How to Make Sandbags for Your House

If you live in an area prone to flooding or have been warned of imminent danger of flooding, making your own sandbags may be a desired or necessary way in which to keep flood waters from invading your home. While sandbags can be purchased, in severe flooding situations stores often run out of sandbags. You can also save money by making your own sandbags.

Things You'll Need

• 16-gallon heavy-duty trash bags
• Sand
• Shovel
• Duct tape

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Open a 16-gallon trash bag and set it on its bottom or have another person help you hold it open. A 16-gallon trash bag will make a 40-pound sandbag. Use larger sized trash bags for bigger sandbags.

   • 2

     Scoop sand up with a shovel and dump it into the open trash bag. Continue to place sand in the sandbag until it's halfway full.

   • 3

     Wrap the remainder of the trash bag around the sand-filled portion of the bag. Secure the sandbag by taping down the end of the trash bag, then wrapping duct tape twice around the sandbag in a direction parallel to the short sides of the sandbag.