Dirt or concrete stall

[Simkie]

@Mukluk

Well I think the only way tit would work would be to do Blume farms 2 x 4 planks with pea gravel between (no shifting in that case) and then I would but bedding on top of that. I use wood pellets.

And pee goes…where? Fines from the bedding will sift into your pee (errr, pea :lol:) gravel, holding urine and then clogging drains. Removing the lot of it to rinse the organics from the gravel and unclog the drain would be a huge undertaking.

The stall fabric options that use a gravel drain bed separate the drain bed from the bedding for a reason. Organic materials like bedding and inorganic materials that need to drain don’t work well without a barrier between. You could do stall skins, but at that point, you’d likely be spending more than mats, so…why?

The benefit of concrete under mats is the level surface that doesn’t deform. There’s no benefit to having concrete under gravel or sand

[Mukluk]

OK. Well if you are putting mats over concrete how thick should they be?.
Who makes the best (quality/durablity)mats- I assume you get what you pay for.
I’m in CA for what it’s worth.

[Bluey]

Many use plain 3/4" mats from places like Tractor Supply or such local places.

Is cheaper if you find a bulk supplier close by, the internet has plenty and buy wholesale.

Some like the Summit ones that tie into each other like a puzzle and some of those come up to 1" thick.

We have the plain ones, most in 4’ x 8’, from Gebo’s a SW company, that sells at a discount for volume orders.

[Simkie]

@Mukluk

OK. Well if you are putting mats over concrete how thick should they be?.
Who makes the best (quality/durablity)mats- I assume you get what you pay for.
I’m in CA for what it’s worth.

Hmm, tricky question. The commonly available 3/4" 4x6 rubber mats are probably all pretty similar. You can most likely get a deal by buying by the pallet at your local feed store.

But then you get into interlocking mats and thicker mats and one piece mats and lightweight mats and…geez, even stall mattresses. You can even get liquid rubber products, which just seem SUPER sexy.

Probably all depends on how complex you want to get

[js]

When we built our barn we did concrete and then rolled a sealer on it to help seal it, then good quality rubber mats over top. I would much prefer it that way. Since we moved we now have dirt floors and it’s very very dusty. We don’t live somewhere where you can get professional dirt/screenings delivered so its just packed dirt. I want to put rubber mats down but we need to get the stalls leveled and then I still will have to deal with pee soaking thru the joints between mats etc., not an ideal situation for me.

[Mukluk]

So if you have properly installed mats, the pee doesn’t leak through the mats? I would plan to use some wood pellets for bedding over the mats. Also would set it up so the concrete could be hosed off to clean (so there would be a drain in the concrete floor). I do have a tractor supply locally and they carry the 4x6 mats ( but the ones I’ve seen don’t interlock).

[Mukluk]

My stalls are 12 x 16 so I would need 16 4 x 6 mats to cover two stalls. Grand total for 16 mats with tax would be $772.03 at Tractor supply.

If we do concrete we will install a deco drain strip either at the end of the stall or down the center with slight slope to concrete (either way). We will also put 3-4 inches of gravel or sand below the concrete so it doesn’t crack and expansion and control joints in the concrete (all per my contractor bf). (Lucky lucky me).

[Simkie]

@Mukluk

So if you have properly installed mats, the pee doesn’t leak through the mats? I would plan to use some wood pellets for bedding over the mats. Also would set it up so the concrete could be hosed off to clean (so there would be a drain in the concrete floor). I do have a tractor supply locally and they carry the 4x6 mats ( but the ones I’ve seen don’t interlock).

No, not really. Mats should be cut to fit TIGHT. When I install mats, I cut 1/4" to a 1/2" longer than the measure and bang them in with a rubber mallet. Very little is able to seep between. If you have gaps, they’ll shift, bedding will get underneath, seams will lift, and you’ll curse every time you clean the stall. Poorly installed mats just suck.

You’ll want to slope to be very even across the stall, or the mat edges will have a tough time aligning. A edge drain is probably better, otherwise both sides are coming to a valley in the middle.

If you have a local feed store that’s not TSC, check there, too. I’ve always gotten better deals by shopping NOT at TSC. My last mats were $30 a pop, delivered. Pallet pricing, local store.

[Mukluk]

Thanks Simkie. I’m in the boondocks and only local feed store is TSC. However, I could go to Lancaster, Bakersfield, or LA if I needed be (California).

[Simkie]

@Mukluk

Thanks Simkie. I’m in the boondocks and only local feed store is TSC. However, I could go to Lancaster, Bakersfield, or LA if I needed be (California).

TSC will do a pallet price, so if you can find a spot for the other mats, definitely take advantage! Mats are one of those things that just always come in handy. But if those other feed stores aren’t a ridiculous haul, give them a call to see what they can do for you :yes: