Outdoor Run Surfaces - Suggestions Please - Page 3

Hodie, what do you use for sealant? I have concrete and love it but I have only used stuff like Thompsons concrete sealer every couple years seems to work ok. Just wondering what you use.
Cathy 

Our runs are done in pea stone. this has worked great for us and very easy to clean. water drains right out. no mud at all. the runs are set on top of cinder blocks along with the main kennel area. we laid down 6" of pea stone and this has held up great for 6 yrs now in all kinds of weather.

we will have to add more stone this yr as it flattens down a bit but its very cheap so its not a problem. the runs are covered and each dog has a pallet to stand on besides the stone.

we bleach the runs 2x a week and once a month i turn the stone. has worked great, no mold issuse, no oder and the dogs pads are fine.

As ive mentioned my runs are the red concrete patio blocks i believe 6 by 12 one or 2 inches thick. on the outside edges i used roof water drainage gutters and the fence is up off the blocks just a tad bit to allow the water and dead hair to run under and into the drains then i flush the drains out with power hose then just pick it up with shovel,this set up is very easy to do and really works very well.I clean the runs weekly with oder ban and once a month with bleach,i just believe bleach is to strong to use all the time.I never ever have feet problem or nail problems.

I think the big thing here that we are seeing is how well there kept and cleaned is the biggest issue. Let us know what you decide to use.

My runs have been concrete for 60 years never a problem one thing though
you make this in two parts first you prepare the ground,fix the shuttering  in place, then a thin layer of  of sharp Sand
Place a membrane then 2.5''of concrete, then pour on a damp proof layer mixed with water from the bullders store, then put on a Screed of 2'' of Sharp Sand and gravel mix
Why the membrane you may ask
Well if you do not the pen floor will always be wet from rising damp that you do not want at any price so a double membrane, one a liquid membrane the other the usual  damp membrane
 At the bottom you will have a base which will keep well and dry quickly again i put in a Pic of my two Dog Pens
This Summer i am going to replace the wood kennels and build two block kennels in there place,
 Here i will do it double skinned like a house with a insulated Filler in between the membranes to insulate it
 The floor with be Ply again double skinned with a Insulation in between, To make these floors i will use the original kennels
Steve1

Sorry no pics , I do not know why but when i send the pic's i get the blocks whizzing across the screen it should take seconds but they flash over 7 to 8 minutes and still will not load the Pic so i had to shut it off and call it a day trying to get the pics to take
Steve1

Managed to get this one to load
Steve1

Izzy Section, note metal strips on edges of box, stops them starting the habit of chewing wood the inside frame edges also has metal strips to stop biting
Steve1

I worked on concrete floors for years and always had aches and pains, nothing you could see, just sore heels, joints, and lower back pain.
Always had to have padded arch supports in my work boots.

Concrete is handy and easy to keep clean but it's a very hard surface.
I wouldn't mind concrete in my kennel but I would still want a dirt run beyond that.

For my purposes I like the earth and the dogs do too.
It's a little more work I guess but I only have three to deal with at the moment.

The biggest plus for me is I can move my kennels when I choose.

I'd say it all depends on your own situation and how many dogs you must care for.



P.S.
Besides being expensive at the onset, I am taxed on anything concrete here in Indiana no matter the size.

Here is a picture of my kennels.  The area I need to surface is the opposite end of the property to the house and shows a grass paddock that I intent to divide into two and a smaller gravel one which is now overgrown with grass. 

s152.photobucket.com/albums/s196/Kaffirdog/

I don't own the adjacent field alas, but maybe one day - won't be thinking of resurfacing that though .

Margaret N-J