Simple Sandbox Plans

You may think that building a sandbox is fairly expensive and difficult, but you couldn't be more wrong. Surprisingly, building a sandbox is less expensive and even easier than you would originally think. All the tools that you would need are probably just laying around your home, and any materials that you would really need can easily be found at your local home improvement store. To begin this project you are going to need to do two things. First, begin your work on a clear sunny day, where you are going to have plenty of time to complete your project, which should take roughly four hours to complete. Second, make sure that you have all of the materials and equipment to complete the task. The dimensions and quantities listed here are for a 64 square-foot sandbox. You can use whatever combination of dimensions you wish, but keep in mind you might have to make some adjustments in the measurements given here.

• Weed fabric
• 12 2-inch Screws
• 24 2-1/2-inch Screws
• 4 wooden boards 8' x 8', 1-inch thick
• 4 wooden blocks 2" x 2", 1-foot long
• 8 wooden blocks 2" x 1", 1-foot long
• 32 cubic feet of play or river sand (65 fifty-pound bags)
• Staple gun
• Twine and stakes
• Garden rake
• Shovel
• Level
• Pencil and paper
• Drill
• Drill bits
• Wheelbarrow

After you have collected the list above, you are ready to begin. There are a total of 3 steps in this project, and as long as you have the time and energy you are going to be able to complete the project in one day.

1. Draw up your plans and get ready. As always, location is one of the most important aspects of actually building your sandbox. You will need to choose an area of your yard that is not only level, but also has as much shade as is possible. Level areas are good since it will make your building task easier, and you want shade since that will help protect your children from getting a sun burn. After you have chosen your location, take out your stakes, twine, and the level and begin laying out the physical spot for the sandbox. Do this by marking off a square that is roughly 8-1/4 feet on each side with the stakes and twine. While we are going to be making a sandbox that is 8' x 8', the extra 3" on each side is going to ensure an easier time of assembly and insertion. After the boundaries have been properly marked, begin removing all of the sod and dirt that is within the square down to a depth of one foot, utilizing a wheelbarrow and shovel to remove and move the dirt. Set all the dirt aside, and do not dispose of it since you will need to replace some of it along the outside edges of the completed box. Once you have completed all of this begin cutting out a square patch of weed fabric that measures 9 feet by 9 feet, or in other words 81 square feet.
2. Begin assembling. Begin laying out the 8 foot by 8 foot boards on one side of the hole. Start in one corner of the hole, place a two foot by two foot block inside, as flush as possible against the sides. On each side of the corner, using your drill, evenly space and drill in 3, 2" screws, repeat this at each of the remaining corners of the sandbox. After you have completed the corners, place two of the two inch by one inch blocks halfway down each side, on each side of the wall as supports. Use three 2-1/2 -inch screws on each side to attach the support blocks. After you have assembled the walls, pull the weed fabric and place over the top. Pull the material snug on one side and attach using the staple gun, and then repeat all around the walls. You should not have any left hanging over the sides, this material has now formed the bottom, while also helping to prevent any weeds growing from the soil into the sand box. Insert the sandbox into the hole, being careful not to tear any of the material. Refill the exterior edges of the sandbox with some of the dirt.
3. Sanding. Once you have assembled and placed the box, you can begin to fill it up. Simply dump out each of the bags of play/river sand into the box. After every fifth bag, gently redistribute the sand using the flat edge of your garden rake. Once you have finished filling the sandbox, clean up and you are done.