Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Fortunately, living in California it is a quite dry environment.? The only moisture present is that introduced by manure and pee....which is why I use shavings!? to try and mitigate this as much as possible.? That being said, I really wish I could get those mats out by myself, but it's just not going to happen (actually I can get them out - it's the putting them back in that's the problem!).? I do lift up the edges and check the boards underneath frequently.

?

Melinda

On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 5:20 PM, Sisu West Ranch <ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"... How long do wood floors typically last..."

?

The enemy of wood floors is not time, or hours of use, but rot caused by fungus.?

?

When one wishes to grow fungus (that is mushrooms) one typically puts horse manure and straw into a wet dark environment.? The manure/urine provides the necessary trace nutrients, in mushroom farms the straw provides the cellulose.? Under your mats, the wood provides the cellulose.? How wet things are depends on where you live.

?

These facts are the basis for the recommendations, which almost nobody follows, to remove mats, wash and let dry after each use.

?

Since you wish to replace the floor before, not after, a horse's hoof goes through it, you should test for rot fairly frequently.? Rot usually starts from the ends of the boards, hear a wall.? When the mats are out, see if a screw driver or other pointed object can easily be pushed in and used to lever out rotted wood.? When the rot gets bad enough to be unsafe, replace the floor.

?

Ed

Ed & Wendy Hauser
2994 Mittower Road
Victor, MT 59875

?

(406) 381-5527

?

ranch(at)sisuwest(dot)us

-- 
Check out my blog - Boots and Saddles!

www.bootsandsaddles4mel.blogspot.com