Outdoor Living & Lifestyles - ...need help with sandbox!
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Lorelei
06-12-07, 06:57 PM
Hi! Newbie here :)
I really want to build my two little girls a sandbox. We have a community sandbox but, no one covers it..and then cats come...and use it as their own personal litterbox.
So, the sandbox I want to make is going to be small enough to fit on a ground floor patio, but big enough to make a few castles and have some fun. I don't want anything extravagant.
I know virtually nothing about DIY. I think this simple project will be a good starting point.
Here are my questions:
Can I just buy some cheap fir wood for this project? I am thinking that I will have to put some kind of weatherproof sealant on the wood. What do you suggest?
I know I have to put down some sort of tarp/foil to hold the sand in. What is the cheapest yet most effective kind?
Since this is a small sandbox, could I just build a wooden frame complete with tarp/foil and skip building some sort of bottom out of wood? Or do you think the tarp would slip around too much on the tiles of the patio? Edited to add: The sandbox will be protected from rain so, water accumalation is not a problem.
I know I asked a lot of questions but, any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
I really want to build my two little girls a sandbox. We have a community sandbox but, no one covers it..and then cats come...and use it as their own personal litterbox.
So, the sandbox I want to make is going to be small enough to fit on a ground floor patio, but big enough to make a few castles and have some fun. I don't want anything extravagant.
I know virtually nothing about DIY. I think this simple project will be a good starting point.
Here are my questions:
Can I just buy some cheap fir wood for this project? I am thinking that I will have to put some kind of weatherproof sealant on the wood. What do you suggest?
I know I have to put down some sort of tarp/foil to hold the sand in. What is the cheapest yet most effective kind?
Since this is a small sandbox, could I just build a wooden frame complete with tarp/foil and skip building some sort of bottom out of wood? Or do you think the tarp would slip around too much on the tiles of the patio? Edited to add: The sandbox will be protected from rain so, water accumalation is not a problem.
I know I asked a lot of questions but, any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
AllAround
06-13-07, 12:26 PM
Hello, Welcome to Do It Yourself.com!
Any type of the wood for the framing of it should be good, as long
as it is thicker/larger than ply wood. --water sealantation good.
As to putting a bottom on the sandbox, I think cheap ply wood will
be best for not much of a tacky look(if you were going to see tarp)
and it would give it a more custom look, less slippage, better safety, more fun
ps. they sell cheap sandboxes/kits as well.
goodluck.
Any type of the wood for the framing of it should be good, as long
as it is thicker/larger than ply wood. --water sealantation good.
As to putting a bottom on the sandbox, I think cheap ply wood will
be best for not much of a tacky look(if you were going to see tarp)
and it would give it a more custom look, less slippage, better safety, more fun
ps. they sell cheap sandboxes/kits as well.
goodluck.
badeyeben
06-16-07, 09:44 AM
How about buying 2 wading pools? Fill one with sand and use the other to cover it to keep cats out. Use clothespins around the edges to keep the top on when not in use. Also when using the sandpile you could also use the other as a wading pool and source of water to wet the sand to build castles!