Geotextile fabric (cow carpet) for stall liners?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

We are prepping our stall floors with modified limestone so they will drain well and I wanted to put mats down. This stuff will drain so well, that I’m wondering if something like Stall Skins or Stall Savers would be better. Then I started thinking why couldn’t we just buy the fabric and do it ourselves. Something like this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hanes-Geo-C…extile/3316338
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/ProductDisplay?catalogId=15052&storeId=10001&langId=-1&division=FarmTek&productId=166307

Has anyone just bought the fabric and cut to length, then used treated 1x4’s to install? Should I put stone dust over the modified or can I put it down right over the modified? How do you handle the area at the door??

[mmeqcenter]

Most of the stuff from Lowe’s/Home Depot is too thin, they’ll rip it right up.

I called Farm Tek about their stall liners you have linked, and I instead went with the 180 mil (0.18 inch) thick pond underliner. I can’t remember the thickness, but the stall liners were thinner.
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1;;pg105246_113787.html

I tested it in one stall for several months, it seemed to work well, so I did four more stalls. It’s been a little over a year and they’re holding up well. My mare even pawed the crap out her stall stuck inside one day,and it didn’t rip at all. I just make sure to keep them well bedded, do not lightly bed with these things. Even the name brand Stall Savers/Stall Liners tell you to do that. The name brand ones are like 0.23 or 0.24 inches thick, that’s why they’re twice the cost, but so far these pond underliners are working great.

US Fabrics used to sell the exact same material as the name brands use but in rolls for way cheaper, but I don’t see it on their website anymore, might have to call.
https://www.usfabricsinc.com/products/nonwoven

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@mmeqcenter and the pond liner you link will drain like a stall skin?

[mmeqcenter]

I don’t have any experience with stall skins to compare the draining ability, but yes, it drains.

[Snowflake]

I’ve had both the stall skins and then bought my own geotextile from a seller on ebay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Non-Woven-Polypropylene-Geotextile-Fabric-8oz-15-x-15-Multiple-Use-Fabric/380404295766?hash=item5891dce856%3Ag%3A6ogAAOSwt~RZcWt9&_sacat=0&_nkw=8oz+non+woven+geotextile+15&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.A0.H0.X8oz+non+woven+geotextile+15.TRS1&LH_TitleDesc=0) Stall Skins are a bit thicker, a 12 oz non-woven geotextile, versus the 8oz. You would not want to go with anything lighter than an 8 oz fabric and make sure it’s nonwoven.

[Pohney]

I just bought a little farm and am quite certain that my stall floors are geotextile - off brand, not stall skins. Two stalls are in good condition, but I’ll be picking up heavy duty geotextile to replace the third (and ripping up all three to level, add concrete screenings, and replace the edging with treated 2 x lumber). It’s had a few holes worn thru it - I can’t say for sure what was in that stall, but I know the fence was also patched in multiple places on the stall patio, so… may have been a bit of a trying animal.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@Snowflake

I’ve had both the stall skins and then bought my own geotextile from a seller on ebay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Non-Woven-Polypropylene-Geotextile-Fabric-8oz-15-x-15-Multiple-Use-Fabric/380404295766?hash=item5891dce856%3Ag%3A6ogAAOSwt~RZcWt9&_sacat=0&_nkw=8oz+non+woven+geotextile+15&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.A0.H0.X8oz+non+woven+geotextile+15.TRS1&LH_TitleDesc=0) Stall Skins are a bit thicker, a 12 oz non-woven geotextile, versus the 8oz. You would not want to go with anything lighter than an 8 oz fabric and make sure it’s nonwoven.

Thanks!

These guys will be spending as less time as possible in their stalls and will be in only to eat most days so I’m gonna try one of those. It will either work for me or it won’t. Right now we’ve got modified down and letting the horses walk on it to get it packed down then will be adding about 3" of screenings on top of that. Then tamp that down. I want to make sure they are going to stay nice and level before I put this stuff down.

[Simkie]

Are you counting on your screenings to drain underneath the geotex? In my experience, they don’t at all, especially limestone. I’ve had water sit on top of compacted limestone screenings for days. Limestone screenings make a totally awesome base–much better than the bluestone screenings we have out here–but part of that is water doesn’t have much of a path through.

Maybe it doesn’t matter much if horses aren’t going to be in the stalls much, but you might really end up with a smelly mess if you’re counting on pee going through the membrane and disappearing.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@Simkie

Are you counting on your screenings to drain underneath the geotex? In my experience, they don’t at all, especially limestone. I’ve had water sit on top of compacted limestone screenings for days. Limestone screenings make a totally awesome base–much better than the bluestone screenings we have out here–but part of that is water doesn’t have much of a path through.

Maybe it doesn’t matter much if horses aren’t going to be in the stalls much, but you might really end up with a smelly mess if you’re counting on pee going through the membrane and disappearing.

Hmmm I was under the impression that’s what went on top of the modified before installing them. If it won’t drain like that then I won’t do it. If I can put it right over the modified, I will do that instead.

eta: Would sand be better?

[Simkie]

We had play sand under mats when we bought this place and it was TERRIBLE. It constantly shifted and never “locked” down and that meant the stalls were full of dips and hills. Paid a guy a bucket of money to remove it all, what a mess.

Some sort of angular sand might work. Could be worthwhile to call up your sand and gravel place and explain what you need–really highlighting the DRAINS aspect–and see what they say?

Do the stall skins people have their installation instructions online, with site prep?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@Simkie

We had play sand under mats when we bought this place and it was TERRIBLE. It constantly shifted and never “locked” down and that meant the stalls were full of dips and hills. Paid a guy a bucket of money to remove it all, what a mess.

Some sort of angular sand might work. Could be worthwhile to call up your sand and gravel place and explain what you need–really highlighting the DRAINS aspect–and see what they say?

Do the stall skins people have their installation instructions online, with site prep?

They just show how to do a leach pit in a dirt stall. Mine are modified limestone, so some crushed with a bit of dust mixed in. It’s packing very nicely and should always drain. It might be okay to put them right over that. My husband wants to fill some of the holes with dust or screenings, but if it won’t drain then I don’t want to do that.

[Simkie]

@BoyleHeightsKid

They just show how to do a leach pit in a dirt stall. Mine are modified limestone, so some crushed with a bit of dust mixed in. It’s packing very nicely and should always drain. It might be okay to put them right over that. My husband wants to fill some of the holes with dust or screenings, but if it won’t drain then I don’t want to do that.

I’d probably fill the holes with your modified and install your geotex right over that. Is it small enough stone and packed/smoothed enough to not cause worries about poking through your fabric?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@Simkie

I’d probably fill the holes with your modified and install your geotex right over that. Is it small enough stone and packed/smoothed enough to not cause worries about poking through your fabric?

I don’t think I would have to worry about it poking holes in the fabric. This is the floor in one of the stalls.

[Simkie]

@BoyleHeightsKid

This is the floor in one of the stalls.

Have you run the plate tamper over that yet?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@Simkie

Have you run the plate tamper over that yet?

No not yet but that’s the plan once we fill the low spots

[Simkie]

@BoyleHeightsKid

No not yet but that’s the plan once we fill the low spots

Yup, that’s going to be beautiful once you suffer through with the plate tamper :lol: Have some extra rock–some areas will tamp down further than others. Keep us posted on how it all goes!!!

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@Simkie

Yup, that’s going to be beautiful once you suffer through with the plate tamper :lol: Have some extra rock–some areas will tamp down further than others. Keep us posted on how it all goes!!!

I will Simkie! Thanks for all your help!

oh btw… the $5 glades auto sprayers are working well and the horses love them!