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Family Farm Barn Plans for Todays Hobby Farmer

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The Floor

As stated before, we recommend the use of concrete for stable floors. Wood floors are no longer used because they soon wear out and quickly become insanitary.

There are two methods of construction. In the old method, a concrete sub-base is first laid, about 5 in. thick, and this is covered with a finish coat about 1 in. thick. The other method is known as a one-course construction. The concrete is made richer in cement and wetter in consistency. To obtain a smooth finish, the coarse material is crowded down by means of a wooden float and the finer material is thus brought to the surface.

 

The concrete is 6 in. thick and is mixed in the proportion of one part cement, two parts sand and three parts gravel. Enough water is added to make it of a quaky consistency so that when struck with a straight edge a small amount of water will appear on the surface.

A floor laid according to this method will not wear slippery.

To get the best results, freshly laid concrete should be protected from extremes of temperature. A wet straw covering during the hot weather prevents a too rapid hardening, but it should not be put on until the surface of the work has set somewhat.

n freezing weather, fresh concrete should be covered with straw just after it begins to set and this covering should be left on for at least thirty-six hours.

LITTER ALLEY
TYPICAL STAR COW STALL.
Page One Hundred Forty one