We’re turning a shop into a stable. Flooring is smooth concrete. I’m thinking this could be slippery for shod horses?
Any thoughts on economical solution?
All I can think of at the moment is stall mats where the most traffic is.
I wonder if applying something like this would work?
https://www.quikrete.com/athome/concreteresurfacer.asp
They have pictures of the texture once applied with a broom or a brush.
Stall mats or similar work.
You can get the concrete etched, which makes the surface rough. There are also sealants with grit/beads that make concrete less slippery.
If you’ll be putting stalls in the workshop, and there are no floor drains (to hose down a stall area occasionally), make sure it is well ventilated to outside - as putting stalls on a solid concrete floor with mats gives nowhere for the urine to go (vs dirt or gravel or screenings as your base, where microbes break down the urine).
had the same issue - pressure washed it, used an acid etching product, put down a skim coat of high grip concrete with a bonding agent, so far has lasted 5 yrs with no spauling.
Less money, lots of work; https://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/floor-coating/paints-and-solid-color-stains/how-to-apply-behr-premium-granite-grip
Medium money and work; https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/4-ft-x-6-ft-x-3-4-in-thick-rubber-stall-mat
More money less work(have it installed); https://www.rubberflooringinc.com/interlocking-tile/paver-tiles-west-coast.html
I did the same thing-- shop into barn. I use the rolled rubber matting from the big box feed stores/farm stores (Wilco out here…yours probably has a different name). It’s thinner, 4 feet wide and as long as you need. We have two, 60 foot long, 4 foot wide pieces that run from big door to back of the barn, creating an aisle. Cheaper than stall mats, doesn’t shift, easy to roll up and move if needed. Been there for 14 years now. I’d like to add another strip to make it 12x60 but haven’t really felt the need.
Could you use a concrete paint and scatter coarse sand into it before it dries?
I had a long aisle and did the same as Calvincrowe except found an 8’ width at a big box store. Ran 2 down the 40’ aisle with a slight overlap. Held up great for 10 years. Much cheaper/easier to install than mats and much easier to sweep.
Humm. Great ideas. Wonder how hard some of these would make sweeping up?
Leaf blower !!!
My previous house had a smooth, shiny garage concrete floor. I had to be careful walking on it with wet shoes. So it’s not just the horses that can slip.
I simply sweep mine-- super easy as they are long, smooth runs of rubber with no joints like you get with stall mats lined up. Blowers are great, but if your shop is like mine and has super high ceilings and only one big door on the end, blowing it out simply means dust on the rafters and purlins and every other surface. It’s the pits! We’ve struggled for 16 years to figure out the best way to clean our barn…sigh…
It will make it more difficult, but not unreasonably so. If you’re got a drain available a quick wash-down with water will deal with most issued presented by a “rough” flooring surface.
G.
Thanks all. Good options.
