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How to Build a DIY Kids Sandbox [+Pictures]
How to Build a DIY Kids Sandbox [+Pictures]

The joy of building a simple sandbox.

The joy of building a simple sandbox.

Lane Shackleton

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Why We Decided to Build a Sandbox

We recently moved from San Francisco to Mill Valley so that our kids could grow up a bit closer to nature and have an abundance of the play area. With the recent stay-at-home orders in place, we had plenty of free weekend time for home improvement projects. Plus, we could all use a little more play in our lives these days 🤗.

As a starting point, most backyard sandboxes aren't very good-looking. Most are parents’ DIY projects that tend to break easily. So we took a little time to think about what makes a good sandbox and built one. Below is a guide on how we built a DIY sandbox frame, some of the thinking that went into it, and a few pictures of the process.

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Sandbox Design Principles

I never thought I'd write design principles for a sandbox, but this was kinda fun.

A Sandbox Should Be Durable

Most sandboxes break after a year or so. By contrast, the structure should be durable enough to withstand two rambunctious boys and their friends. The last thing I want to do is make a play space that breaks a year from now. Hopefully, the sandbox lives up to this principle but time will tell just how good our woodworking skills really are :)

A Sandbox Should Create Communal Experience

One simple observation from years of watching my kids play in sandboxes is that size plays a key role in how kids play together or don't.

If the structure is too small, kids don't convene and play together in the sandbox. In contrast to small mail-order sandboxes, one example that I had in mind was the gravel pit area at the

Bay Area Discovery Museum⁠

. My kids love this area. It is huge and draws kids into the communal experience of moving gravel in a striking and almost comedic way.

So the idea was to build the sandbox large enough to be communal for kids, but not too large that it didn't fit the context of the yard.

A Sandbox Should Fit the Context of Its Environment

Let me explain… one thing that always strikes me about plastic sandboxes in backyards is how they stand out from the nature around them. Often there are lots of trees and grass, and then, 💥 a giant piece of plastic.

So it was important to me that the structure of the sandbox I built fits with the context of the house and surrounding yard. In practice, this meant making it out of redwood and painting it the same color as the trim on our house.

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Sandbox Measurements

Dimensions (in cubic feet)

A 6-foot by 6-foot square. Large enough to fit 2-3 small kids at one time.

Sand

A -6foot by -6foot sandbox requires 24 bags of 50-pound playsand.

Adult Seating

The 3-inch rim serves as tiny corner seats provides a place for adults to sit on the side of the sandbox.

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Sandbox Building Materials

List of Materials

List of Materials

Item

Size

Quantity

Side boards (Redwood)

6 foot boards → 1 by 8 inch

Note: actual width is between 7.25 and 7.5 inches

Interior posts (Redwood)

15 inch posts → 4 by 4 inch

Top rim (Redwood)

Six foot boards → 1 by 3 inch

Note: you'll need to cut ~3 inches off of two of the boards

Outdoor wood screws

Box of 50 or 100

Wood filer putty

1 small tin

Outdoor primer

1 quart

Outdoor paint

1 quart

Sandbox sand

50 pound bag

There are no rows in this table

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How to Build a Simple Sandbox in 6 Steps

1. Build a square structure

2. Add interior posts for stability

3. Add the top rim

4. Use filler putty for the screw holes

5. Paint the outer (and inner) side of the box

6. Fill the sandbox with playsand

Step-by-Step Process

Kal bringing home the wood to make his sandbox. Stoked.

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Build the simple square structure by affixing

@Side boards (Redwood)⁠

@Interior posts (Redwood)⁠

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Add

@Interior posts (Redwood)⁠

to the middle to make it more durable and support the sitting rim.

⁠

Adding the

@Top rim (Redwood)⁠

so that adults can comfortably sit on the edge while kids play.

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Filling in the holes with

@Wood filer putty⁠

from the screws that had been

countersunk⁠

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Painting the outside with an

@Outdoor primer⁠

, intentionally leaving the inside to reveal the redwood.

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Painting the outside with

@Outdoor paint⁠

(Benjamin Moore Black Knight) to fit w/ trim paint on the house.

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Kal helping me fill the sandbox with 24 bags of 50-pound

@Sandbox sand⁠

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That's it. Here's Kal firing up his new sand toys in his new sandbox.

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Hope you have fun building yours, and let me know if you have any questions!

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Lane Shackleton (@lshackleton) | Twitter⁠

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Lane Shackleton - Coda Profile⁠

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Not Pictured in this Tutorial

Adding

mesh wire⁠

to keep gophers from coming into the bottom

Adding

landscape fabric⁠

on top of the mesh wire to keep weeds out and the top layer of sand clean

How to Build a Sandbox FAQs

What tools do you need to build a sandbox?

Most homeowners already own the tools to build a backyard sandbox in their garage toolkits. So before you start, make sure you have:

Deck screws

Timber/wood screws

Circular saw

Miter saw

Table saw

Tape measure

Cedar boards

Landscaping fabric

Does a sandpit need drainage?

To prevent the sandpit from filling with water over time, build it in an area that is not naturally wet or at risk of flooding. Find a place in your backyard with good drainage that gets at least some sunlight during the day to keep the sand dry.

Should a sandbox have a bottom?

No, a sandbox doesn't necessarily need a bottom. However, we advise building one to keep the frame from pulling apart or warping. Choose pre-treated lumber for the bottom of the sandbox to avoid damping and rotting.

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How to Build a DIY Kids Sandbox [+Pictures]How to Build a DIY Kids Sandbox [+Pictures]