Ns1 knows nothing: how do I properly prep this surface for a dog run?

[Ns1]

1/23

So the K9grass guys came out and did an official estimate. It's 260 square feet and they'll charge us $7/sqft for install + misc charges and will donate the turf since we're a non-profit. While not great, it sounds decent for the quality. What does "normal" synthetic grass cost, installed?


Original Post:

Had a team of volunteers come by and get rid of all the crap in this future dog run area. We'd like to eventually top it with either small rock/pebble OR astro-turf. Obviously drainage + easy cleanup are highest priorities, given it's intended purpose. How do I do this shit right? I know NOTHING about home ownership/yard work. I imagine to do this right would be something more complicated than putting down dirt, packing it in with shovel, and then putting small pebble/rock/astroturf on top of that?

 

[NutBucket]

If you're just worried about poop cleanup just leave it as-is and scoop it daily.

 

[Ns1]

If you're just worried about poop cleanup just leave it as-is and scoop it daily.

Needs to be prettier than that due to reasons.

 

[NutBucket]

OK.

Small pebbles/rocks would make cleanup tough. Sand is OK...like a big litterbox. Astroturf would also work but you'd have to hose it off daily probably and it would probably get stained.

 

[stormkroe]

Reported for member call out in title....


:sly:

 

[mxnerd]

Rubber mulch?

http://pets.thenest.com/rubber-mulch-dog-friendly-11199.html

 

[NutBucket]

That sounds like a pain to clean.

 

[Ns1]

Been doing some reading, it looks like for heavy commercial use there is a brand called k9grass; they have been adopted by many parks / facilities / etc, so that's promising. Expensive as hell though with estimates coming in @ $8-$12/sqft.

 

[Humpy]

K9 Grass sounds like marketing hype. Find out what the material actually is so you can compare to other brands.

To control odor and disease I'd imagine the substrate/underlayment will be more important than what's on top.

 

[Ns1]

K9 Grass sounds like marketing hype. Find out what the material actually is so you can compare to other brands.

I'm not going by their marketing, I'm going by the experiences of other dog parks. I mean if you look at their client list, the proof seems to be in the pudding.

The following link goes through the common surface types:

http://www.phillyfido.org/connector/dog-run-surface/

 

[paperfist]

Local animal hospital that we provide services for has regular astro turf with a 3" gravel bed underneath. They regularly pressure wash it.

Too bad you couldn't frame out the area, put down some plastic grate drainage, hook them all together, cover with astro turf and then when it needs to be cleaned stick a hose in one end and watch the shit come out the other end

 

[K1052]

Saw a developer putting in a huge dog run with the astro turf gravel base solution last year. I presume they used a permeable brand like the K9 Grass since they had equipped the run with an automated sprinkler system to wash it down on a schedule but no drains.

 

[Humpy]

I think every brand of artificial grass is permeable.

The advantage to K9 grass might just be that it is short, making it easier to pick up the poo.

 

[K1052]

I think every brand of artificial grass is permeable.

The advantage to K9 grass might just be that it is short, making it easier to pick up the poo.

Since I've never had occasion to buy it or walk a dog I could not say.

My animals poop in a neatly maintained box like civilized creatures.

 

[Ns1]

1/23 bump, anyone know how much synthetic grass normally costs installed?

 

[NutBucket]

Whatever Home Depot sells it for?

 

[Ns1]

Whatever Home Depot sells it for?

damn you, forget 1 little word...

 

[NutBucket]

Same difference. I think their display includes an installed price. Their labor prices are usually pretty competitive.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Is there a reason normal grass won't work in that area? Too much traffic/too many dogs?

 

[Ns1]

Is there a reason normal grass won't work in that area? Too much traffic/too many dogs?

Yep. I got ~10 poop machines running around. They're kinda like the inverse of roombas.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Damn. I'm thinking a wire mesh or steel grate with space below it over a sloped concrete drainage basin, would be your best best. Just hose it down and collect the detritus in a bucket. Or even a septic tank that could be cleared out as needed. Wouldn't look as pretty, but would require about 1/100th the amount of work.

Use green concrete.

 

[Ns1]

Damn. I'm thinking a wire mesh or steel grate with space below it over a sloped concrete drainage basin, would be your best best. Just hose it down and collect the detritus in a bucket. Or even a septic tank that could be cleared out as needed. Wouldn't look as pretty, but would require about 1/100th the amount of work.

Use green concrete.

I'm just signing a check, no work required. LOL

 

[Carson Dyle]

?

Obviously drainage + easy cleanup are highest priorities, given it's intended purpose.

I wasn't talking about the installation labor, but of the day to day maintenance. Its "intended purpose".

 

[Ns1]

In case you wanted to know what 2g's worth of synthetic grass and labor looks like.

 

[NutBucket]

Is this what your garage looks like?