Hi I’m new in this forum,

I recently did my patio (installed pavers) and left a rectangular space without pavers because I wanted to make a small send-box for my kids to play. What I had in mind was a simple rectangular shape made out of bricks (using cement) but now that I have started doing it I started wondering if there are some things that I should be considered for the project, like…

Do I need some sort of wire-net underneath so that the sand doesn’t go away when it rains? Or do I need to make the surface out of solid concrete?

In other words can someone give me some ideas as to what do I need or how would you do it.

Thanks a lot!

 

As long as their is drainage, some place for rainwater to go, you should not have much trouble with the sand disappearing or washing away. You may need a cover for it though to keep it from turning into a large litter box for neighborhood cats.

 

Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

Hmm, this may be a problem since its 5”-8” deep (below the ground surface) and I don’t see a way to add drainage, unless you are talking about a wire-net or something like that where sand won’t fit.

Thanks

 

Dane may be at lunch....what provisions were you planning when this pool you are building filled up with rain water??? It has to drain somewhere in order to remain a "sand" box and not a water's edge beach. It would be good to include a perimeter weep tile that exits somewhere in the yard, lower than the patio. That way your sand would stay in place but the water would work its way to the weep tile and then exit. You could use the cloth covered perf type black pipe on the low side of the sand box and allow it to drain, either from a tee in it, or from one end.

 

Since Fs_tigre said that the paver patio was already existing so I assumed that any major/proper excavation and drainage system is out of the question, especially for a child's sand box. Some water should slowly percolate under the pavers and soak into the ground in addition to the water that will soak into the ground immediately under sand box. No, it will not quickly drain if you get 6 inches of rain or if you have a rainy period where the ground stays saturated but it should drain enough to prevent it from turning into a swimming pool. Building up will also help. Even if there is some water in the bottom of your 5-8" deep hole there should be plenty of sand depth that the sand on top has drained and is still playable. And, keeping it covering when not in use will keep the cats out will also help prevent it from taking on too much water.

 

Thank you all for your comments! I will try to find a way to add a drain system.

Thanks a lot!

 

When our grandson was little I built him a little playhouse [4'x4'?] up off of the ground on 4x4s, underneath I took 1x6 decking and made a form for a sand box. The sand was about 4"-5" deep and the play house had a shed type roof. Other than removing the sod there were no provisions made for drainage. I don't recall there ever being a problem with the sand getting too wet. I don't know how much the 5'x5' [?] roof helped but I'm sure it provided some protection from the rain. The roof was probably 8' above sandbox itself.

 

I think I would just cover the bottom of the sandbox with landscape cloth. That will allow rainwater to drain and prevent weeds from intruding. If you have neighborhood cats a cover might be a good idea.

Mark - My daughter has a sandbox with a small gable roof over it. It was part of a playground set she bought. It's been around for a while and it's still in good shape.

 

I know I'm odd man out here (no kids or grandkids...and don't expect any)...but wouldn't one of those plastic turtles be easier? What do you do when kids grow past the sandbox age...which seems to be earlier and earlier?

At least with the paver patio (hopefully you have enough extra pavers exposed to the weather), you can fill it in easily.

 

Make it a fire pit .................

 

Thank you all for your comments! I will also try to buy or make a cover for it.


I like the idea of using landscape cloth I hope that make the trick!

Thanks a lot