Prepare Concrete Floor For Horses
Test the floor for moisture by taping a 2 foot by 2 foot piece of plastic to the.
Prepare concrete floor for horses. Benefits of epoxy include the following. Add about 10 to that number to account for any possible mistakes and warped boards. It is easy on the horse s legs non slip and requires minimal bedding material over top. It drains well and is replaceable once it becomes very soiled.
Use high quality t hree quarter inch thick rubber mats made for horses. It s possible to install clay floors and it s recommended that these be laid over a thick layer of crushed gravel and kept clean and dry. However a concrete based stall can be rinsed down and the water drains away freely leaving the stall clean and dry. Multiply length times width of the room.
Wait until your concrete floors are dry before you prime. Use a rotary scrubbing machine with a special pad designed for the aggressive scrubbing of concrete. Plan for your final stall floor height to be several inches above the surround grade outside the building to further encourage drainage. Provide a 4 inch minimum thickness for concrete floors under stalls and where vehicle use is limited.
A floor sander can be used to remove peeling paint on larger areas. Use grooved mats for better traction for the horses. To solve these challenges of concrete flooring in horse stalls we recommend an epoxy floor coating to seal off the concrete and extend its life. Some owners recommend that a horse be turned out at least 4 hours per day when housed on concrete flooring.
If you have a vinyl floor you may be able to install your flooring directly on top of it. Determine how much flooring and materials will be needed. Most floors in uk are concrete as long as you do deep beds and banked sides as with any floor be it mats mud or concrete your horse will be fine as deep beds and banked sides prevent hip hock and elbow sores plus prevent the horses getting cast plus if you have a lame horse or a horse with lamnitus can support the foot or leg depending on type of bedding used. How epoxy improves concrete flooring a liquid applied epoxy coating is applied in two steps a resin and a curative which form a strong chemical bond.
Sand is frequently used for stall floors. Sweep your concrete floor with a shop broom gathering up as much dirt and debris as possible. Using a thick layer of bedding or solid rubber mats can minimize some of concrete s disadvantages. Concrete is expensive and using it absolutely requires rubber mats and thick bedding because it is too unforgiving for horses legs and joints on its own.
Concrete patch can be used in place of mortar. Cheap mats will shift wear out and change shape. Moisture will prevent the primer and paint from adhering properly.