Kennel Surfaces??? - Page 2

Yes it would be so much better if the mats were larger than the kennel. I have 1 dog that will take the corner up and eat a foot of mat a day. I'm struggling with pouring concrete myself. I wasn't ready to go that permanent yet but I'm not going through another muddy winter in the dirt, pea gravel didn't work and obviously the mats didn't work, so here I am. On top of that I have to buy a brand new kennel too. I'm pouring the cement for the size of 2 kennels but only buying one until I can afford the other. I don't plan to be here permanently so the concrete will be staying along wit the $ it is costing but it's worth it in the end I guess for cleaner, nicer, safer kennels.

EMTTGTO6,
Do yourself a big favor and take lots of time and thought into what you want and how big you want it and where you want it. I have learned from many mistakes to plan for the future and give it lots of thought. You have some good feedback here. I agree with concrete smooth and sealed.
When I discussed my plans with the guy that did the pour we went over every detail. My slab is big enough for 6 good size runs with room to spare to walk around. It is sloped two ways, east and north in my case. I always go over kill because you never know. I hate finding that I wished it was 2 ft. bigger. So plan according to what the future might bring, or at least look at it.  You cannot take too much time or spend too much energy researching. This is the fun part. This board is a great place to get ideas. You will be better off to wait a while longer and save your money for what you really want if money is an issue. I don't mean to talk down to you, you may be very much aware of all this. Many are not, including me in past times. Keep in mind framing this in . Get some estimates on pours and make sure they will do you right. Rough surfaces are more difficult to erradicate parisite eggs etc. Again, you are new to me so I don't know what you know and don't know so don't take offense if I'm talking down to you. I allow for mats to rest/sleep on but not to cover the entire kennel. With young dogs I just get something cheap so I wont want to kill them for destroying something expensive. Lots to think about. Good luck.

We use stall mats over packed crushed gravel.  The mats are larger then the kennel so they can't pull up ends, one did get to a middle seam one day but haven't bothered it since.   They are easy to clean and give a nice forgiving surface.  Do make sure you have enough slope.  Even though we have mats and they work well, I do wish we had one set of kennels with sealed cement. 

I have used Patio Pavers (from Home depot) placed on top of sand or gravel. They are 1 foot square. It is easier to level the surface if you place them on pea gravel or sand. They are removable if you ever want to move the run. The dogs can not dig out as they are made of cement.

They are more porous than cement and not slippery when wet, but of course that also means they don't setralize as well as sealed concrete, but if they are for you own dogs and not a boarding kennel situation you won't have the same level of disease/parasite worries. They wash easily using a garden hose sprayer/dispenser (also from Home Depot)  that you fill with bleach and a bit of soap. Saturate the surface, let the bleach sit 15 minutes, then rinse, and they will be pretty well disinfected.

I throw pine shavings in one area of the kennel (about 3-4 ft circle) and my dogs go to the shavings to do their business. I pick up the wet shavings and stools a few times a day and the kennels stay pretty clean...no oder and to stinky dogs from running through urine setting on a concrete surface. I disinfect them once a week and there is never an oder. The shavings make it a breese.

for temp quarters you can lay the concrete blocks at front by door of kennel   .after you lay them half way in kennel,  open a bag of quik  krete and spread over the blocks   ..take an old broom and sweep off......sprink again  sweep off....

Take garder hose with nozzle on spray    or fine spray    wet  and let dry   this holds the blocks and you can wash pee off and then when you move   yu can just use a crow bar and pull up and its a thin layer of concrete holding them and they will bust loose....

then put pine shavings or pee gravel at back of kennel....put water bucket on a cow clip ring of the fence part   if not will have no water ever..

Thanks.

olskoolgsds makes a very important point here: Screw up the grading or surface finish of concrete when its poured and finished and you're stuck with it. Better to pay a few more bucks to someone really expert at concrete site prep and fabrication  than to have to live with kennels that tear up feet and elbows, is difficult to sanitize, and you'll always need a squeegie to get the water out of depressions. I know this from experience... BAD experience. I cursed the one block of kennels that some cheap fly-by-night  poured for me in CA till the day I moved!

Good luck whatever you decide.

SS