Sandbox Installation

Sandbox installation is almost as easy as dumping sand in a box. But you'll get much more fun out of it by installing it correctly in the first place. Remember, sand is heavy. You don't want to move it twice.

Location, location, location Sand, like water, will eventually level itself. If your sandbox isn't flat in the first place, you'll be fighting an uphill battle, literally, to keep the sand in. If you don't have a flat spot, make one. Sand gets hot and dry in the sun, so a little shade helps. But don't get too close to the tree or you'll have to dig roots, which is agonizing work and endangers the tree. You will have to clean leaves and bird droppings from the box, so a space that gets some shade but is away from branches is ideal. Finally, pick a spot where you can easily keep an eye on the action. There will be plenty. Plan on at least four feet around the box to give kids room to run, play and plot. Your sandbox will inspire lots of cheerful shenanigans, and there will be less konking of heads if you provide enough room.

Dig it

After marking off your target, shave off sod with a flat spade. Digging down just a little deeper will help support the sandbox walls and keep it from traveling. A liner helps keep plants and grass from popping up, and prevents sand and dirt from mixing. Use porous landscape fabric. Plastic liners trap moisture and turn your sandbox into smelly quicksand. Just remind yourself: it's one more patch you don't have to mow.

X marks the spot

What looks small on our website might be huge in your yard. Don't guess on sizes. Get the dimensions of the sandbox you like, then go in your yard and mark off that area with string or garden hose. You might be surprised how big or little your mock-up seems in real life, and you can adjust.

Bring on the sand

Length x width x depth, measured in feet, will tell you how many cubic feet of sand you need to buy. Don't fill it to the top, because you want to leave room for pails, shovels, dump trucks and kids. A 4 ft. x 6 ft. box filled 1 ft. deep would thus need 24 cubic feet of sand. A 50 lb. sand bag fills about half a cubic foot, so this example would need 48 bags. Consider lugging sand before you buy to help you from dreaming too big.

Utility sand is cheap but it's no fun to play in. Choose sterilized "play sand" or "sandbox sand," which is softer and stickier so it makes better castles.

One last step: seriously consider a cover. Many of our sandboxes come with secure covers to keep sand in and cats out.