fall, her lapels are pulled out and straightened. The box is removed, and then the sand can be taken out for winter storage. Or to a construction site, if the need for a sandbox has passed.

Does a sandbox need a lid?

It is clear why sand is attractive to cats and dogs and why their completely natural needs are incompatible with human hygiene. It is also highly undesirable for children to play on completely damp sand. It sticks better, but it doesn’t take long to catch a cold. You can, of course, when the sandbox is not in use, put pipes, boards, poles on it, cover it with film and press it down with bricks. But in the adult summer, when there are already too many worries on the site, this is troublesome and does not reduce the amount of rubbish on the territory. Therefore, the sandbox still needs a lid.

Note: Expensive purchased sandbox mixtures contain fragrances that repel animals. But, firstly, they “burn out” pretty quickly. Secondly, there are no independent medical statistics on the effects of these substances on human health. Since we are talking about the health of not just children, but of children, then, as they say, it is better to stay out of harm’s way.

A sandbox with a lid, if we exclude completely exotic versions of a fan-type lid, self-lifting with a mechanism, etc., is made in three ways, see fig. higher. The simplest option is a regular shield made of boards or plywood, as in Fig. left. But then the little ones won’t get into the sandbox without the help of adults (perhaps those who are very busy right now). Secondly, due to such sandbox covers, injuries are possible. A neat, smart and independent child, trying to put his workplace in order like an adult, pulls a shield that is too heavy for him to lift, and it falls on his little owner. There are no serious cases noted, there is not enough roaring and resentment.

The second option is a folding lid, or a book that transforms into a convenient bench, on the left in Fig. It’s not at all difficult to make one; The diagram of the transformer cover for the sandbox is shown in Fig. on right. Materials - boards (100-150)x(20-30) and beams 50x50. The beam (a) in a closed sandbox is under the lid, and the beam (b) is on it, so there is no need to calculate exactly the indents/gaps/offsets with this mechanism. By extending the beam (b) the tilt of the backrest is adjusted.

1 card loops with wings as wide as the thickness of the board; It is better to take barn hinges 2. In the middle of the upper boards of the back, cut-outs-grips are made (shown by the arrow on the left in the figure above). If you need a solid lid, then door handles are attached in the same places.

The second option is a sandbox with a hinged lid, on the right in Fig. higher, more suitable for children of different ages, when the eldest (eldest) may have already outgrown the sandbox, but takes care of his little brother (sister). Then the eldest, who is already able to lift a fairly large sheet of plywood or painted chipboard, will have a play/work table at his disposal, and the little one will have his own.

Topside

Materials

It is preferable to make sandboxes wooden; wood in this case is the most environmentally friendly and least traumatic material. With a simple and completely harmless treatment, you can achieve its durability in the open air for over 10 years, which is more than enough for a sandbox. Other options for constructing a sandbox will be discussed further, but for now let’s deal with wooden ones.

Preparing parts

Preparation of material for the manufacture of a wooden sandbox comes down to double impregnation of ready-to-assemble parts with a water-polymer emulsion (WPE). There is no point in using expensive certified oil and silicone water repellents (water-repellent compounds) and antiseptics in this case: there are few cracks and nooks that retain moisture (this is the so-called capillary entrapment) in the sandbox, they are all well ventilated and/or are in contact with moisture-absorbing sand. Free work, which in many other cases helps out the home handyman, is not applicable in this case, because Motor oils contain additives, the presence of which in children's household items is unacceptable.

Note: In addition, the underground parts of permanent sandboxes are treated with bitumen mastic or doused with boiling bitumen before installation in place, see below.

For the same reasons, almost any tree will suit the sandbox, even alder and aspen that are unsuitable for construction. Their low resistance to rot and mold is compensated by “frying” in the sun and contact with sand, and their low mechanical strength does not matter for a practically unloaded sandbox. For permanent sandboxes, it is better, of course, to take pine or other conifers. Birch is not suitable for any structures exposed to atmospheric influences; it molds very easily.

As for choosing the type of lumber, it is best to use quarter boards or tongue and groove boards; they will prevent the penetration of atmospheric moisture into the sand through the walls. In addition, tongue-and-groove benches will allow you to build strong, wide benches, see figure, and the folding lid of the sandbox will make it reliable and durable. A quite good sandbox is made from a tongue-and-groove board 16-20 mm thick. Of course, when assembling the box, the tongue ridge of the top board will have to be removed.

Note: The tongue tongue of the drawer walls should always face upward, and the tongue of the lower quarter, if quarter boards are used, should always face outward. Otherwise, moisture will stagnate in the connection.

Building a sandbox

The sandbox box is made 2-3 boards high, depending on their width. They are assembled by attaching the corners with self-tapping screws to pieces of timber 50x50 long in height for a box for a seasonal sandbox or with “legs” of 30-40 cm for a permanent one. A 100 mm board requires 2 fastening points, and a 150 mm board requires 3. If the walls are made of simple edged or quarter boards and their length exceeds approximately 1.8 m, then another piece of the same beam is attached in the middle of each wall.

The corners of the seasonal sandbox must be additionally reinforced so that its box can be turned by 1 person without the risk of breaking it. In this case, the corner posts are placed on the outside, and the intersecting boards crash into each other halfway up the tree. Drawings of a country sandbox for seasonal use are shown in Fig. Of course, a permanent one made in this way will not be any worse.

Side-seats

The side of the sandbox is a frame made of boards. It gives her box extra rigidity and serves as a seat and shelf for toys. To ensure the board is even, the ends of its boards are sawn at 45 degrees. Here, firstly, you need to pay attention to the coincidence of the edges. The protrusion of the corner, see Fig., is dangerous, children scratch on such hooks, as if they were being pulled there by a magnet. Such imperfections must be filed down and the outer corners of the edge must be sanded to roundness.

How the side is placed on the box can be seen in pos. 1 pic. It is definitely attached to the corner and intermediate posts. But if you leave it like that, the board will soon break off.

Fastening to the edge of the drawer board, pos. 2, not entirely reliable, kids are angry people. Backing block B is also not an ideal solution, it prevents children from putting toys into hiding places under the side, but what kind of game is this? The best way to strengthen the side of the sandbox is pieces of plinth-fillets from 40x40 mm, pos. 3. For 1 m of the length of the side, a piece 30 cm long, installed in the middle, is enough. Attachment points – 3, i.e. in increments of 10 cm. In addition, if the same supports are installed under the outer extension of the side, then its fastening can be made hidden.

Roof

Based on the conditions for placing the sandbox, it is clear that it needs a roof. The classic option is a fungus. But adults who remember playing in the sandbox also remember that he doesn’t really hide from anything, he just hits him in the forehead every now and then. In the center of the sandbox is the game itself, and there is a pillar sticking out. Fungus on the playground, of course, is needed for quiet and quiet games, but to the side. But it makes sense to make a sandbox with fungus only if there are waste building materials left and there is no money for new ones. In such a case, see the video on how to make a sandbox with fungus from scrap materials.

Video: do-it-yourself sandbox with fungus

The most durable and reliable version of the sandbox roof is on 4 pillars, pos. 1 in Fig. One problem is that with a nose, the restless person then has the same problem as reckless drivers with a radiator: there is always a tree or a pole in front of him.

Much safer than a roof on 2 pillars, pos. 2 and 3. They are attached to the sides of the box at their location. Therefore, if the roof is heavy and/or has steep slopes, which provides better shelter, then the pillars need to be supported with struts, pos. 2.

It is advisable to make the roof of the seasonal sandbox soft, cap, pos. 3, or tension, pos. 4. The latter allows you to minimize wood consumption and provides very good shelter. The roofing material for all roofs is any suitable. If polycarbonate remains from a greenhouse, porch, canopy or, say, gazebo, this is the best option.

A special case is the sandbox-wigwam, pos. 5, or sandbox hut. Although there are more pillars in it, people hit them with faces much less often. The point here is in some features of children's psychophysiology of vision and motor skills. In general, the highlight is that the pillars are tilted inward.

Installation procedure

This question only applies to persistent sandboxes. And the real question is how to assemble the product from parts: on the spot, similar to “adult” buildings, or, for example, a dog house, entirely where it is more convenient, see Fig., and put it in place assembled. For a sandbox, the second option is definitely preferable, because allows you to significantly reduce the amount of excavation work. This is also significant because the sandbox is placed on a developed area, and you don’t want to mutilate the lawn or area, into which a lot of work has also been invested, beyond what is necessary.

Another argument in favor of installing a ready-made box is that when assembling it on site, you will definitely need leveling, adjusting to size and straightening the contour. A country toilet will not last long; sandbox in terms of more. And the finished box with sides is quite rigid, lightly loaded and will hold up even if the zero cycle is far from perfect.

Step-by-step instructions for installing the assembled sandbox in place are as follows:

Prepare a pit as described above, but without sand filling and without laying insulation;
In places where the posts (posts) go into the ground, use a hand drill with a diameter of 80-100 mm to drill holes to the depth of the posts plus 10-15 cm, i.e. 40-55 cm, because It is enough to deepen the posts by 30-40 cm. With a 10-cm drill, this work is done effortlessly, 5-10 minutes per well;
In the process of sand backfilling for insulation, the wells are filled with sand to about half or slightly higher;
Before processing with bitumen, the “legs” of the box are sharpened by hewing with an ax or sawing into a wedge or into an elongated pyramid;
When the insulation is laid, it is cut into petals above the wellheads;
The box is placed “with its feet” in the wells and lowered to the level, first by hand, and then by tapping the ends of the racks with a leopard - a wooden sledgehammer. You don’t need to peel with all your might, you need to gradually chip away, going along the contour;
The roof, if provided, is assembled on site.

Note: You can make a leopard with your own hands from a log or cutting timber from 130x130 cm, mounted on a handle.

More materials

For quick self-assembly of sandboxes, plastic modules are produced, see Fig., in trade practice for some reason called linear polyethylene. Nothing bad is known about them, but if you are arranging a garden or creating a flower bed, then they can be replaced with border elements for flower beds from a garden set; especially - elements for flower beds on the lawn. They are suitable in height, sand will not spill through the joints, they do not require excavation work, but they stay firmly in the ground. And it will cost less to build a sandbox from the garden border.

A common option for a “sandbox quickly and for nothing” is made from tires, see fig. on right. Free, but, firstly, not very hygienic: moisture stagnates in the tire pockets, and the sand can rot. Secondly - steel cord. As the rubber on the cuts dries, the ends slowly but surely stick out, causing children to prick and scratch themselves on them. Of course, you can make a lot of useful crafts from tires, but they are not suitable for a sandbox.

Sandbox-boat with a box - compartment for toys

Useful improvements

This is first and foremost a sandbox ship. It is not much more difficult to make than a regular one, but in the bow compartment, which in real ships is called the forepeak, it is very convenient to store toys and even small gardening supplies. Romance in the game, that goes without saying. In this case, the forepeak is equipped with a hatch cover and separated from the sandbox itself by a blank wall - a bulkhead, see fig. Since it’s a boat, we’ll call its parts nautical. If the forepeak is part of a sandbox, then there is no need to build a deck over it; the sand can rot without sunlight.

The next option will require more work; even more than a sandbox with a roof. This is a sandbox-house for growth. Its design is strong and durable enough so that when a child outgrows playing in the sand, it can be used to lay a floor, cover the walls and thus create a playhouse. A diagram of the structure of the sandbox-house is shown in Fig. left.

About angles

If the dimensions of the sandbox in plan do not exceed approximately 2x2 m, then you can reduce the consumption of wood without losing the strength of the box by arranging corner seats, on the left in Fig. in the center above. According to psychology, this option is preferable for individualistic children.

A very beautiful and durable sandbox with corner seats is made from stumps and logs, not necessarily of the same size. And if you use saw cuts from the same logs to lay out a blind area around the box (in this case already a log house), then the removal of even very fine sand outside the playing area will be minimal, on the right in the same fig.

What kind of sand should I use?

Now let's return to the question of which construction sand is suitable for the sandbox. Small, almost white, pos. 1 on next rice. - definitely not. From a child’s point of view, it doesn’t mold well. And as an adult, it generates a lot of dust, gets into the eyes and everywhere, microscopically injuring the skin, which can contribute to the occurrence of allergies. Adult construction workers, healthy, hardy men, when working with such sand, wear protective clothing, respirators and goggles.

Also not suitable is white or slightly grayish quartz sand, pos. 2. It does not generate dust, but it does not stick at all, and it injures the skin to the point of visible scratches. Quartz is a very hard mineral and its grains are rarely rounded to full roundness.

Red sand, traded as gully sand, pos. 3, molds perfectly, but is also not suitable for the sandbox. There is a lot of clay in it, it gets very dirty. And to make matters worse, this clay is full of microscopic pores filled with nutrients. Just give it to harmful micro-living creatures.

For a sandbox, moderately yellowish sand of medium coarseness, pos. 4. There is enough clay in it for very fine modeling, but it covers the grains with a thin dense layer, making them non-traumatic and unsuitable for the settlement of microorganisms. Repeatedly, up to 3-4 times, such sand (it is most often sold as river sand) is used as follows:

In winter it is stored in a dry, unheated room; better - in bags, or in the yard under film.
In the spring, the sandbox is filled when warm weather sets in.
If the sand has been in it for the winter, then when it is completely dry, it is selected and winnowed, see below.
The sandbox is refilled layer by layer, in layers of 7-10 cm.
The sand is poured into a winnowing box, i.e. a stream from a bucket from a height of human height in a moderate wind.
The filled layer is air-dried for at least 24 hours before filling the next one.

Unusual

There is also a type of sandbox called a tabletop sandbox. Generally speaking, children playing in it are much more likely to clog their eyes, nose, and mouth, because... At the same time, the head is held straight, and not tilted face down. In addition, setting up a desktop sandbox is difficult, because... even a small amount of sand requires at least half a ton. And if the desktop sandbox is at home, then you will need a separate room that is not directly connected to others.

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 the 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 construction of a full-fledged children's playground begins with the sandbox, consisting of many elements (slides, swings, houses), which will be added as the child grows older.

According to parents, the sandbox is a place for games where you can keep your child occupied for a long time. Psychologists say that the sandbox for children plays an important role: they develop hand motor skills, develop creative abilities, and demonstrate perseverance and patience.

Before you figure out how to build a children's sandbox in the country, you need to familiarize yourself with what types and types there are and choose the appropriate option for specific conditions.

Types of children's sandboxes for the garden

Sandboxes for children come in two varieties:

1. By design feature:

open sandbox (easy-to-make design);

closed sandbox. Popular among users because it allows you to protect the sand from: debris, rain, wind, animals. In addition, a children's sandbox with a lid protects the sand from weathering, allows you to store toys under the lid (children's equipment: beads, scoops, shovels, rakes, etc.), and can also serve as an additional play area (if it is transformed into a table and chairs ).

2. According to the material of manufacture:

plastic, metal, wood

Each of the materials has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic sandbox

It does not overheat in the sun, has a compact size, is lightweight, easy to move, transport, and can be hidden in an outbuilding or garage when you are away. Disadvantages include instability to ultraviolet radiation and high cost.

Metal sandbox

Provides long-term use, but is not safe for children, and is also susceptible to corrosion and labor-intensive to manufacture.

Wooden sandbox

The best option, since wood is environmentally friendly, safe and affordable.

Therefore, let's look at how to build a children's sandbox out of wood - an independent technology using available materials (means). Let's start with the open one, since this is the most easily implemented option for beginners without construction experience. Manufacturing will take only a few hours, and if you have a competent drawing, the lid can be attached to it at any time.

How to make a sandbox with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

Stage 1 – Drawing of a wooden sandbox

Despite the fact that the design is simple, a detailed diagram of the sandbox allows you to rationally calculate the amount of material and choose the right place for installation.

Often, a wooden sandbox is a square of a given height that protects the sand from spreading.

Sandbox drawings (for a simple design) are given below.

The design can be more complex: including chairs, benches, tables, a lid, a roof, a slide, etc. or a sandbox made in the form of a car (automobile), a boat-ship, a house-castle.

The diagram below gives an idea of what a sandbox in the form of a machine (sandbox-machine) consists of.

In any case, the functional purpose of the basic structure is the same - a fence that protects the sand.

Advice. When planning the construction of a sandbox, you should consider how many children it will be designed for.

Stage 2 – Material for the sandbox

The table lists a list of building materials with sizes and quantities for making a simple sandbox with dimensions 1500x1500 mm, height 300 mm.

Lumber	Purpose	Quantity	Note
Beam 5050450	Corner element	4 things.	Beam 150 mm. treated with an antiseptic
Board 301501600	Side walls of the sandbox	8 pcs.	Carefully sanded and coated with wood primer.
Board 301501600	Sides for sitting, folding toys, etc.	4 things.	Sanded and coated with wood primer.
Wood screws, 45 mm.	For fastening	50 pcs.
Geotextiles	For the bottom	2 rolls	Can be replaced with film
Antiseptic	For wood processing
Primer for wood	To protect wood
Dye	For coloring	1 can (1 liter)	Oil or acrylic
For a closed sandbox (with a lid) you will additionally need
Beam 30301600		2 pcs.	The timber is cut into pieces depending on the width of the lid
Board 201251600 or plywood, 18 mm.		12 pcs. sheet
Piano hinges (awnings)		4 things. 8 pcs.	for hinged lid for a cover transforming into seats
Pens		2 pcs.

Material prepared for the website www.site

the length of the beam depends on the height of the sandbox, which in turn is determined by the age of the child. The height of the sandbox should be such that the child can step over it. The optimal height is 300 mm (150 mm remains for digging and fixing the structure).

The thickness of the boards must be at least 30 mm. This will ensure sufficient structural strength and protect the wood from cracking.

plywood is indispensable in the manufacture of complex structures, such as, for example, a sandbox in the shape of a ship. Round and oval shaped products are made from it.

It is better to treat the boards before installation. This way, there will be no unprotected parts of the lumber left.

Tools: saw, grinder, drill, drill bits, screwdriver, pencil, tape measure, level, pegs and rope, paint brushes.

Stage 3 – Marking the space for the sandbox

a location for installation is selected. The outer perimeter of the structure is marked with stakes and rope;

Inside the outlined square, soil is selected to a depth of 300-400 mm. You can do without this and pour sand on top of the ground, but it will quickly become unusable because it will mix with the ground during the game. In addition, ants and other insects can live in it;

drainage is arranged - a tightly compacted cushion of crushed stone/gravel and sand. The cushion will allow water to flow freely into the ground and the sand to dry out faster. Additionally, users recommend laying geotextile; it does not interfere with water flow, but protects the sand below from insects or moles.

Advice. When using polyethylene, you need to drill holes in it for water drainage.

Many users complain that puddles appear around the sandbox after rain. This can be eliminated by arranging a cushion and, behind the perimeter of the sandbox, drainage laid at a depth of 400-500 mm. around the sandbox will allow water to quickly drain down.

Stage 4 – Making a children's sandbox with your own hands

Brief construction technology:

At the corners marked with a rope, stakes are driven in - the support of the future sandbox;

one board coated with an antiseptic is installed on each side;

then the second row of boards is nailed;

to arrange the seats, treated boards (2 on opposite sides, 4 on each side) or plywood corners are installed horizontally on the top of the structure - the most budget option.

Advice. It is important to ensure that the screw heads are securely recessed into the wood and do not cause injury.

The second option is how to make a sandbox out of wood

The method involves a slightly different order of work, namely: first making a sandbox, then preparing the installation site and further installing the sandbox. This option is convenient when the work is carried out together, because The design, although lightweight, is quite cumbersome and it is inconvenient to install it in this order alone.

Step-by-step instructions for making a sandbox with your own hands (master class) are shown in the photo.

Stage 5 – Making a lid for the sandbox

Since a children's sandbox with a lid for a summer house is a more attractive option, let's look at how to make a lid for a sandbox.

The simplest option would be a removable cover, which is a shield knocked together from boards, but its significant drawback is the need to remove the cover before the game.

Therefore, it is more expedient to make a design with two doors that transform (open and fold) into seats. The photo below shows two options for constructing a lid for a sandbox - a folding one and one that transforms into a seat. Please note that the two outer boards on both sides are stationary. They are securely fixed, this will allow a child and even an adult to sit on the lid without fear of breaking it.

Sandbox option with awning (soft cover, rollable)

Stage 6 – Installation of a roof for the sandbox

Considering that children want to play in the sand at any time of the day, care must be taken to protect them from direct sunlight. To do this, you need to install a canopy over the sandbox. This can be a beach umbrella or a stationary roof made in the form of a fungus/canopy.

Stage 7 – Sand for the children's sandbox

How to choose sand for a sandbox?

It should be noted that GOST (18322-78 (ST SEV 5151-85) and GOST R 52301-2004) regulate the requirements for the maintenance of playground equipment, but do not contain recommendations regarding sand, except that certificates must be provided when selling sand.

However, users have determined what kind of sand is needed for the sandbox and have the following requirements for it:

absence of foreign impurities/objects;

good flowability;

dustlessness. Small particles of sand (fractions less than 0.1 mm) can get into the child’s lungs. To eliminate them, sand is usually washed and dried or sifted through a very fine sieve;

formability (fits well into beads);

humidity. The sand must be dry;

hygiene. The sand should not contain living creatures (bugs, spiders, worms, etc.).

Which sand is best for a sandbox

When choosing sand, it is better to give preference to:

river, not quarry. It is purer in itself;

sifted, not containing foreign objects;

quartz sand is an ideal option. It's clean and molds well.

Ready-made sand for children's sandboxes can be bought in the store. The presence of a quality certificate guarantees its purity and absence of impurities.

How much sand do you need in a sandbox?

In order to fill a sandbox measuring 1500x1500 mm. you need to prepare about 0.5 cubic meters. sand.

The average price per bag (25 kg) of sand for a children's sandbox is shown in the table.

DIY children's wooden sandbox - video

How and where to install a children's sandbox correctly

To ensure that the sandbox lasts a long time and does not pose a threat to children, you need to follow several recommendations when making and installing it:

do not use metal elements;

do not leave boards unsanded;

provide shade;

place in a clearly visible place;

ensure the absence of thorny bushes, honey plants and allergens;

use high-quality wood and other building elements;

provide reliable fastening;

lack of electrical wiring, hoses, pipes, etc.

Conclusion

A wooden sandbox with a lid or an open one is an opportunity not only to please your child, but also to show your creativity. A sandbox in the form of a table, car, hexagonal or round will not only delight the child, but will also allow you to decorate your summer cottage with an extraordinary, creative design.

Reading time ≈ 3 minutes

Despite the fact that one generation gives way to another, all children at all times love to play in the sand. To provide children with such joy, you need to think about how to make a sandbox for them. It is very important for children to have a playground not only in the yard, but also in the country, so a do-it-yourself sandbox is the only right choice to provide children with the opportunity to engage in active games rather than sit near the TV.

Sandbox materials and sizes

If you look in the children's department of the hypermarket, they also sell sandboxes: plastic, wooden. But as soon as you look at the price, the thought immediately arises: maybe you can make a children’s sandbox with your own hands, so as not to pay such a large amount? But when returning to your summer cottage, difficulties may arise with the choice of material and the size of the boards.

In order to have a general idea of what this will require, it is better to first look at a photo of a sandbox made by yourself, and you can get to work. First of all, you will need to find boards. But keep in mind that this will require well-planed boards so that children cannot get hurt.

To make the sandbox for children beautiful, you should first draw up a drawing. But when drawing up a drawing, it is very important to take into account the size of the area.

In most cases, such a playground is made square. The most optimal size of such a structure is 1.5 or 2 meters in length and width, and 20-30 cm in height.

Before you make a sandbox with your own hands, you should decide on the thickness of the boards - they should be no thinner than 30 mm.

How to make a children's sandbox?

When getting started, it’s better to watch a video of creating a sandbox yourself - this will give you an idea of what needs to be done.

Since sand will be poured inside, which will put pressure on the boards, it is best to fasten them to each other with self-tapping screws. But before assembling the structure, the wood must be treated with an antiseptic.

Since rain and snow will fall on the sandbox, rot and various insects should not appear in the boards. This treatment of the boards will allow this playground to be more durable.

In order for the sandbox at the dacha to last as long as possible, it is necessary to make a canopy for it. Such a canopy will protect children from bright sunlight, and, if necessary, from short-term rain.

To protect children from troubles, it is necessary to make a bottom for this playground. If you use agrofibre as the bottom, then various beetles and other insects will not get into the sandbox from the soil. In order for agrofibre to hold better, it must be attached to the boards with a furniture stapler.

It is also worth thinking about providing children with somewhere to sit in this playground. To do this, you will need to attach boards on top or make wooden benches with backs on opposite sides.

In this case, children will have the opportunity not only to play in the sand, but also, if necessary, to relax on a bench.