My contractor is recommending 4” of compacted bluestone (screenings) with 3” of sand on top for our indoor. I know my outdoor has a much thicker base (different contractor). Is this ok for an indoor? It will primarily be used for flatwork during inclement weather with an occasional jump here and there.
4" is sufficient for an indoor because it’s not exposed to the elements.
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Thats fine for base. I recommend a sand/silt mix for footing. They call it racetrack mix. We use mag flakes and never have to water.
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And be sure they “laser” the base so it’s perfectly level. I also LOVE mag chloride. Not only do you have NO dust but it gives a bit of grip and push off. Planning to go get another 20 bags and apply. I use a seed spreader w PTO and makes a quick project of application. Literally just takes 5 min driving around.
Added: then be sure to wash your tractor and spreader and get the chemicals off your equipment.
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Was the guy who did my indoor an overachiever?
He put down 9" of compacted gravel - ran the leveling/compacting equipment for multiple days - then 3" of angular sand over that < telling me I could add more easier than remove surplus.
He was an Excavator, not a horseman, but he was friendly with a guy who bred Aztecas & Friesians & gave him advice, as well as a bucket of the sand he recommended (& had in his indoor) for my approval.
Nearly 20yrs later, I don’t have the base coming through the sand & every Summer a neighbor uses the indoor to store loaded haywagons, pulling them in with a tractor w/Ag tires.
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Sounds like he wanted you to have the best outcome! More base is always better, especially dependent on your sub-base. We have hard clay here and it’s just miserable for drainage, so more is most certainly better but unfortunately it’s not in everyone’s budget. From an excavators stand point it’s definitely harder to remove excess than it is to add, because it’s sort of a crap shoot once it’s spread, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it and there’s many roads to Rome.
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