Barns/Grounds

Paver Pros and Cons

Interlocking rubber pavers offer several advantages over such older flooring options as cement and mats. Perhaps the most obvious is the safety and comfort that they provide for both horses and humans. The non-slip surface helps protect against accidents, and the cushioning of the rubber is easier on the joints than traditional cement flooring. Dennis Marion of Nevada-based Innovative Equine Systems (www.equinesystems.com) recalls seeing his daughter’s horse slip coming out of the cement wash stall. “He went right down and got hurt, then got hurt again trying to get up. That’s when we started offering interlocking rubber pavers as a safety option,” he recalls.  “The pavers are a lot less slippery than either cement or the vulcanized rubber mats that used to be popular. Not only that, but mats need to be cleaned beneath, which is labor intensive. Pavers don’t.”  Pavers are also more permeable than rubber mats, so are less likely to harbor mold and mildew.

Dennis continues, “Acoustics are another advantage.  Barns are much quieter when the aisles are paved in rubber compared with other flooring materials, especially cement,” he notes.  The rubber pavers look attractive, and also help to control dust in the barn.

The biggest drawback is that pavers can be difficult to keep clean. “Pavers are hard to sweep. For cleaning a small space, a power washer is helpful,” Marion notes. “Our larger customers—race tracks and horse parks—use a machine that scrubs the pavers.” Pavers can be cleaned with soapy water and with disinfectants without fear of damaging the rubber. They do not get slippery when wet. Pavers can also be cleaned with a broom, leaf blower, or vacuum, for those who need to conserve water or don’t want to bother with a pressure washer.

Choosing Pavers

Interlocking rubber pavers are available in 5/8”, 7/8”, and 1 ¾” thicknesses. The thicker the paver, the more cushioning it provides, but the more money you spend. (Prices vary, but thick pavers average about $1/square foot more than thinner ones.) Both Dennis Marion and Spencer Proud, president of Abacus Sports Installations Ltd (www.abacussports.com), agree that longevity and durability are comparable for all thicknesses. Marion comments, “Most people end up buying the thickest pavers simply because they don’t know that the others exist,” he says.  

So, which paver should you choose for your barn? “I always ask the customer how long their aisle is, “ says Marion. “If the aisle is 50 feet or longer, I recommend going with a thinner paver. Because they are installed over a recessed concrete slab base, it’s easier to push water across them when cleaning. The thicker pavers need to be dry set in sand, so they don’t work nearly as well for a barn aisle,” Marion points out. Thicker pavers are also not a good option for a wash stall because the water will seep down between them to the sand and base layer beneath. Eventually, the underlying sand and dirt will squeeze up between the pavers.

Shop Carefully

Rubber pavers are available from a variety of manufacturers, but not all are created equal. Both Innovative Equine Systems and Abacus Sports Installations Ltd use recycled rubber that is shredded or stranded, not ground. The shreds in the paver interlock, providing exceptional strength and durability. How can you tell if the tile is stranded versus reground? Try pushing against the paver. Proud points out, “Many lesser quality pavers will crumble along the edges when you push against the rubber. They will also bend, and sometimes even break. You’d have to be Hercules to bend a stranded rubber paver.” Marion adds, “Shredded product—what is called ‘regrind’—has a different consistency, and offers less nonskid protection than good quality pavers. It’s also less durable—regrind is rubber that has been recycled and broken down twice before it gets formed into a paver.”