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Get fewer distractions whilst your cooking on the barbie, by building the kids an awesome sandpit. A good, sturdy sandbox can be expensive to buy straight off the shelf, some costing up to $400! Even the ones made of plastic can set you back a few bob, so we say get the tools out the shed and start building.
We’ve put together a simple how-to guide, so know exactly what to do from start to finish.
1 Firstly, the things youn’ll need…
- 3 x 2m of macrocarpa (sizes recommended 200 x 75 or 200 x 50)
- 10mm flat wood drill bit, 32mm flat wood drill bit
- Tape measure, hand saw, spade, drill, spirit level
- Weedmat, scissors, 17mm socket and ratchet
- Sander, wood preserver & paint brush (optional)
2 Choose somewhere in your garden that is flat (can use a spirit level) and doesn’t hold excessive water, as a sandpit will need to dry naturally after rain. Depending on how big your garden is, this will determine how big your sandpit will be. Measure the area so, you have a rough idea of how big you want it to be, and take your measurements to Musgroves so they can help you pick out the correct size wood.
3 For now let’s say your sandpit will be two metres long and one metre wide. You will need 3 x 2m of the 200 x 75 or 200 x 50 macrocarpa. You will firstly need to cut one of the 2 metre length macrocarpa in half to form the ends of the sandpit. The easiest way to do this is, is to place it on top of the other two macrocarpa, so the piece you want to cut is raised which will make cutting easier. You will want to mark the wood on all sides and use the handsaw’s edge to draw a straight line, and once your happy with the markings, cut the piece in half.
4 (optional) Seal the cut with a wood preserver, following the safety information on the tin, and allow to dry.
5 Organise where you’d like to place the sandpit on the ground and once you’re happy, mark the outside of the perimeter using a spade. Then place the wood to the side and dig a minimum of 25 millimetres of turf out, removing any roots and stones and ensure it’s as level as possible.
6 Put the macrocarpa into position and use a spirit level to ensure they are level. Once again, put the wood to once side and cover the dug out earth with some weedmat. Ensure the entire area is covered and secure it to the ground using some nails – but ensure the nails are placed underneath to where the macrocarpa will be placed to avoid any future injuries.
7 Time to secure the sandpit together. Drill two pilot holes into one corner of the longer pieces of macrocarpa using the 10mm flat wood drill piece. Then use the 32mm drill wood and drill roughly around 10mm into the wood, as this will allow for the screw head to be recessed. Take one of the 150mm exterior coach screws and place it into the hole, then tighten it with a 17mm ratchet socket head. Repeat this process for the other three corners.
8 (optional) Your sandpit is now assembled. We recommended sand the edges down, as they could be rough and sharp.
9 To fill the sandpit, use roughly 250 kilos of play sand, but ensure the sand doesn’t come all the way to the top. It’s important to keep the sandpit dry and protect it from creepy crawlies and so cover it with a sheet of tarpaulin or with a wooden cover.
10 Lastly, fill the box with beach toys and the sandpit is ready to be enjoyed.
