Anyone use stall mats for kennel flooring? - Page 2

I bought a couple of stall mats but I didn't like the petro smell. So instead I bought these (see link below). The are 4x6 and weigh seventy pounds and are more solid/dense that the stall mats I bought. They are built not to slide around. They may be a little more expensive but I found it was woth it. Hope this helps. I also put on in the back of my pickup truck. http://bodybuildingequipment.ericsgym.com/accessories/rubberfloorprotector/index.htm

Thanks for all the ideas! They really helped me decide what is best. SGBH your pics of your kennel are great. You have an awesome setup! Thanks!

wood flooring just won't work for dog kennels - there is nothing you can put on top of it that will keep the moisture (aka urine) off the wood, treated or not - and prevent it from soaking into the wood, causing terrible smell that only gets worse, and eventually rotting wood. Putting tile or linoleum over the wood will only seal the smell, moisture, rot in more. The only way to use wood is to let it be open to the air - put nothing on top of it except maybe shavings for absorption, and be prepared to keep it hosed off/disinfected - spaces between the wood boards can let urine drain down - to gravel or etc to absorb it. Concrete is the best for cleanliness/keeping things smelling the best, it lasts a long time and requires minimal care. I put rubber stall mats over the concrete, they are just as easy to clean/disinfect as the concrete underneath. BUT I understand concrete is expensive. I would suggest not using wood at all - use gravel/limestone or crushed rock - something that absorbs the urine/wet - and leaving it like that, or putting stall mats over top the gravel. That works very nicely and is easy and fairly maintenance-free. You could also put stall mats on the bare ground, that would still provide better drainage than wood or tile etc. good luck - molly

Molly, Thanks! I probably could go with the gravel or crushed rock. I will look into that route.....Thanks!

I have used the stall mats for a few years now. They do become very hot if placed in direct sunlight. I originally placed them on a plywood platform. I sealed the wood before placing the mats on it. I also put a beed of caulk between the mats. I resently replaced the wood deck with composite decking. It was a little more money but really easy to clean. I also placed the mats on the new composite.

I like rubber stall mats a lot. If you can caulk them they're easy to disinfect. I had them in my old kennel in CA, but cold only bring a few when I moved because they're so heavy. I have never had a dog chew one or get calloused elbows on the thick, non-textured ones I had. They are good insulation against cold floors in winter once warm and, like Kyle said, as long as they aren't in direct sun they are comfortable when its hot too.

your tile in your bathroom is on concrete baord over plywood. The linoleum on your kitchen floor you mop with water is over plywood. So you can seal it so the moisture does not get to the plywood. Mike

I've used both pea gravel and cement in my dog runs and will take the gravel over the cement for all dogs other than rock eaters. The cement does keep the dogs cleaner but it is hard on the elbows and other pressure points (not all dogs lie on resting benches even though they are provided). Given this breed does not have the best feet and pasterns in the world, cement (or any smooth surface such as horse stall pads)is not going to help strengthen them nearly as well as gravel will. The downside to the gravel is that it needs to be replenished frequently, the dogs can dig out so you need to take that into consideration when planning the kennel design. Also it can give the dogs sore feet when they first start to use gravel kennels, but in the long run they will have tougher pads, tighter feet and stronger pasterns. Cement is lower maintenance for the owner, better for a boarding kennel. If you want to try cement, buy some of those big patio blocks, level off the area, put down some finely crushed stone and lie the blocks on top. You will soon find out if you prefer cement over gravel. When I boarded I kept the visiting dogs on cement, my own dogs on pea gravel (all except the rock eaters that is).