Installation

Level the ground by flattening bumps, filling holes and removing any large stones.

The more level you can get the area, the better the final result will be.

It can be raked or graded, or you can put a layer of sand or soil down to bed the slabs onto. If the area is very sunken/uneven, then bringing the level up with topsoil or sand and putting the Girds on top to protect it works well.

A water permeable, Geotextile Membrane is an option if you don’t want grass to grow through the holes, or in very wet areas, mud to ooze through the holes that would need scraping off. The vast majority of our customers haven't used a membrane under their slabs, but is an option to consider.

Lay the first row of Mud Grids the full length of the area to be covered.

You just put them down and push them together, and the solid tabs on every side slot into the gaps on the adjacent slabs. There is a slight knack, once you have that you can put them down very fast, like a pro. Watch Video Here

When laying the Mud Grids, a crowbar or shovel can give helpful leverage - but do not apply too much force. The Grids should fit loosely together to avoid high tensions during extreme hot or cold weather. Please leave an expansion gap of approx. 3-5mm between each slab in each direction, as each slab can expand 2mm per 10 degrees centigrade temperature rise.

The second row of Grids should be staggered against the first by either leaving an overhang or using a half Grid at the beginning.

Lay out the third row of Grids and push them into the second and continue in an alternating pattern.

Mud Grids make it easy to cover even large areas relatively quickly.

cutting: Mud Grids can be easily cut with a circular saw.

It can be worth covering the exposed tabs on the outer edges to avoid damage from movement over the leading edge, this can be done with soil, sand or a similar medium.

The anti-slip design of the Mud Grids is enough for human foot traffic and vehicles.

For animals we strongly recommend applying a top layer of 5-10 cm of sand, wood pellets, bark mulch/wood chip, bedding or a similar medium. This will give extra traction and help to prevent a hoof from sliding further if they have a silly moment. For horses (particularly shod) we believe it is absolutely essential.

If you are concerned about your animal consuming the topping layer with their food, then textured rubber mats with holes can be used on top of Mud Grids, these can be particularly useful around haying/feeding areas instead of sand.

Please allow your Animals/Livestock time to acclimatise to any changes in ground surfaces. If you have pigs, sheep, goats, miniature horses, miniature donkeys (any animal with very small hooves) it's very important that the holes are kept filled and generously overtopped with pea gravel or sharp sand to prevent any injuries from very small hooves going down into the holes.

Please be aware that in cases of extremely waterlogged ground and where liquid mud is on the surface, the mud will be carried on to and come up through the holes in the slabs, this is normal and unavoidable. You will need to scrape this off the surface. The slabs will still provide a stable platform and stop you sinking down into the mud. In time, the drainage under the slabs should improve and there will be less and less mud oozing upwards. Poo-picking the area regularly is advised if it has animals on it, and removing any hay/haylage/bedding which can build up and bury the slabs completely.

Care should be taken when lifting the Grids, so that you don't break the tabs. The best way is by carefully levering up the leading edge by about 10-15cm with a crowbar or shovel, ideally using a fence post or something similar as a fulcrum. Lever up a whole row at a time, then pull the slabs in the lifted row away from the next row horizontally.

Pull that row away from the next row, pick up the mud-filled slabs and bash them together to let the mud drop out, or drop them one at a time on a stack of slabs to empty them of mud (be careful - they get very heavy when filled with mud).

Mud Grids have traditionally held their value for re-sale due to their durable design.

They really are a valuable and versatile investment.