Building your own sandpit using sleepers & play sand is an easy & cost effective way to create a fun, safe space for your kids to enjoy at home!
What You’ll Need
- 3 or 4 Sleepers
- Play Sand
- Ground Cover
- A spirit level
- A spade
- Wood Preserver
- A drill
- A palm sander
- Protective gloves & glasses
Step 1 – Choose the location of your sandpit – pick somewhere that offers both sunshine & shade at different times of day so that the kids are protected from the sun, but the sand is kept nice & dry. Choose a flat space that doesn’t hold excess water, as the sandpit will need to drain naturally after rain showers.
Step 2 – Using four full length sleepers will create a square pit without the need to saw, or you can cut your sleepers to the length required for your space with a hand saw. Get three sleepers the same length and then cut one in half to create a rectangular pit.
Step 4 – Seal the ends with wood preserver.
Step 5 – Put the edges of your sandbox together and make sure you’re happy with their positions and size. Mark their position on the ground on the outside perimeter with a spade.
Step 6 – Move the sleepers aside and dig out the area for your sandbox. Dig a minimum of 22mm of the turf out, removing any stones & roots to make sure the area is smooth and safe. Make sure the area is level.
Step 7 – Move the sleepers back into position along the edges of your dug-out area (they should be within the dug out rectangle, not outside it), and check they are level using a spirit level.
Step 8 – Once happy, measure out enough ground cover fabric to cover the entire base of the sandpit. This will prevent anything growing through the sand while also allowing water to drain out.
Step 9 – You can secure the fabric with nails or our Ground Cover Pegs if you’d like, but laying sleepers on it should keep it in place – put the sleepers back in position & and screw them into place to secure them. Make sure that the screws are recessed to prevent scrapes and avoid problems with sanding.
Step 10 – Sand down the edges to avoid any cuts & scrapes.
Step 11 – Fill your pit with play sand. Our highest quality play sand is ideal for use with all children’s play pits. The amount of play sand required depends on the size of the sand pit, but if you know the measurements we can help you work it out when you order!
Step 12 – Add some toys and enjoy! Consider using tarp or plywood to cover the sandpit when not in use, to avoid cats & creepy crawlies.
