Flooring for barn.....Rock, gravel (what kind) or other

[Rmally]

The barn is almost finished, right now just dirt floors but need some flooring soon.

The total barn is 40x48, but only 28x48 will need flooring. The right side will be 4 12x12 horse stalls.

I'm thinking concrete but $$$, neighbors mentioned crushed stone but what makes the best low dust floor that could eventually get concrete.

Here's a picture, Thoughts?

 

[Peter 315]

I have 3/4 processed dense grade road base but its dusty............

 

[Steppenwolfe]

The barn is almost finished, right now just dirt floors but need some flooring soon.

The total barn is 40x48, but only 28x48 will need flooring. The right side will be 4 12x12 horse stalls.

I'm thinking concrete but $$$, neighbors mentioned crushed stone but what makes the best low dust floor that could eventually get concrete.

Here's a picture, Thoughts?

Stone dust. Some places call it screenings. Will pack hard like concrete and easy to rake clean. I used it for years before putting down concrete.

 

[LouNY]

I would never used crushed stone and dust. Around here most of the crushed stuff is mostly limestone.
It is very corrosive, screend gravel would be a better choice in my mind.

 

[JimRB]

We had a mare out on lease. She came back lame after she kicked through a metal wall. If you are keeping horses I would suggest lots of wood inside the stalls. They also rub hard against things so you cannot underbuild anything that holds a horse. what is your definition of money? We had a concrete walkway installed right away. Lots cheaper now than in 10 years.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I would never used crushed stone and dust. Around here most of the crushed stuff is mostly limestone.
It is very corrosive, screend gravel would be a better choice in my mind.

Well shoot... down here it is crushed granite. TN is also next door, so who knows, maybe they have granite as well.
Product Details : | Greenville, Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, SC | Southern Mulch

 

[zzvyb6]

Concrete main aisle way and wash stall pad. Ditto on the wood stall walls. A kick shows on the outside, too. I made my own tongue & groove walls from 2x6's held in place by a corner slotted track . If 1 or 2 boards need replacing just shuffle them out.

 

[Rmally]

Thanks for the info, I'll have to find out what the local pits call it here (I really like that crushed granite). Surely it will be similar, but this being my first home on land with barns I've learned I have a lot to learn.

Regarding the stalls, yes they will be all wood. I'm getting the stall front kits with grooved 2x6's and the other three sides will be 2x6 and 2x10 so far......still working on the final design, there's only about 2 million to look at on the web.

Thanks again, probably just need to do the concrete but in the mean time just didn't know what base to put down. By the way, can concrete be poured right over the crushed granite later down the road?

 

[zzvyb6]

Yes it can, but that means you will want the concrete floor to be level with the outside apron. A 4.5" concrete floor needs to be on the gravel, so the gravel is 4.5" down or so. Plus the gravel is usually tamped heavily before pouring. AND: floor sloped slightly to a center drain or drains. Water hydrants strategically placed. Plus, this all needs to be factored into the door plans: sliding or overhead, swinging, dutch ?

Absolutely no curb at the interface of floor to apron.

 

[oosik]

I've used 1.5" screened river rock. Water well - it packs down into the dirt well and makes a very hard surface.