yes, it is a huge pain. 100% do not recommend.
1 Like
Well crap, I just called my TSC and they are indeed smooth on one side and round nubbies on the other.
Same at my TSC - smooth & round nubs. Strangely, the smaller mats they carry (the 3x4) have the pebble texture on one side. So annoying. I need new mats for a project and I’m planning on shopping the sale as well. I don’t mind the smooth side up in a stall but also agree on how slippery they are when wet so I wouldn’t use it in a wash stall. BUT if you are only using in a wash stall maybe the round nubs wouldn’t be terrible since presumably you could hose off the mess. Mine is just one that is wrong side up in a stall and too hard to change now so I just deal with it.
1 Like
I’m planning to put them in the grooming area, so not all the time wet but I don’t want a horse slipping with me that close to them. A little texture is a must.
If they won’t honor the price match watch the flyers. We bought 30 of them last year when on sale for $35 a mat.
1 Like
My diamond blade on my angle grinder cuts right through concrete, so should be fine for pavers. Please make sure to clamp the pavers down HARD, and have someone provide a small trickle of water over the paver while you’re cutting it.
2 Likes
Have those, HATE those.
We didn’t install them so I’m not 100% sure what prep was done prior (if any). Our barn floor is packed limestone/ screenings with these in the stalls that were then back filled with something (we didn’t install so again, not sure what). They 100% catch the forks and they 100% do not drain, at least not well enough. I find that the urine actually is much, MUCH worse in the stall with the grid mats as with flat/ regular stall mats I can scoop it all out (I bed deep in both stalls with both types of mats) but with the grids, the urine soaks into the material that was used to backfill the grids and sits. It stays wet and smelly and I can’t wait to rip them the F out. Couldn’t pay me to deal with them if I had the option.
FWIW I am in IL, south of you, with a similar climate and my horses are out 90-99% of the time and the stall with grid mats still needs stripped + barn lime + aired out with fans frequently (the regular stall matted stall does not need any of that).
6 Likes
Another hard NO for these things:
Fork catching, drainage inhibiting, smell creating disaster zones. Regular mats where you can scoop all the wet or stonedust or clay floors where you can level them out a couple of times a year would be my go to if you’re dead set against mats.
I was in a barn (that had these hateful things) for a short period about 25+ years ago and was glad it was only a temporary resting spot for a few weeks. This many years later I can still hear myself swearing at those stupid things on the daily 
They do work great over concrete that is sloped to a proper drain and is not bedded, like in the ‘pit’ of a milking parlour. They offer great cushion for the people walking on them and are flushed out regularly so they don’t get too gross. Even then, the whole floor needs to come up every year or so, get completely cleaned and re-laid. Note that the pit of a milking parlour is about a billion times cleaner than a horse’s stall so the fact they get gross in there should be a heads up about these hateful inventions.
5 Likes
Interesting, thanks you two for your take! I know there’s a racetrack with these in all the stalls. I’ll ponder it a bit more - I really hate that mats don’t drain at all, but maybe it’s the best of the affordable evils.
Diamond blade is a beast on the pavers. Dusty mess though (I don’t have someone to spray water). Maybe I’ll run a box fan on the next cut.
The pavers are a bit of a bear to lay. Some have a bow in the middle, none are uniform thickness. Doing the best I can…
8 Likes
I just love to follow your posts! So nice to see you build this barn “from scratch”.
3 Likes
Both the round nub and the diamond tread-like mats are really tough on your knees if you kneel on them to wrap legs and such.
Just a minor point. In the TSC batch I bought to cover my 48x12 feet barn aisle, one was not cut squarely and threw the whole pattern off. If that’s important to you check their corners with a square before you lay them.
2 Likes
Please don’t. For your lungs’ sake. Strategically lay a garden hose so it can dribble on your blade/cut.
1 Like
I’m wearing an N95, and the outside hoses are blown out because it’s winter. I really don’t have too many cuts to make all things considered, just two more for the other posts.
It’ll be ok! Just have to get upwind of it 
2 Likes
Do you have a local farm supply store that’s not a big box? I live in the land of expensive, and buying through the local guy is always my best deal. I’ve done a couple pallets of mats over the years at quite a bit less than TSC prices.
Something we did in our previous barn (which was a pole shed like this one) was replace the gable end metal siding in the peaks with translucent panels. It made an amazing difference in the barn, adding so much light and airiness. It wasn’t expensive, even having guys do it. Well worth the effort. Maybe something for you to consider.
4 Likes
I’ve been thinking about how to get more (any, ha) natural light in there. For right now, it’s a low priority item but it will make its way up the list. I’m familiar with installing those, we did/fixed/added a bunch over the years at the farm I boarded at in the past.
I looked into the clear ridge vents and decided against it for various reasons.
Just plinking away at it.
Farm and Fleet called, my gates are in (!!!) So I’ll be headed to pick those up Saturday I think.
8 Likes
These pavers are the base for your tack room and grooming area right? Will you put flooring over them in the tack area?
2 Likes
Yes. I will make a shed floor out of 4x4s, osb over that, and then I have a few boxes of left over LVP flooring from my mom.
3 Likes
Cool beans!
I have a soft spot for the look of a brick floor for my own future tack room but I’m just not sure how to go about it.
1 Like
