What Kind of Sand is Used for Sandboxes?

It is a relatively simple task to pick up a bag of sand from the local home improvement store, take it home and fill a child's sandbox. But there are a few things you need to realize before purchasing the sand.

Identification

Make sure the sand you are buying is properly labeled for use in a child's sandbox.

Varieties

There are different varieties of sand. Most sand used in a child's sandbox is made of crystalline silica and asbestos tremolite. These ingredients come from crushed rock. There is colored sand, river or beach sand and pea gravel. The pea gravel is not meant to build sand castles but can be used with beach toys such as trucks and shovels.

How Much Do I Buy?

Most plastic sandboxes will contain information about the amount of sand needed to fill it. A typical plastic sandbox will hold approximately 200 lbs. of sand.

Best Places To Purchase

There are a variety of places to buy sand for your sandbox. Lawn and garden centers, home improvement stores or your local children's toy store will carry the sand.

Warning

The state of California requires a warning to appear on all bags of sand that contain crystalline silica. This is because crystalline silica is derived from quarried quartz, and the dust from crystalline silica can cause silicosis. Silicosis is a condition that affects the lungs and can be fatal.

References

• The Safe Sand Co.
• Sandbox Sand