Posted 2005-03-18 8:19 AM (#22689) Subject: Wash Room Floor Mat
Veteran
Posts: 152 Location: Florence, SC
Anybody know where I can find (online) a floor mat that can be used as a washing mat. I think I would need one that has holes in it but I am not really sure. Thanks!
Posted 2005-03-18 8:36 AM (#22693 - in reply to #22689) Subject: RE: Wash Room Floor Mat
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
Do you have a good drain in your wash room? That is a priority! I am not a fan of the mats with holes because they trap the poop, dirt, and hair and are impossible to clean. It's much better to to use good solid stalls mats with a traction type surface and just allow a space for the drain. You can find ads for these in major horse mags or just do an online search. Cheap is not better with mats. You really do get what you pay for and, if they aren't heavy enough, they will move too much.
Posted 2005-03-18 10:40 AM (#22698 - in reply to #22689) Subject: RE: Wash Room Floor Mat
Veteran
Posts: 152 Location: Florence, SC
I didn't think about poop and stuff getting stuck in it. Good point. Actually I currently don't have a wash area for the horses and was working through some ideas about making a space right outside the barn for washing. Might have someone put something down (concrete, wood base, or something) but I was hoping not to get too elaborate with it.
Posted 2005-03-18 11:09 AM (#22700 - in reply to #22689) Subject: RE: Wash Room Floor Mat
Veteran
Posts: 230 Location: Louisiana
We sunk some 6x6 posts in the ground and then poured a 8x10 concrete slab around them. We don't have any rubber down but we roughed up the concrete before it dried with a broom so it is not slippery when wet. You can even rent the concrete mixer for a day. Now concrete has some sort of "something" in it so that stringing rebar is no longer necessary. So all you do is level the area. Frame it up with 2x4s and pour in the concrete. This wash area is outside under the trees where we can catch some sort of breeze occaisonally.
Posted 2005-03-18 1:16 PM (#22708 - in reply to #22689) Subject: RE: Wash Room Floor Mat
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I don't have mats in my wash area. I have roughed concrete and love it. My wash area is indoors which makes it nice to have heaters, hot water and light when accidents happen(I find palnning for accidents wards them off). Think about everything you'll need to wash at night and plan ahead! Think of what the vet would need if you had to call him out.
You need huge drain lines...mine are big enough for me to stick my arm down in. I also have a trap inside mine so that hair and hay are strained out before clogging my drain line. Twice a year I stick the hose down in the line and flush the whole system all the way to the curb. This keeps fine silt from building up and clogging things up. I also have cleaning valves along the line just in-case things do get stuck. I am the definition of over engineered when it comes to my barn.
Posted 2005-03-18 9:55 PM (#22743 - in reply to #22689) Subject: RE: Wash Room Floor Mat
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
I could not determine if this was going to be inside or outside. If you are using it outside and are not handy with framing and pouring concrete, but just want to put down some mats. I would make sure that I had a good gravel base under this area. Allow the gravel to be subjected to the rain for a few times so it will settle and harden into the ground and then place your solid rubber mats on top. We put two 6x6 posts up and use this as a cross tie. It would also be a good idea to have the gravel extend pass the mats to make sure they don't sink on the corners.
Posted 2005-04-09 11:26 PM (#23631 - in reply to #22689) Subject: RE: Wash Room Floor Mat
New User
Posts: 3
i live in alabama and we have cross ties outside with a couple stall/trailer matts. if you are warm most the year then outside is the way to go. also great for hoof trims and vet checks.
Posted 2005-04-12 8:19 AM (#23706 - in reply to #22689) Subject: RE: Wash Room Floor Mat
Veteran
Posts: 152 Location: Florence, SC
You guys have some great ideas. This is going to be an outside area with 6x6 posts for cross ties. The concrete is the way I would like to go but seems expensive.
Wash Room Floor Mat
First we had gravel with mats. Now we have concrete with mats shot down. We have hot and cold but it is outside better than no washrack at all.