Sandpits are fun for children of all ages and can be used in so many ways. Children can play hide-and-seek, they can build sandcastles or even their own personal fortresses with water moats and dinosaur guards! The possibilities with sandpits are endless. This style of play helps boost a child's imagination and motor skills. Learn how to build the perfect sandpit with this article. It will provide you with tips on how to make your own sandpit that will last through many summers to come.
Choosing the location
The first step in building anything in the backyard is location, location, location! You want to make sure you choose the perfect location for your sandpit. Try and find a flat area that is not under any trees or near power lines. Sand can get messy so it's best to put sandpits away from anything else in your backyard that will be hard to clean around, like vegetable gardens, concreted areas and pools. Sandpits are great around artificial grass as the sand adds weight to help keep the grass in place! You can read more about the bonuses of artificial grass here.
The surrounding ground should also be flat. Sand is heavy so if your sandpit area has any dips or hills it can be hard to fill with sand and could cause problems when you come to build the actual sandpit in a few minutes!
Building the sandpit
If you want to build your sandpit from scratch then below are some recommendations.
Step one: Build a frame around your sandpit area using untreated timber, this will give the sandpit its shape and make it easy to attach the mesh later on. A good rule of thumb is to make the Sandpit area a few inches wider than you want. For a great rustic and recycled sandpit, you can use reclaimed railway sleepers from Wallington's WRG.
Step two: Cover the base of the sandpit in a weed mat or breathable plastic material. This will help prevent weeds and other nasties from growing through the sand. This also helps for a speedy clean up if you ever need to move houses or change the landscaping in the yard.
Step three: Fill your sandpit with sand. Wallington's WRG has mountains of sand to choose from, but we recommend buying the washed sand. This sand is perfect for at-home sandpits and dense enough to hold the shape of a sandcastle.
Now you've got a plan, come and see the landscaping team at Wallington's WRG and we'll help make your child's sandpit dreams come true. We are conveniently located on the Bellarine and open 7 days a week and we also offer local home delivery on all of our gravels, sands and soils.
There are a few things to remember when building a sandpit in your backyard.
- Always wear a dust mask and eye protection when cutting or sanding timber.
- Ensure the sandpit has ample drainage, keeping it as dry as possible.
- Sandpits need to be covered when not in use, You can use a shade cloth with brick weights or buy a weighted cover. This prevents animals from using them as a toilet. Plastic covers are not recommended as they trap moisture.
- Make sure there is plenty of shade available over the sandpit to prevent sunburn, This can be achieved with shade cloth or a fabric umbrella.
- Regularly rake over the sand to lift and remove dirt and rubbish. This also helps to air and disinfect the sand.