Does anybody know of a good contractor/professional willing to do some stall floor work and lay mats? We recently purchased a small farm with a nice 3 stall barn with dirt floors. We could do the work ourselves but we both work 60+ hours a week and would much prefer to hire it out but having some trouble finding someone in the area.
We’re looking to lay crushed limestone (with appropriate tamping/packing) with mats over top and we’re located in Ocala, Florida.
Any tips would be appreciated! Thank you!
I purchased and had mine installed through Big Sun Products. They are near the Livestock Pavilion. They did a good job. It was, however, quite a few years ago.
[QUOTE=lorilu;8839406]
I purchased and had mine installed through Big Sun Products. They are near the Livestock Pavilion. They did a good job. It was, however, quite a few years ago.[/QUOTE]
Thank you! I’ll give them a call today.
Bumping and Hoping someone else will have a suggestion!
We’ve called every feed store and horse supply place in town, all the quarries, and even construction companies that build barns and no luck finding anyone willing to do stall bases (plenty willing to put the mats in over the base).
Last ditch effort that someone will know of someone…we will pay quite well to avoid this chore! Thanks!
I wonder if you could get a landscaping company to do it–one that installs brick pathways and the like. They have to level and compact a base in a similar way.
I hear you on paying well to avoid it yourselves! WHAT a brutal chore that is.
That’s a great idea, we haven’t called any of those yet. Thanks for the idea!
We were discussing last night that maybe we are just being lazy but I’ve done them before a long time ago and it will be so worth the money to avoid!
if you are matting over the clay, just wetting and leveling the base will be good for a number of years.
Did you ask at SPARR in Citra?
[QUOTE=lorilu;8850392]
if you are matting over the clay, just wetting and leveling the base will be good for a number of years.
Did you ask at SPARR in Citra?[/QUOTE]
I definitely would not call our stall floors “clay”. A little water and we could build some respectable sand castles! Just walking through them to power wash and clean have left some divots and paths it’s so soft and sandy. We are new to the area though so maybe we’re misreading the soil?
I’m hoping to do this just the one time though so really want the job done correctly so we can bank on 10-20 years of good use and not be back in the same boat in a year or two. Obviously there are no guarantees but we can hope. I’ve considered just concreting and being done which may still happen I suppose.
And yes, called them. Definitely good to install mats but no longer have a guy for the base. Same with big sun and several others.
What about asking a groom from a local barn? Or ask a couple barn managers for referrals?
Or, put a note up, and ask managers, at the feed and tack stores, ask local 4-H director, and Extension agent.
Our go to for day labor is the high school football coach, he usually knows a couple of big kids who want to earn spending money.
Be sure you have insurance coverage if your help throws their back out moving the limestone.
You could maybe also ask your local rental company if someone has been regularly renting their vibrating plate tamper, and contacting that person about another job. Might be useful … or you might just get someone like me who needed MULTIPLE weekends to get it done! MAN did I hate that stupid machine at the end of it all.
I’d gladly pay the premium for concrete rather than do that again! :lol:
[QUOTE=EverQuest;8850414]
I definitely would not call our stall floors “clay”. A little water and we could build some respectable sand castles! Just walking through them to power wash and clean have left some divots and paths it’s so soft and sandy. We are new to the area though so maybe we’re misreading the soil?
I’m hoping to do this just the one time though so really want the job done correctly so we can bank on 10-20 years of good use and not be back in the same boat in a year or two. Obviously there are no guarantees but we can hope. I’ve considered just concreting and being done which may still happen I suppose.
And yes, called them. Definitely good to install mats but no longer have a guy for the base. Same with big sun and several others.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like sand! Nothing will compact it and last unless you add clay. Even with mats, it will shift and be a mess in no time. Best bet? Remove some sand. put in a clay base . a big job!
Cement is probably easier in the long run .
Another option that some friends do here in Fl - just leave your stalls sand and use shavings over it. Yes, it will require heavy stripping out a few times a year, but mats over sand will never last
Even with limestone over top you think?
Found a supplier of clay or limestone dust in Dunnellon willing to deliver by the yard possibly with an employee looking to make some cash on the side but they highly recommended clay over the limestone.
Up north we always used limestone as the base but now I’m questioning if the sandy soil means we should be using clay? He also said he thought 2 cubic yards would be plenty for 3 12x12 stalls…I was planning on more like 4-5. Do you more experienced stall builders have any words of wisdom?
I thought you meant just sand, nothing added. For what it is worth, everyone I know uses clay if the aren’t using concrete under the mats… it mixes well into the sand and permits the sand to stay compacted. It’s what is under my mats.
[QUOTE=lorilu;8856323]
I thought you meant just sand, nothing added. For what it is worth, everyone I know uses clay if the aren’t using concrete under the mats… it mixes well into the sand and permits the sand to stay compacted. It’s what is under my mats.[/QUOTE]
Clay it is! Should have a few yards delivered tomorrow and hopefully have a good layer or two compacted over the weekend. Figured we would let that rest a day or two then add another and mat over top once set.
Lucked out and found out a co workers wife works in landscaping and is going to come out with her roller/tamps for sod and get it packed for us. Can’t wait to see them all done and have the horses move in finally. Hopefully don’t regret skipping concrete but I’m tired of calling around and being shot down at this point!
