INSIDE: How to build a kids wooden sandbox using affordable redwood fence posts for outdoor summer play. DIY backyard play with sandbox for kids.
How do you start your weekends? If my husband had his way, we’d sleep in and lounge around. Wrong wife, wrong life! As soon as he’s had a few sips of coffee, I hit him with my standard, “What’s our plan for the weekend?” After a dozen years of marriage, he knows I’m referring to what Weekend Warrior-DIY projects we will check off the home To Do.
One of these many projects has been to build the kids a wooden sandbox to get them outside to play. And add a fabric canopy cover to keep the Arizona sun at bay.
There’s nothing quite like hauling home lumber to get the weekend started right! Here’s how to easily build a DIY kids sandbox using redwood fence posts.
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How to Make Affordable and Easy Kids Backyard Sandbox
Several years ago, while away for the weekend, I came home to a pine sandbox in the backyard. Surprise! Due to our harsh Arizona sun, this little pine sandbox fell apart after a couple years.
Now with a trio of kids, we were in need of not only a larger sandbox but one that would withstand our desert climate. Some research later, we learned that redwood is a great weather-proof wood. But, it’s pricey! That’s when we realized we could get the same effect with redwood fence posts. And it was only $2 per board!
Supplies:
– Redwood fence posts (they come in 6′ length, 5″ wide sections)
– Skill saw (or jig saw)
– 2 x 4 wood
– Wood screws (or deck screws)
– Landscape fabric
– Staple gun
– Bags of play sand
How to Use $2 Fence Posts for Easy Backyard Sandbox
Step 1:
Measure out the width and depth of the sand box. This is necessary to build your frame.
Step 2:
Notice that the fence posts are dog eared. Use a skill saw to cut off these ends in order to get a full size board. We did these for eight boards.
Proceed to cut the boards the length and width of your sandbox measurements (from Step 1).
Step 3:
Cut the 2×4 into eight pieces 11” high. Since the width of the boards are about 5”, the walls will be made of two boards placed horizontally on top of each other. Two of the 2X4 cuts will be nailed together to serve as the posts.
Step 4:
Use wood screws to secure the boards onto the 2×4 posts.
Step 5:
Once you have the frame built, turn it over and spread the landscape fabric across the bottom.
Use a staple gun to secure the fabric to the underside of the boards. Cut off any excess fabric.
Step 6:
If you want seating, take two more redwood boards and cut the length of the sandbox sides. Nail these into the side posts.
Step 7:
Place the sandbox frame in your yard. Pour in the play sand and enjoy!!
Learn how to make this custom sandbox cover for optimal shade. A must for summertime play!
how to build cheap diy sandbox for kids
“Isn’t this a great use of our weekend?”, I exclaim to my weary husband. As he complains of his backache and muscle pains from being bent down building a sandbox all weekend, my project contribution was to help him relieve his achiness with TYLENOL® 8 HR Muscle Aches & Pain. Get temporary relief of muscular aches and get back to… the next home project!
What Weekend Warrior projects have you created for your kids?
I am not a medical expert, and this post is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. ©Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2017. The third party trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
For More Kid-Friendly Ideas:
- NO GLUE! DIY clay slime for kids recipe
- Turn a metal serving tray into a wall-mounted magnet board
- Kids stacking toy turned into a fun playroom mobile
- (Clean) paint can lids become DIY superhero wall emblems
- DIY fence-mounted outdoor chalkboards for kids
- Old hot dog bun tray becomes Family Words of the Year sign
- Turn an empty closet into DIY kids reading nook
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That is such a great idea. I wish my kids still played in sandboxes! #cient
You live in Arizona?! Me too 🙂 It is soooo hot already! This is such a great project! I want one. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love this project. I really like the canopy to block out the sun. We had a sandbox in the middle of the yard and it was always hot. Great idea.
Susan @craftingafamily.com
Thanks Susan! We need all the shade we can get in Arizona in the summertime!!
Here in Athens-Greece usually we live in appartments. How lucky you are you have a beautiful place for your kids to play! Your sandbox turned out perfectly!
Thank you so much Christina!
This sand box is so nice, my favorite is the canopy over it to protect them from the sun!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
What a cool little sandbox! Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY link party!
Really great idea! Love that shade over it. Scheduled to Pinterest. Thanks for sharing at the To Grandma’s House We Go link party.
this is so fabulous, i LOVE that it’s shaded, and the bench lets you get in there but not be in the sand. so smart!
b
Thank you so much! It’s the best money spent on kid toys
I love that, and I know our boys would love it, but I would be so worried about animals coming in and using it as a litterbox since it is open. But then there are tons of cats in our neighborhood. Not everyone has that!
This is a great DIY project. The kids can have fun in the sandbox and the canopy shades them. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best Linkup.
I seriously love this sandbox and could use one at home and work. 🙂 BTW…..Tylenol is my friend twice a day.
Wish we had this growing up!! Very cool!!
This is my next project here on the farm. I hope ours turns out as well as yours has. #TheRealCraftyLinkParty
I love it, I wish we had a backyard too because my kids would be ecstatic with a sandbox like this. As it is, they have to wait for the weekends when we can make a quick trip to the beach.
Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
My kids love to play in the sand and this sandbox looks great! Thanks for sharing. #creativelycrafty
This is useful. Thanks. #happynowlinkup
I love that sandbox! And the canopy looks perfect. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
I love this! The canopy is an awesome idea. I’m sure any kid would love to have a cool looking sandbox like this!
Thanks Tuula! Even in the Arizona summertime heat, my kids are in the sandbox.
Sandboxes are such a great part of childhood and yours is wonderful. I love that its large, has some seating and a shade cloth. The awning is a very very nice touch.
What a gorgeous sand box, love the canopy
A great sandbox and with the cover too it looks so practical.
Oh my gosh, Victoria, you have me rolling! “Wrong wife, wrong life”
ROFL! I am totally going to borrow that one!
This turned out AMAZING! I just need a yard to do it in now 😉 Thanks for sharing at Tip Me Tuesday!
I love the canopy, that is such a fabulous idea! We are moving home to Texas and will likely get a house in about a year. I think this project is going to be a must!
What a fun idea for the kids. Great idea to have it shaded. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Hope to see you at the party next week!
Oh, this is a fabulous idea! And I love the canopy over the top. We could do with a larger sandbox now that my son is old enough to be playing in it with my daughter. Thanks for the idea, and thanks for sharing at Sweet Inspiration!
Hey there! I just made this yesterday and I was wondering how I can make a cover for it?
You can see this tutorial here: http://dazzlewhilefrazzled.com/diy-cover-backyard-kids-sandbox/