Dog Kennel Floor

[GearOut]

What is the best base to put down for an outdoor kennel that is just sitting on the ground to keep it from getting muddy? (hay, wood chips, mulch, ect)

[goosebruce]

you dont want to hear it, but concrete. anything else is constant work and risk of saintary condtions. there are some new plastic type kennel floor decking sold, but never had any expereince with them. a single run you can pour with quickcrete and an afternoon of busting yur booty, double or triple run just go to the concrete place and get a trailer load (if you can drive to where it is). some work with a shovel and 2x4 forms and a level, and you can put a slight slant that will make water drain off. travis

[bsw]

X1,000 concrete is best thing i did

[Drakeshead]

double or triple run just go to the concrete place and get a trailer load

And I would suggest doing it in sections if you are making a multiple kennel run. Sections are easier to work with than trying to pour one large kennel. I found out the hard way!

You can rent a mixer from Home Depot for about $40 a day, or something like that.

[GearOut]

if concrete is not an option, what is next in line

[cheeko]

I would buy the plastic runs and put p gravel under it. Use a form like you be forming up for a concrete slab and fill with p gravel and put the plastic run on top. I have seen this and its clean and the oder is not bad.you can raise up the plastic run to sanitize and its no contact to your dog. I have seen sand also but i think it would be hard to keep clean. Concrete is by far the best i think then plastic.

[skuna]

I built a kennel several years ago and used 5/4" treated decking for the floor. I was renting a house and knew i would not be there long so i went that route. I built the sides, gates, and top out of treated lumber. it was a two run (4x12') in each run with a wood table in the back and hanging 55 gallon drums from the top with chain. it lasted for years and i still have it now. One thing is if you go the wood route, make sure you go with galvanized screws so they wont rust. Also, i would probably use treated 2x6's instead of decking boards. I would also seal it up.

One thing i never tried but thought would work well is rubber conveyor belting. I think you can get scrap from the Tenn Tom belt place in Columbus. it will last for ever, repel water and piss. But it needs to be covered since it would get blistering hot in the sun.

[Chesapeake9487]

Why not use the 5/4" decking boards? and what do you mean by seal it up? Im planning to build a 10x12 platform this weekend and was considering the 5/4" boards for platform and 2x6s for the bottom sides. I was considering using the roll on deck sealer...let me know your ideas. Concrete is not an option because I dont plan to be here forever.

[GearOut]

i ended up covering the ground with cedar chips and then laid 4 black rubber mats, the kind used in restaraunt kitchen with circle hole in them, over the top of the cedar. It has worked great so far and smells like a giant hamster cage

[running W]

12"x12" square concrete stepping stones work great. Level the ground with sand and place the stepping stones on top of the sand the set the kennel on the stones. Easy to take up and move, the grass will grow right back when the kennel is gone. Easy to clean and washes nice. A 5'x10' run will need a 6'x11' stepping stone base.

[Chesapeake9487]

Thought about the stepping stones and it would be cheaper than the wooden platform. I would think the stones would begin to "float" eventually after you wash it out and the sand gets wet? I wouldnt want the stones being unlevel and having edges sticking up.

[GearOut]

if you put sand on top of them once they are in place, the sand will work in between the stones and pack them in solid.

and this was my next idea but the rubber mats on top of the cedar chips is working fine for now, but i also built a plywood roof so it stays dry in the kennel.

[running W]

I have one that has been down over 15 years, once they quit settling (which was very little), they are quiet stable.

[peakerpower]

12"x12" square concrete stepping stones work great. Level the ground with sand and place the stepping stones on top of the sand the set the kennel on the stones. Easy to take up and move, the grass will grow right back when the kennel is gone. Easy to clean and washes nice. A 5'x10' run will need a 6'x11' stepping stone base.

We have done this at our places in Michigan. It works well. We have them on Sand good drainage and very little settiling. They have been down for 2 years. We will be doing something very similiar to the runs down in TN this year when we get there.

[skuna]

Why not use the 5/4" decking boards? and what do you mean by seal it up? Im planning to build a 10x12 platform this weekend and was considering the 5/4" boards for platform and 2x6s for the bottom sides. I was considering using the roll on deck sealer...let me know your ideas. Concrete is not an option because I don't plan to be here forever.

i didn't like the radius edge on the decking boards because they allowed chit to get down in between the two pieces easier and made it harder to wash out. I would do regular 1x6 or 2x6 and seal up with some kind of wood sealant to keep piss from soaking in.