BUILDING ALL WEATHER ARENA

[onemoretime]

I need some advice on building an all weather school. It will be 20 x 60 so how many tons of "clean stone" would I need for the base, also for a 4inch layer of silica sand how many tons, and for a 2 inch layer of rubber, again how many tons. Would be very grateful for all help and advice. Have been told to keep away from crushed conrete for base as its too dusty and go for clean stone. Have seen rubber advertised in Pegasus magazine ( local mag for round these parts) for £50 per ton plus VAT someone else I know has had it from same place and said that it is fine.

 

[spaniel]

I think the BHS have a leaflet or a copy of a magazine article produced some years ago that will help you in your build. Would be worth contacting them.

I presume you have your drains and membrane sorted out already?

 

[Booboos]

Try:
http://www.jacksonarenas.com/diy_brochure.pdf

for general advice on how to construct an arena and what you need. They also sell the materials for DIY, but you can source locally as well (beware of pit falls though - hardcore stone should be clean and the right size, e.g. 40 to dust is too small and will clog up, rubber should be guarranteed metal free or else you could end up with a lethal surface, sand should be ideally silica sand for equestrian use, other kinds can be too deep, not drain well enough, etc.). Ideally try to ride on a surface before you buy it so you can tell whether you like it and think about things such as watering (you will need it during prolonged dry spells, unless you buy the ultra-expenssive waxed surfaces) as you can install pipes very easily while you are digging everything up.

 

[onemoretime]

Thank you very much for your help. Will let you know how I get on. Have made enquiries about price of sand and limestone. Sand £15.50 per tonne and limestone £18.25 per tonne. Does that sound about right?