I know this is off the beaten path a bit but I created a little dilema for myself and you folks always come through for me. I am far enough along on my house project that I ventured into some sandbox construction. Had a lot of fun building it and I wanted to make it nice and big ( and waste very little lumber). As I was installing the bench on this 6′ x 6′ sandbox it occurred to me that the lid is going to be a problem.
I’m looking for ideas on a lid that is not too heavy, water will run off and is reasonably durable. I was originally going to use 5/4 decking material but I think it will be too heavy. I wouldn’t be opposed to PVC and canvas. Any thoughts?
Thanks for your help.
Replies
I had hvac contractor make a galv sheet metal lid on a trade. 5x6, 2 five year olds could pick it up and move it aside. Crimp in the middle with slight pitch to either side to drain water. Rolled and folded edges, about a 2" lip that dropped over the sides of the sand box.
How about just getting a 8 1/2 or 9 ft kiddy pool and just turning it up side down that would keep it dry and the bird crap out of the sand. If you are set on using a wood frame that fits tight to the sand box so you can tie it down, you could just cut the bottom out pool and fasten it to a 1 x 4 frame 1/4 ply gussets in the corners
or
You might be able to use a fiber glass roof panel that some people use on screen decks. Not sure how much flexing that would take. You put that on a 1 x 4 frame with 1 / 4 plywood gussets in the corner . Not sure how wide you can get it so you may need to lap. Put some sealer between the one or two of the panels. It is corrugated The plastic from the pool bottom may be better chouse because your kids may decided that the top is a flying carpet and use that as a toy.
Build a roof. Shade for the kids included.
"Build a roof."
But then the kitty has trouble watching the birds when using it as a litter box!
I've seen 2 ideas I would consider when we build one for our daughter. First one is what they use at our daycare, and that is just awning material that is weighted on the edges. Easy to take on and off, keeps out cats and birds. This box is under a roof as well, so it keeps out the sun and rain. The other that I liked was a roof on a pully system to raise and lower it. When in use it is up, when not it is on the box. The pulleys make it easy to use, but I wondered if kids wouldn't try and hang themselves on it or somehow find a creative way to injure themselves.
what about a sheet of polycarbonate sheet roofing.
you'd have to weight that down.
really strong though
aleks
Polycarbinate is nick sensistive.
How about a roof that raises up and down.
its a bit wacky but what about the hood from a big car/van.
you could use the hinges and it could lift up and down on gas struts.
maybe??
i don't know what got a hood that big?
nothing in the UK as far as i know.
what about a lincoln towncar???
aleks
ps most people think i'm a bit strange. if aske di don't think out of the box, i'm out of the wrapper!!!!
As a kid I had a wood sand box with a canvas lid that turned into an umbrella. The canvas lid had a gable shape. Two wood posts with holes drilled every foot were extended up from the middle of the sand box (one on each side). The lid was lifted up and a bolt was put through the holes to set the cover at various heights. The cover provided shade and kept the cats out.