Alternative to play sand

[Berrie]

Hello! It's going to cost £50 to start to fill our new sand pit with play sand. Does anyone know if any of the building sands are suitable. I know that the bright orange building sand will stain and that the sharp sand is too sharp. Some one has mentioned washed river sand but I'm wondering if it would be full of germs.

blimey how big is it?? builders sand is coarser and would hurt probably. tesco sand is really cheap

You need "white sand" from teh builder's merchant. (our sandpit needs about 2 tonnes of the stuff!)

I think we used to get silver sand from the builder's merchant - might be the same as the white sand haggisaggis mentions.

Thanks for the advice,it's the Tesco price I'm going on as it seems to cost more if delivered from a specialist. It's 1.25m2. We didn't really think about the cost of sand when we built it!

We've just had the same problem for dd's sandpit, we phoned the builders yard and were recommended washed plasterers sand. It is a bit orange but hasn't stained any of her clothing. We needed 12 25KG bags to fill ours.

I see, how much was that?

Berrie, our sandpit is 1.4m2. We bought 15 bags at about £1.80 plus VAT each. In the end only put in 12, the other 3 are in the garage for adding when we've lost loads of the sand out the top. DH went to the builders merchants and picked it up (we've got an estate car) to save on delivery costs. As your sand pit is smaller guessing 10 bags would be plenty.
Am now on the hunt for more cheap sand toys as when we've got other kids round they all fight over the buckets and spades.

Our local Travis Perkins (builders merchant) sells Play Pit sand. They are national company so maybe try your local one?

Also Wickes do it.

My friend has just filler her sandpit with some very orange builders sand, and now has 2 very orange children! It's permanently stained their clothes, so be careful its not that kind.