|
njrqs
|
|
Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/11/02
|
|
Posts: 40
|
|
Loc: Australia
|
|
Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
10/28/02 09:22 PM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I have (been instructed) to build a sandpit for the boys.
I have a roofed area at the front of the house with a slab so intend to put it there.
I was going to use treated pine landscape sleepers and make a square approx 5' x 5' with the sides 16" high using 8x2" sleepers.
(Hope I have the dims right as I am coverting from Metric for you guys !!)
Intend to put some geofabric on the bottom and up the sides to keep the sand in and let the water out.
Then make a lid using shadecloth to keep the frogs and cats out and let it breathe.
Will have a seat on 2 sides.
Anyone done one like this?
Have any comments on the design?
Cheers 
From OZ
Post Extras:
|
|
AndyF
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/11/02
|
|
Posts: 312
|
|
Loc: Phelps, NY
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
10/28/02 10:16 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I built a similar sandbox several years ago. The only real difference is that I had a seat on all four sides. I built mine with 2 2X8s on each side and used another 2X8 for the seat. I used 2X4's in the corners and set the 2X4's about 12" down into the soil. The geofabric will do a real good job for you in keeping the sand from mixing with the soil below.
A tarp is a good idea - especially to keep the cats out. We forgot to put the tarp on a few times and it was used as a litterbox.
We now have a tractor tire sand-box and this has also worked well for us and was less work to install.
Post Extras:
|
|
s1120
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 437
|
|
Loc: Niverville NY
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
10/29/02 03:52 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Insted of the treated lumber I would use some other rot resistant wood. Treated lumber has some nasty cems in it, I don't know if I would want kids playing with it. Over here I would use Ceader, but I am sure you have some natral rot resistant wood of your own over there. Just my thoughts....
Paul Bradway
Post Extras:
|
|
hazmat
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/11/02
|
|
Posts: 417
|
|
Loc: West Newbury, MA
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: s1120]
10/29/02 06:24 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Insted of the treated lumber I would use some other rot resistant wood. Treated lumber has some nasty cems in it, I don't know if I would want kids playing with it.
This was a source of much excitement at a recent town meeting regarding the local playground. After consulting many experts, the decision was to seal the wood using polyurethane. Added benefit: Reduced the amount of splinters. I'd use a marine grade poly as it is an outdoor application.
Hazmat
Post Extras:
|
|
Mosey
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 436
|
|
Loc: Southern Indiana
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
10/31/02 11:50 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I'd say you have a good plan and it should be a nice setup for the kids. I used treated lumber and it's over 3 years old now and the kids have not contracted any sickness. I think people worry too much about that. I read that a kid would have to chew on the wood for 50 years or something to have any effect. As for the tarp, make sure it's fastened down tight all the way around or cats will find a way in, as mine did. They will find a loose spot, and it doesn't take much. I had to replace all the sand and then I made a top out of plywood, which isn't working out too good because it's too heavy to get on and off.
What about the sand? I got fine sand (I got a pickup load for less than $10) the first time and it was real good because it packed together when it was wet so the kids could make sand castles and stuff. The second time I got talked into getting a coarser sand (with very small stones) and it dries out quicker, but it won't pack near as good and the kids don't seem to like it. I'm planning to bag it up and make some sandbags (which I've been needing for weight in my 2WD pickup in the winter anyway) and replace it, for the 3rd time, with the fine sand again.
Post Extras:
|
|
njrqs
|
|
Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/11/02
|
|
Posts: 40
|
|
Loc: Australia
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: Mosey]
11/03/02 04:47 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Thanks all..........
Sounds like I am on the right track.
A lid - Yes. But to keep put the frogs not the cats. Have only ever spied one cat around here but not in our yard.
The sand I bought for the yard was medium sand and did have little stones in it. Sonny seemed happy to play in it before I spread it, but yes, the fine stuff looked nicer.
Cheers 
From OZ
Post Extras:
|
|
robertn
|
|
Silver Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/13/02
|
|
Posts: 236
|
|
Loc: Shingle Springs, Calif
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
11/13/02 06:35 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
We took the tractor, and dug a pit about a foot deep, and eight feet across. Then, I got about a couple yards of playground sand and dumped it in there. This was right before our son's 7th birthday.
Then, we buried dinosaur toys in the sand. We got one of those wood skeletons, and hid the pieces in the sand. When the party started, part of it was to dig up treasures in the sand(I came up with a corny story about doing tractor work out there, and making an amazing discovery...) When they found the wood skeleton parts, they had to assemble it to make the dinosaur.
They loved it!
Amazingly that was 1.5 years ago, and the cat has steered clear. There is plent of sand still, along with some good dirt,, and since it rained, a bit of mud. What more could an eight year old kid want 
Post Extras:
|
|
DocHeb
|
|
Silver Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 10/31/02
|
|
Posts: 138
|
|
Loc: Michigan
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
11/16/02 07:53 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I don't know what type of sand is available, but my dad always used mason's sand for our box. The sand that is sold around here as "play sand" is washed and very "soft" to the touch, but the granules are round and won't form well into castles, moats, mountains, etc. The mason's sand has grains with angular surfaces, and it packs well and maintains its shape when moist.
We used to build "Toad Towns". Twelve kids would scour the neighborhood for toads, then build towns and buildings for them. We might have 60-70 toads at a time. At the end of the day each kid would take the toads home and release them - until the next Toad Town day. Nowadays I rarely see toads.
Post Extras:
|
|
Mosey
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 436
|
|
Loc: Southern Indiana
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: robertn]
11/20/02 07:02 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
"Amazingly that was 1.5 years ago, and the cat has steered clear."
If you are you saying it's left uncovered and the cats don't poop in it, then that is truly amazing! Wanna trade cats?
Post Extras:
|
|
njrqs
|
|
Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/11/02
|
|
Posts: 40
|
|
Loc: Australia
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: DocHeb]
11/21/02 04:04 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Come over here. We have Cane Toads.
They were introduced to eat sugar cane beetles. They didn't do that but bred out of control. Nothing eats them and they are poisonous to all out native animals.
A disaster !!!
From OZ
Post Extras:
|
|
Mosey
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 436
|
|
Loc: Southern Indiana
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
11/21/02 06:55 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Sorry to hear about your Toad problem! It sounds similar to our ladybug problem (actually, I read that they are some kind of Asian beetle, but everyone calls them ladybugs). They were introduced by farmers to eat aphids or something. Apparently they don't really do that, but they have gotten out of control. Every spring and every fall they swarm. My breezeway and garage floor will be covered with them in the fall. I spent half a day last Saturday cleaning them up in the garage. They get in the house, apparently through the door seals, and buzz around the lights and are a real nuisance. They stink and stain the carpet or wall, so you can't just smash them. We use duct tape to get them off the wall or carpet. In the garage, I use the shop vac to get them. No kind of bug spray seems to affect them at all and the cats won't eat them.
Now I'm curious who else has these around, I think I'll start a new post on that.
Post Extras:
|
|
billfires
|
|
New Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/13/02
|
|
Posts: 4
|
|
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
04/14/03 11:02 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
The only suggestion is to make it bigger. 5' X 5' seems very small even for 2 children. Bill C
Post Extras:
|
|
chrisjbell
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 02/28/03
|
|
Posts: 285
|
|
Loc: Sierra Foothills, Northern California
|
|
And now for something completely different...
[re: Mosey]
04/14/03 01:30 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
It sounds similar to our ladybug problem (actually, I read that they are some kind of Asian beetle, but everyone calls them ladybugs).
...
Now I'm curious who else has these around, I think I'll start a new post on that.
I'm curious, too. What you call ladybugs sure ain't what we call ladybugs. Ours do eat aphids, don't bite, don't stink, and stay outta the house (except for the jar that the kid brings in).
Post Extras:
|
|
egon
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 3031
|
|
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
|
|
Re: And now for something completely different...
[re: chrisjbell]
04/14/03 08:40 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Neil:
Did you say a sandbox for the two kids and their Dad ? You'll need some big yellow Tonka toys too.
Egon
Post Extras:
|
|
Stoneheartfarm
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 10/10/02
|
|
Posts: 792
|
|
Loc: West Central Michigan
|
|
Re: Sand Pits - Anyone built a good one?
[re: njrqs]
04/15/03 11:30 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Okay, Neil, I'll bite. What frogs?
Steve
Post Extras:
|
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Threaded