My husband and I are thinking of making a patio out of sand. Can you tell me why this is a bad idea?

Question

We live in WI so in winter I won't be able to shovel. But I love the feel of sand between my toes and we thought it might be fun. One concern we thought of is any cats who might decide it was just a big litterbox!

Answer 1

I live in WI as well, and can tell you that I think that's a pretty bad idea.  

1.) It's going to be a huge mess whenever it rains.

2.) Your patio furniture will sink

3.) You'll have to replace it constantly

4.) You'll track it all over your house.

5.) Weeds will grow in it.

If you like the feeling of it between your toes I'd suggest building a sandbox or finding a lake with a beach.

Answer 2

One bad idea would be the cats but the oter is worrying if the sand gets into your house.

Answer 3

Very, very hard to keep it looking like it does when you first set it down. Leaves and other stuff will get mixed in. High winds will blow it away slowly. Weeds will find a way to grow. It will also discolour within a year. And yes, cats and other critters will use it now and then! It would need drain off after/during heavy rain too...

Answer 4

As someone who grew up with very sandy soil, don't do it. Sand will get tracked into your house no matter how well you try to keep it from happening.  The sand will get into everything!  If you have hard floors, the sand will act as an abrasive and shorten the life of your flooring.  

Look into tile, pavers, or concrete (or any number of other options), it'sll be well worth your time and money.

Answer 5

you will soon find the sand everywhere

Answer 6

when we got rid of our above-ground pool, the area was a four inch deep sandpit.... I kinda liked it, so I left it that way.... every danged ant in the yard decided that would be THE place to dig a tunnel and so I then had little piles of red dirt on TOP of the sand..... which turned to red mud the very next rain ..... between the kids and the dogs, the sand went flying and before long, all I had was red mud left there....and then came the weeds..... keep thinking this over.....