Flexiride. How to level sand underneath..

[LynH]

I had an equestrian grade silica sand and Flexiride surface put in a brand new arena at the beginning of this year. I am pleased with the Flexiride as a topper as it does exactly what they said it would do, it stops the sand from freezing or from drying out and it isn't in the slightest bit deep, the horses ride on top of it and it needs very little maintenance.

I do however have a problem with the sand underneath. It is compact hard and still damp under the Flexiride but it isn't level. When I harrow it with the chain harrow sold by the suppliers only the Flexiride is levelled but the sand underneath is unlevel and has 1-2" lumps and bumps all over. It looks like the weight of the horse moved the sand into ridges but as the harrow only levels the Flexiride the sand just gets more and more lumpy. Any rain on if just compacts it further. If it was completely flat this would be a good thing but it isn't.

It looks like the sand needs harrowing too but that will mix the sand and Flexiride together which defeats the object. Has anyone had a similar problem with this or with a rubber surface? Any ideas how to fix it? Suggestions so far are to drench the school to level the sand or pull back the Flexiride, level the sand with a harrow then put the Flexiride back. The contractors are willing to do whatever it takes to get it right but so far we don't know what the right thing to do is. Any ideas or similar experiences?

 

[Bigrob34]

Drenching the school won't work. The best idea is to scrape back the Flexiride, harrow the sand then replace the topper. What is the ground like underneath the sand? Is that perfectly flat?

 

[LynH]

Drenching the school won't work. The best idea is to scrape back the Flexiride, harrow the sand then replace the topper. What is the ground like underneath the sand? Is that perfectly flat?

The ground and stone layers under the sand were all checked with a laser level to ensure they were flat. It's just the top of the sand that isn't level so I agree that we will need to rake off the Flexiride and harrow the sand. I've read a lot of positive reviews about the Flexiride and how little maintenance is needed but can't find anything about the sand layer. Thanks.

 

[Hoofprints in the Snow]

How about rolling it and then chain harrowing.

 

[LynH]

How about rolling it and then chain harrowing.

Do you have Flexiride? I mentioned your suggestion as it seems logical that that would help bit the contractor was concerned that just rolling it first would compact the Flexiride into the hollows in the sand making the surface look flat from the top but the sand will still be ridged. I've read tons of reviews of Flexiride and can't find anyone who has this issue.
If anyone has Flexiride how exactly did you get the sand ready before you laid the Flexiride? It's the sand that is the problem rather than the Flexiride even though we used equestrian grade silica sand from Redhill quarry.