Kids Sandpit With Seating Lid

The kids will soon be breaking up for their summer holidays so what better time is there than now to make them a sandpit? This one is made from decking boards and incorporates a folding lid design that opens out to create seating.

Here is the full step by step video:

Supplies

Materials Used:

Decking
38mm Square Wood
T Hinges
Screws
Landscaping Fabric
Staples
Play Sand
Garden Paint

Tools Used:

Create the Sandpit Frame

The first job is to cut the decking boards to length. The boards I used were 2.4m long so I measured and marked halfway and cut them to length. I used a hand saw to cut the boards but you could use a powered saw too. 4 boards will be enough to create the frame when stacked 2 boards high.

To join the boards together we need some square material in the corners. I used 38mm x 38mm wood. This is plenty big enough for this application. I cut 4 pieces to length making sure their length matched the width of 2 decking boards butted together. that was roughly 25cm in my case.

With those cut, it's time for assembly. I first drilled pilot holes through the decking boards and into the square wood. Making sure the decking was butted tight together and flush on the ends with the square wood pieces. They could then be secured together with 2 screws for each board. I repeated this onto the other side too.

That gives us 1 side piece with 2 corner pieces attached. Repeat the process to create another side piece exactly the same.

These can then be joined together with the remaining decking boards to create a square frame. Make sure the decking is sitting flush on both ends before securing with screws.

You could stop here if you like, you have the basic sandpit frame made. I recon the folding lid is a great addition though.

Create the Folding Lid

The first step for creating the lid is to cut some more decking boards to length. The amount you'll need will vary depending on how wide the boards are but for a rough estimate, I used 5 boards (cut in half) to cover a 1.2m x 1.2m sandpit.

You'll want to cut the boards to match the width of the sandpit, in our case that's 1.2m long.

You can then secure 2 boards to the frame with screws at both ends. These sit flush on the ends and will give us something to attach the hinges to. They also provide support for the seat later.

With those fixed in place, we can add 2 more boards at both ends but these get attached with T hinges and braces. First secure them together with the hinges, 2 on each side. Then secure those hinges to the boards that we fixed in place earlier. The hinges will hold the boards but it's not very strong so using the same wood we used in the corners cut some braces. I cut 4 in total, 2 for each side. I also cut away the corners and sanded them round to make them look like little armrests.

They can then be attached to the underside of the boards with screws. Make sure they sit inside the frame though. Double-check the lid will close ok without the braces hitting the side of the frame. Do the same to the other side too.

The final board to add in place at each end is attached with T hinges too, slightly shorter ones though. They get attached on the underside this time too, that way the final board can fold in the opposite direction to create a backrest. Again, it will need some braces made from the same wood we used for the other braces. These are cut slightly oversized though. They are only fixed to the one board with screws because this allows them to swing over and interact with the frame itself. They lean against it creating a really strong back rest support. They also work great as handles to open and close the lid sections.

Paint & Add Sand

The next step is totally up to you. It's time to decide what kind of colour scheme you want to go with. I went with blue garden paint but you can choose any colour you like for this. There are a variety of outdoor paint and preservers to choose from so go with what you think will suit your garden best.

Once it's had its chosen finish applied you can add the landscaping fabric to keep the sand in place and prevent weeds poking through. Attach the fabric to the frame with staples and cut to size with scissors.

When adding the sand please make sure you're using play sand or sandpit sand. You cant use any old sand as it can be full of nasty sharp bits and chemicals. Better to be safe than sorry.

With the sand in place that completes this project. I really hope you give it a go for yourself. Closing the lid hides the sand and toys away while also preventing cats and other animals from getting into it. When the lid is open for play it also doubles as a great seating option while the kids play.