This isn’t my first go round with putting in mats, but this time I hired out the base.
At least one stall isn’t quite as level as I’d like after putting in the mats. I’m NOT taking them back out to do more work on the base (just…no. I can’t. I’m done.) How foolish would it be to wet down the mats well and run the tamper over the TOP of the mats?
Is that a totally ridiculous idea, or one that could work to correct some of the little irregularities?
I don’t think it will work and may damage the mats some, if they are crumbled, recycled rubber, as so many are.
Guess that you could try it in a corner.
You might not tear the mats up but since they were made to absorb vibration (among other things) it’s unlikely you would affect the ground underneath.
If the workmen did an unworkmanlike job then get them to come back and fix it. You paid for a service; let them provide it correctly.
Good luck in your project.
G.
No.
Why didn’t you use one a tamper on the stall floor before installing the mats, I’m assuming they are dirt floors right? If it’s just one stall that has mats no laying flat, maybe pull those mats up and use a tamper on the floor? I’m assuming the floors are dirt. I don’t see how wetting the top of the mat will be of any use, take the mat out, wet the floor and use the tamper.
I don’t see why it isn’t worth a try. If the mats are made strong enough to stand the test of time with shod horses. I don’t see how/why a vibrating tamper is going to damage them. I certainly can understand why you don’t want to pull them up and reinstall, lol. Got that T-shirt. I don’t use mats. Personally I have found them to be a PITA and do more for the owner than the horse. There is no “real science” or studies that conclusively proves otherwise. To each their own on this.
To check how level your efforts have achieved use a what I call a scratch board the width of the stall. A 2X4 or 2X6 but you need to check how straight the edge is. Most construction grade have a crown, a bit bowed. Best to go through the the stack and set on the floor to see. Or run one through a table saw to cut/rip a straight edge. Best/easiest needs 2 people, place on the stall floor and drag it across. It will “scratch” the high spots leaving the low spots smooth. It will not tell you if it is “dead level”, high to low from front to back, side to side without using a 6’ level set on top. It will only tell you if the floor is “crowned” or has high and low spots.
Alright, so I’m not totally nutso if you think it might be worth a shot, @gumtree :lol: And yeah…I don’t think the horses care one way or another about the mats, but I prefer cleaning a stall with them in. The base here wasn’t done properly when we bought the place, and the mats were all jacked up, so I pulled them all and have had the horses on dirt since Jan or so. Getting them back in on mats is going to be SO much easier for me.
Did what you describe with the board and the level when doing the base and mats in MN. Developed a passionate, fiery hatred of the tamper, but got some beautifully level stalls. Figured hiring out the base would be the way to go for this go-round, but it’s harder to overlook imperfections when they’re not imperfections you’ve struggled over yourself. The stall that is the most iffy is my hay storage stall, so if we really screw it up it’s not going to really be a giant problem…
@Bluey my mats in MN held up with no visible wear at all under a giant skid steer, so I think a tamper, especially with water (so it slides instead of grabs?) would be okay. Even considered adding a but of dish soap for the slick factor, but that really might be a recipe for disaster.
@Guilherme I can still affect the base with my hand tamper, so I think a plate tamper would do something. Question is: something worthwhile? Or something that I just have to pull mats to fix? Dunno.
Guy who did the bases is coming out to fix my one last stall, so I still have some time to contemplate. Any other feedback?
If he’s coming back out and it wasn’t done correctly…I’d ask him to do the deed and save your own back. 
Oh, if “I” try tamping over the mats, I’ll ask him to do it. The tamper and I have a long, rocky relationship and we don’t need to revisit :lol:
He’ll be bringing the tamper out for the last stall, so it’ll be here, and he’ll be here…what’s the harm in trying to tamp over the mats in my hay stall? Figured you guys would tell me if it was just a ridiculous idea.
But it’s my bag putting the mats in, and the mats are all in except for the last stall, and I don’t want to wrestle with them again. So they’re not coming out.
Hey, if you have him there with the tamper, try a bit and see what happens, if you can talk him into it.
Why not have him pull the mat and tamp it correctly?
Is this a trick question? :lol: I’d have to put them back in. Although, hey, PA isn’t far from CT, and if you’d like to come wrangle mats, I’m a good cook, we have a nice guest room, and the hot tub is ready…
why wet the mats? just wondering as our mats are impervious so the water would just remain on top
I was thinking it would help the tamper glide over the mats, instead of grabbing them? Bonus of also showing low spots very clearly. Yes? No?
LOL. I just had surgery on my left wrist, so that’s probably not the best idea for me health wise. 
That said, if it wasn’t done correctly and you didn’t notice it until the mat went in, perhaps you can guilt him into doing the right thing, which includes assisting with the mats.
Why is moving mats such a big deal?Are you using 2 pairs of vice grips to grab them?
Am I missing something?
The interlocking mats I have weigh 100 lbs each. Yes that is a problem. I did do one 12 x 24 stall by myself but I had to take the next day off from work as a “sick day”. Not doing that again.
Your using the wrong type of compactor to do this. Go rent a jumping jack compactor and go over the mats with that. You won’t need to water down the mats and they won’t get chewed up from sliding across them.
Oh, good. The “stop being such a pussy” response :lol: Letsee.
36 mats dragged into the barn
5 stalls x 6 mats cut and in. Conservatively, let’s call it moving each mat 4 times in the stall. Stall walls aren’t square so there were a lot of odd cuts and head scratching.
Couple mats dragged in to protect directly outside dutch door
16 aisle mats dragged out of the aisle
14 aisle mats pressure washed, dragged back in and cut (two discarded, too short). Figure moving each one three times, simpler project than the stalls.
One stall left to cut
12 aisle mats left to go–need pressure washed, dragged in and cut
So, conservatively: 24000 lbs moved, maybe 6600 left to go.
What’s the big deal? Yeah, let’s just add another 6000 lbs to that number.
Obviously, I just need better vice grips :rolleyes:
(BTW, did you know that women have about half the upper body strength of men? And we’re also SMALLER. It’s a hell of a lot easier to throw your weight around if you have MORE OF IT.)
Well bless your heart.
Sorry to hear that moving mats is so hard for you? I
thought you said that you had to fix 1 stall?
One stall is not 6000 pounds.
After moving that many mats, one stall should be a piece of cake.
Tamp away with your tamper in a puddle of water on the mats.
Hope it works out for you.
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