Wood Kennel Flooring

[matt_aggie04]

I would like to know anyone that has used this and how you liked it.  I am considering building an elevated set of dog pens and using wood for the floor, basically going to set pipe in the ground and build a perimeter of angle iron and lay 2"x12" 14 long in there and run it for 82 feet leaving a 1.5-2" gap between the boards to allow waste to fall through to the ground.  That would allow 10' for my dog pens and a 1' on the back side and 3' walk way along the front.  I have it figured up that I can build that "deck" for about 500 less then concrete even if I use #1's and I am hoping to find some from a mill and save a little money and get a true 2" floor.  Does anyone have any experience good or bad with a wooden floor?  Seems like I would never have to worry about fleas etc but I worry about splinters and then eating the floor 
Thanks,
Matt

[Beejay]

My kennels are made out of 2 3/8 pipe. The floor is two ft off the ground. I welded angle iron to the pipe and set treated 2x6s down as the flooring. To me it seems they have less trouble with fleas, flies, and various insects being off the ground. Never had any problem with them chewing on the wood or anything of that nature.  I do recommend using treated wood. The only trouble I had was with the angle iron rusting out because it always stays wet.

[dabutcher]

i'd be worried about the wood soaking up all that urine.  plus, i couldn't imagine it'd be as sanitary, cause you really couldn't use disinfectant on it very regular.  and, i'm pretty sure you'd still get fleas in the bedding.

you try pricing the "fake" wood for like decks??  you could sanitize that and it wouldn't soak up urine, it's like plastic mixed with wood pulp, i believe. 

[sfboarbuster]

I have a wood kennel that is raised about 3 foot off of the ground.
No trouble with fleas, no trouble with splinters.
Just pressure clean it every once in a while.

[aladatrot]

Matt,
I once tried keeping lizzie in a 6 x 24 stock trailer as a kennel thinking the wood would work better for her pads. I was able to keep it clean, and was generally not put out with her upkeep in there. The only issue I ran into was that it wasn't sufficient to keep her pads tough like concrete does. After keeping her in there as her home for a month, she still blew her pads. Just my own experience and nothing more.

Maybe you could get some of those concrete mats to put down by the gates in the kennels to help keep pads tough.

Cheers
M

[kevin]

One set of my kennels I used 5/4 deck boards.  I rarely have any fleas, they don't smell as much as my concrete kennels, and they can be dismantled if I ever need to move them.  My biggest complaint is the dogs pads are soft.  I put shingles up on the platform in front of their barrels and it cured that.  I put about a 1/2 inch gap between boards and dog food falls through and makes rats from the pasture hang out.  Also make sure you don't give enough gap for a chewer to get their teeth on the edge of the boards.  The pressure treated wood dries quick around here.  I've sprayed mine with the hose between 1-3 times a week for almost 2 years and the wood still looks new.  All in all I like it.

[craig]

Matt
 how about using the rubber boards like i get in the stock trailers , just get the smooth boards leave a gap and wash it down..

[matt_aggie04]

Thanks for all the input fellas.  After I read what I wrote and went home yesterday I think I am going to scratch the idea of using pipe and angel iron and just build the whole thing out of wood.  I am going to sing som 4x6" in the ground and frame off of that and then deck it.  I have 9 Priefert kennels so all I am trying to do is make a deck to set them on.  It may cost nearly as much as concrete but I think I will be happier with it in the long run.  As wet as it is right now and with the existing grade I don't know when I would be able to get a tractor in there to haul dirt in and and make some kind of pad to put the concrete on.  I like the idea of the concrete squares and the shingles, I think things like that could definitely take care of their feet.  I just like the idea of them no being on the ground, less smell and less smell from the concrete. 

Craig do you have a contact with someone that sells that type of material that they use in those trailers?

Matt

[craig]

i can get you all you need but its kinda pricy, 8" wide board is 4.75/ ft,  makes a 10' board cost 47.50.

it would cost alot more than treated wood , but would last forever.

[matt_aggie04]

That would be nice!!  But I don't think it will work, too much money and not long enough.  This is going to be the tag majol of wooden decks just for dogs to crap and pee on 

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

Have you given any thought to just placing a stall mat on the dirt?  You can get them all different sizes, and they can be sprayed off easily.  Just throwing it out there.  I'm a concrete man myself.  I have used wood in the past, but I did not care for the overall results. 

[LionandBoarHunter]

i wood spend the little extra for concrete and be done with it 

[matt_aggie04]

I think what hurts me on the concrete deal is just the amount of dirt work or dirt that I would have to bring in before even starting the concrete.  Behind my house the land starts falling off into a creek bottom and I kinda having to work on the side of a hill.  I bet once this deck is built there will be a corner that is about 12" off the ground and another that may be over 24" off the ground.  Then if you bring in that kind of fill and water runs down that hill you have the risk of washin out around the concrete or over the concrete.  By elevating them I am able to get away with putting them where I want and still have a clean sanitary spot.  It is not ideal but the best idea I have for the situation I have to work in...

[bghogdogtx]

I think that would be a good idea.  But i would put some of the Rubber mats in there.  Talk with Monteria on here i belive his kennels are made of Lumber.

[hogdog05]

My kennels are 1" sqaure tubing, 2x10 wood floors, 4x4 cattle panel, and a tin roof.  I built them in 1999, and the wood is still perfectly fine.  The square tubing underneath has rotted but only enough that I won't have to replace it till this spring.  Best money I have ever spent.  Iwouldn't put more than an 1/4 inch gap in between them for the wood drawing up

[hoghitters]

any pic of the wood floor

[ETHHunters]

Matt here is a couple pics of 2 I just built. They are 8x8 I like alittle painting but I really like them. If had the money I would replace the other one I have with them.                                                       

[matt_aggie04]

Those look good Timmy!  I laid mine out yesterday and finished clearing the woods, about to go light my pile now.  4x6 will be planted first and then the framing and then the deck, gonna take a while but I am looking forward to seeing what it will be like when I get done.