Sand pits can be a great way of giving the kids their own area in the garden to have endless amounts of fun in (and keep them from touching things in the garden they should not!). Using our high quality wooden sleepers, you have the flexibility to cut these down to make whatever size sand pit you would like. Using our materials alone, this little project will cost less than £100 to create, making it a bargain for a play area that will last up to 10 years! This example makes a rectangular sand pit measuring 1.4m x 1.2m.
What you will need:
Wooden sleepers x 2
Play sand x 10 bags (20kg bags)
Weed fabric x 1
Hand saw
Spade
Wood preserver (optional)
Spirit level
Drill
Heavy duty scissors
Sandpaper
Tape measure
Paint brush
8 x exterior coach screws
10mm flat wood drill bit
32mm flat wood drill bit
17mm socket and ratchet
Step 1:
Choose where to place your sand pit
Your sand pit will be best placed somewhere that offers shade and sunshine at different parts of the day; this means your children are not exposed to the sun's rays for too long and your sand will keep dry too. A location that is fairly flat is an advantage as well (check using your spirit level), but this can always be altered later on.
Step 2:
How to build your sand pit
These pine sleepers measure 2.4m x 20cm x 10cm and are easily hand sawn to your chosen size. Be sure to measure them equally with a tape measure and mark where they need cutting all the way around with a pencil. Once you have done this, use the hand saw to cut through, ensuring the lines are straight. For this example, you will cut each wooden sleeper exactly in half to measure 1.2m. Once the wood has been sawn, paint some wood preserver onto the cut ends to add protection against harsh weather.
Step 3:
Place down your sleepers to see where looks best
Place your sleepers down on the desired area of your garden. You can use the example diagram to create a sand pit with a 1.2m length and a slightly shorter width; this tends to look neater than a perfect square. Once you are happy with how they sit, mark the position by lightly digging a spade around the outside perimeter.
Step 4:
Dig out your sand pit area
You can now remove the sleepers and begin to dig at least 3cm into the ground across the entire marked area. Make sure you remove any roots or stones, and use your spirit level to ensure the ground is level.
Step 5:
Prevent those pesky weeds!
Now you will need your weed fabric. Use the dug-out area to measure how much fabric you need to cover the entire space. This may mean using two layers to ensure all the soil beneath is covered. The fabric will allow rainwater to drain out while preventing weeds from growing through. Cut the fabric with heavy duty scissors and, as an extra option, pin it down using nails, although the sleepers should hold it in place.
Step 6:
Secure the sleepers
The sleepers can now finally be put back into place. Drill 2 pilot holes through the end of the outer sleeper into the shorter sleeper, using the 10mm flat wood drill bit. Then use your 32mm drill bit to drill approximately 1cm into the wood on top of these 2 newly drilled holes. This allows the screw heads to be recessed. Place the exterior coach screws into the holes and tighten with the 17mm socket and ratchet. Repeat this process for all 4 corners.
Step 7:
Smooth down the edges
Use sandpaper to sand down the corner edges of the sleepers, as well as any visible areas, to create a smooth finish. You do not need to do this if you have chosen to paint your sleepers beforehand.
Step 8:
Ta-da!
It is now time to empty your play sand into your sand pit. Be sure to put enough sand down so it is around half full; you do not need to fill it all the way to the top. We recommend using 200kg of our play sand (10 bags). To protect your sand from any unwanted visitors, place some tarpaulin over the top, weighted down with stones. You are now ready to add some toys and let them play!
