Trying to build a low cost arena; is it possible to have a grass area laser graded and just add GGT footing on top. Or do I need to put in a base and if so what would that consist of…In south Florida. I know nothing about arena building. Thanks in advance. Any advice is appreciated.
in South FL you have sand or muck(black everglades organic soil). Right now, the grass roots holds the sand together or provides stability to the muck. If you put footing on top, the grass dies. Then you have problems!
I have a good friend in Orlando with sugar sand. His arena has a base of crushed concrete with footing on top. It is very stable.
If you are down further, towards WPB/Wellington, there are many resources available.
USDF also has a great footing booklet, https://store.usdf.org/products/underfoot
It really depends on what’s under the grass. Here in Georgia I have a sandy clay and very little topsoil. The grading contractor was able to find a spot with a natural crown, scrape the topsoil, get it level-ish and then just add decomposed granite.
It is fine for me here at home, it doesn’t get used that much. And if I ever decide to do it properly, those are the same first steps we would have taken anyway – next we would add more M-10 and compact it.
If instead you have a lot of topsoil, or slippery (beach type) sand, then you may end up with mud, or something too deep.
Find a grading contractor who has lived and worked in your area for a long time. They will know how the land “works” and be able to advise you. You don’t necessarily need an arena expert – find someone who knows how to build a road base, as that’s essentially what you want underneath.
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Pretty much no matter where you live you need to put in a base. The problem with Florida is the sand. It will just keep getting deeper and deeper and deeper……
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Talk to a local professional who has put in multiple arenas. It is so very, very easy to go for ‘cheap’ and end up spending more than doing the job right in the first place.
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