Pavers for a center aisle?

[Hermein]

How thick? How close together? Depth of sand as a base?

I could probably find out through google or youtube, but think that I’d get more useful info here.

As usual, things regarding moving house and horses to a new, unimproved location are in a time crunch re: weather. The beginnings of a barn are going to consist of six facing stalls with cover and windbreaks for the horses. Cover for me will come later.

I’m thinking sand over gravel & wondering if I need gravel to keep me out of the mud. (Since this is 500-year-drought California*, this may be a moot point.) The soil is almost gravel, on its own.

I don’t really need anything permanent at this point, but would appreciate guidance.

Thanks.

*By looking at tree rings on ancient Blue Oaks, scientists discovered that this drought has lasted the longest in 500 years.

[clanter]

when you say “pavers” are you referring to Stepping Stones or actual pavestone/cobblestone type pavers?

Stepping stones are made of about 2000 psi concrete where the pavers are usually 8,000 psi concrete. I am not sure the concrete stepping stone would hold up.

We have pavestone pavers in our barn, these are about three inches thick and you can drive a 100,000 pound truck over them with damage

Ours are on a base crushed limestone that had been compacted then about two inches of washed masonry sand then the pavestones … which then are compacted into the sand. Been in place about 25 years without a problem.

[crosscreeksh]

I’m facing the same situation with a new facility in our future. I was thinking that good stall mats over grave and stone dust would be an alternative to concrete for the aisleway and even the tack room. Our current barn has concrete in the tack/feed/office and wash/utility spaces. It was darned expensive for the concrete and the men who “worked” the poured concrete.

[Blume_Farm]

I lined my barn aisle and wash rack area with these pavers a few years ago. First a layer of gravel was put down, then sand and finally the pavers. It is utilitarian, yet attractive looking.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_19192-215-104804999_1z0wga8__?productId=3018997&pl=1

[Hermein]

Thanks. I am limited in pavers to whatever HomeDepot/Lowes sell, afaik. I will have to search for manufacturers/outlets. I don’t think that HD/L has 3" pavers, more like 1.5", nor do I know the cement content.

Our ground has zillions of ground squirrel inhabitants, so I might be better off with mats, as far as ability to keep the ground level is concerned. I’ve (fleetingly) considered planks/railroad ties as an alternative.

PS–who do you call to compact ground? I’ve seen big rollers, but am clueless as to space requirements and operation.

[BAC]

Those pavers are a PITA to sweep and keep clean. My friend put them in her 6 stall barn a few years ago and they are a lot of work IMO not worth it.

[Ambitious_Kate]

Also, although I don’t know, if it were me, I would assume 1.5 inch pavers are not going to hold up to horses walking on them. They’re going to crack right away.

[LadyBug]

I have pavers in my barn aisle and they’ve held up great, even with equipment occasionally driving over them. IIRC, there was a stonedust base that was tamped, then a sand layer before the pavers, and then the pavers were tamped after they were put down. The pavers are definitely a few inches thick. Maybe 3" like mentioned above?

I don’t think they are difficult to keep clean. I sweep and then use a leaf blower.

[Hermein]

Where does one buy 3" pavers?

[LadyBug]

Try a local nursery/garden store, or an outdoor hardscape supply place. The pavers in my barn aisle are the same that someone might use for a patio at their house.

[winter]

I have rubber pavers in my alley but they are laid over concrete. They are tough to clean but worth it since they are so nice to work on. They were insanely easy to install ourselves since they come in 3x3 interlocking mats.

[fordtraktor]

My barn back home is “paved” with 3" solid concrete blocks. The sides have 3 bricks laid side by side in the 6" gaps where the blocks need a filler to meet up with the wall evenly. It looks really nice and has been perfect for more than a decade. It was laid on top of leveled and packed bluestone.

It is just like any other barn aisle to clean, looks good swept with a wide broom and looks pristine swept with a leaf blower.