All About Roofed Sandboxes

Every playground should have a good sandbox. On the territory of a private courtyard, such a place for games can be made even with your own hands. And so that the child can play there both in hot weather and in the rain, it is worth immediately tinkering with a simple sandbox with a roof.

The children's sandpit with a roof is a great place to play for both one child and a large group of toddlers. Such a structure has many advantages.

1. First of all, it provides protection from rain and sun.
2. In such a sandbox, you can keep toys without worrying about their safety.
3. An interesting structure will be able to decorate the site.
4. Usually, in roofed sandboxes, the bottom is protected, which prevents dirt from getting into the sand.
5. Some commercial sandboxes can be a good alternative to an on-site pool.

As for the shortcomings, there are practically none. The only thing worth remembering: parents will need to spend a little time and effort on the construction or arrangement of a play area. In addition, if necessary, the sandbox will need to be repaired or updated from time to time.

Sandboxes with a roof can be very different, for example, with a canopy made in the form of an umbrella, with an awning, or with a swing. Outdoor play areas can be arranged for both girls and boys.

This type of construction is considered the most common. It is very easy to install such a play area for children. To prevent the sandbox from looking boring, you can choose a stylish model with additional decor. It is worth noting the most popular among them.

• Umbrella. A sandbox with such a roof can be installed both on a large playground and in your country house. The sandbox itself can be of any shape. However, in the middle or on the side, there must be a pillar with a colored umbrella. This design will perfectly protect children from the sun and rain.

• Sailboat. As a roof for such a sandbox, you can use a hinged awning made in the form of a semicircle. This design will be interesting not only for boys, but also for girls. To make the sandbox look original, you can decorate it with a pirate flag or come up with your own flag with your child.

• Mobile sandbox. This design differs from other options in that it can be carried anywhere. This is possible due to the fact that a collapsible frame is available.

However, these sandboxes also have some disadvantages. So, from time to time you will need to clean the sand from dirt. In addition, leaving the child himself in such a structure is quite dangerous, because any animal can climb into it.

This type of construction has appeared relatively recently. Despite this, these sandboxes are already very popular with most of the parents. They can be very different.

• Classic indoor sandboxes. The sizes of such structures can be different: from the smallest to the largest. In addition, they can be round, rectangular or hexagonal. However, they are all united by the fact that at the end of the game, the sandbox is completely covered with boards. The closing sandbox not only saves from the ingress of debris, but also prevents sand weathering.In such facilities, you can leave all children's equipment, for example, a shovel or a small rake.

• Transforming sandbox. Such a structure with a retractable roof can easily turn into a table with benches or an additional playground.

Sandboxes can be with a single-slope or with a dual-slope lifting roof, or even with a canopy. It all depends on the preferences of the owners, as well as on the size of the site.

Comfortable and reliable sandboxes can be made of different materials, for example, wood, polycarbonate, metal, and even tires.

• Wood. A material such as wood is considered environmentally friendly and safe in all respects. However, to make a sandbox, it must be carefully prepared. The wooden surface must be well sanded and not have any irregularities. This is important, because if you do not process the material, children can get hurt. In addition, the wood must be coated with special solutions that will protect it from the formation of fungal infections. The sandbox can also be made from planks and logs.

• Plastic. This material is strong and durable enough. In addition, plastic structures can have different colors. They are easy to install, and if necessary, they can be quickly dismantled. These sandboxes can be easily relocated if required. Quite often, plastic structures are made in the form of interesting cartoon characters, which children really like.

• Polycarbonate. Most often, this material is used to tighten a wooden frame. After all, it helps to reflect ultraviolet rays.

• Tires. In some cases, sandboxes are made from unnecessary tires. They are safe enough for kids, because their walls are soft and comfortable. Tires can be painted with different colors or painted on them with different patterns.

It is very important to choose the right sand for the sandbox, because it must have certain properties, for example, it must be convenient to sculpt from it. You should not buy white sand, it is difficult to sculpt from it, it quickly becomes dirty.

It is also worth giving up the red gully sand, because there are too many small pests in it. The best option would be river sand.

When choosing, you need to focus on the preferences of the child and the area of ​​the site. If it is small, a mini sandbox with a compact canopy will do. If the area allows, you can install a whole complex with a roof, seats, swings.

All parents, if they wish, can build at least a small sandbox for their child. So that it is not dangerous for children, it is worth adhering to certain rules not only when choosing it, but also when installing it.

First of all, the sandbox should always be in the field of view of adults. However, the location of such a play area should be as far away from trees as possible so that no insects get into the sand.

It is best to install the sandbox on a small elevation, so that excess moisture will not collect in it. One side of it should be in the shade, and the other in the sun. In order for the animals to bypass the sandbox, the sand must be treated with a special agent that will scare them away.

If you wish, you can build a sandbox with your own hands. However, first you need to make a drawing of the future structure. After that, you need to start preparing the place. Initially, the site must be cleaned of debris, and then mark the corners of the future structure with pegs and twine.

To make the base of the sandbox, you will need to remove about 30 centimeters of the top layer of the earth. Next, you need to dig a hole up to 60 centimeters deep. At its bottom, you need to fill up either coarse sand or fine gravel, the layer thickness should not be less than 6 centimeters. Then all this must be covered with any material that allows moisture to pass through well.

When the preparatory stage is completed, you can proceed to the construction of the frame, according to the diagrams made. For a square structure, you will need 4 identical wooden boards, the length of which is 150 cm. As legs, you can use bars with a length of at least 25 cm. It is imperative to check all the material for any irregularities so that the kids cannot get hurt in the future. After that, you can start assembling the sandbox base. The box must be square. When assembling the sandbox, you will need to lay a rubber seal between the ends, which will prevent sand from spilling out.

Another important point when creating a frame is making the bottom. After all, if you do not do it, it will be easy to break open the layer of sand and get to the dirt, moreover, weeds or insects may appear in the sand. When the frame is completely ready, it can be immediately installed in the selected location.

To prevent the sandbox from clogging up, it is worth building a roof. To do this, you need to purchase several pine boards, the thickness of which will be 2.5 centimeters. You will also need long hinges, the right number of screws, as well as nuts and bolts.

First, the boards need to be cut to the width of the sandbox. Then they need to be well sanded and painted. After that, on one side of the structure, it is necessary to fasten two boards with self-tapping screws. Two more need to be connected together with small bars, and then attach them with loops to the first two. It is worth noting that the bars are best placed at the bottom of the lid.

Next, you need to take two more boards, interconnected by beams, they also need to be attached to the previous boards with hinges. This will allow, if necessary, to turn the roof into a fairly comfortable bench.

The inside of the sandbox can be finished with any soft material. If you wish, you can paint or paint it. As for painting, this will require not one, but several colors.

After the paint has dried, you can fill in the sand. The layer thickness should not be less than 15 centimeters. So that the child does not get hurt, it must be sieved, and all debris and insects, if any, must be removed.

Today, when a person's imagination has no boundaries, you can build the most unusual sandbox for your child. There are many options, from a structure made of old tires to a multi-level structure.

• Transforming sandbox. Anyone can make a simple structure made of wood, because it is not at all difficult. However, it takes a little work to build a roof that can be converted into two comfortable benches. Several kids can play in such a sandbox at once, and even adults can sit on the benches.

• Sandbox machine. This design will appeal to any kid. After all, here he can play all day. The roof almost completely covers the child from both the sun's rays and the rain. In a cabin made of wood, he will also be comfortable and interesting. Therefore, parents may not worry at all about where their child is playing.

• From an old tire. This is the easiest and fastest way to equip a play area on the street. The model is bright and interesting, but at the same time extremely simple. In such a design, the baby will definitely not be able to get hurt. On top of the tire, you can install a regular beach umbrella, which will serve as an excellent protection for your baby.

• Game complex. This option will appeal to girls most of all. After all, here you can not only play in the sand, but also equip the kitchen for your favorite doll.

For information on how to make a transforming sandbox with a lid and a roof, see the next video.