I am building a new four stall barn. I am considering putting rubber pavers in aisle. How do people like them?
I don’t have them but I have a friend that does and I have been in her barn. I think they are very, very nice and if I win the lottery I will add them to my barn. And yes- a tractor is driven over them to clean stalls.
Rubber pavers were on my list until I boarded at a barn with them. Dust, hair, hay, straw etc. adhere to the pavers and seams via static. You just can’t sweep them effectively - large barns with rubber pavers use industrial vacuums to keep the aisles clean. That said, the thick rubber pavers have excellent cushioning are anti-slip. If a fall does occur, the cushioning limits damage.
Outside the barn, you could hose them down.
I like a concrete aisle with rubber mats.
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They are gorgeous, but they are AWFUL to clean. It’s very difficult to sweep with them, so you have to use a blower, or vacuum, or hose or something to keep them clean.
Just as aahunterjumper said, you can’t sweep of blow the dirt off of them, they must be vacuumed because of the cracks. They are also extremely expensive. However, they look very nice and provide an excellent nonslip surface.
They are wonderful for the horses to walk on unless you are doing a lot of aisle walking and tight turnarounds (there’s a little too much grip for that to be very healthy if done a LOT), but yes, much easier to keep clean if vacuumed.
My friend put rubber pavers in her barn aisle about 10 years ago. She has been very happy with them. Once, she tripped and fell in the aisle. If it had been a concrete aisle, she thinks the hard fall would have severely injured her. Falling on the rubber meant she was a little stiff the next day, but fine. She has always used a leaf blower on her aisle. As long as you do it daily, it is very quick and easy.
I love the look and traction, but I agree with a few others that they are hard to keep clean. Everything just seems to stick to them.
hmm good to know about the hard to keep clean aspect. We had been considering this for the aisle in my home barn when finances allowed it.
I agree re: cleaning. And if they are peed on, the smell is tough to remove.
