One of the most common questions we get isn't about the product itself — it's about the logistics. How long does it take? When should I order? How do I make sure everything lines up so I can actually get this done on a weekend?
These are good questions. A Lighthoof installation is a straightforward project, but a little planning makes the difference between a smooth weekend and a frustrating one. This guide walks through the full timeline from order to finished installation, gives you a complete planning checklist, and helps you figure out when to start based on where you live.
The Full Timeline: Order to Finished Installation
Here's what the process actually looks like, broken into steps.
Panel Delivery
We ship from our warehouse in Houston, Texas. Orders go out in 1–2 business days after you place them.
Orders of 12 panels or fewer ship via UPS Ground. Transit times from Houston:
- Texas and surrounding states: 1–2 business days
- Southeast and Midwest: 3 business days
- East Coast and Pacific Northwest: 4–5 business days
Orders of 13+ panels ship LTL freight via TForce, with approximately 6 business days transit to most locations. One important note on freight deliveries: the carrier will call to schedule a delivery appointment. If they can't reach you, the panels sit at the terminal until they can confirm a time — so make sure you're reachable by phone once you're expecting delivery. Panels arrive on a 4' x 4' pallet and are unloaded from the truck with a lift gate.
Gravel Delivery
Order your gravel as soon as you know your project date. Some quarries can deliver next day. Others have a lead time of up to a week. Call ahead, tell them what you need (3/8" minus or 1/4" minus angular crushed rock with fines — see our Gravel Guide for details), and schedule delivery to arrive the day of or the day before your installation.
Plan for 1.75–2 cubic yards of gravel per panel. For smaller projects (10 panels or fewer), we recommend ordering 2 yards per panel so you have a reserve for future top-dressing without scheduling another delivery.
Not sure what to order from your quarry? Send us a link to their product list or a photo of the gravel with a coin for scale at mud@lighthoof.com and we'll tell you exactly which product to get.
Installation Day
Two people can fully install 6–8 panels (fabric, panels, gravel, compaction, edge borders) in a single full workday or a more relaxed work weekend. A smaller project — 2 to 4 panels at a gate entrance or shelter porch — can be done in a half day.
You do not have to complete everything in one shot. You can lay fabric and stretch panels one day, then have gravel delivered and fill on another day. Two things to keep in mind if you split it up:
Keep horses away from exposed panels. Unstretched or unfilled panels with stakes are a tripping hazard. Fence off your work area or keep horses in another space until the project is complete.
Plan your stakes. If you're filling panels with gravel as you go, you can pull stakes from one panel and reuse them on the next — you only need enough for a few panels at a time. If you're stretching all your panels in one session and filling later, you'll need enough stakes for the full perimeter. The zip ties that come with your panels can replace stakes between connected panels, so you'll mainly need stakes along the outside edges.
Total Timeline
For most customers, the full process from placing your order to standing on a completed installation is approximately 2–3 weeks. That includes panel shipping, gravel scheduling, and a weekend installation day.
If you're in a rush, a small project (4–6 panels) with a local gravel delivery can come together in as little as one week.
The Complete Planning Checklist
Here's everything to line up before your installation weekend. No surprises, no last-minute hardware store runs.
Before You Order
☐ Decide where to start. Pick your highest-impact area — gate entrance, shelter porch, water trough zone, or sacrifice area. Not sure where to begin? Read our guide to the highest-impact zones for Lighthoof.
☐ Measure your area. Each Lighthoof panel covers 72 square feet (6' wide x 12' long). Measure the length and width of your project area and divide by 72 to get an approximate panel count. Or you can use our handy calculator to get an exact number of panels including layout and pricing details.
☐ Check access for gravel delivery. Make sure a delivery truck can reach your installation site. Standard gravel trucks need a firm, relatively flat surface and enough room to dump. If access is tight, ask your quarry about smaller truck options.
Order Phase
☐ Order Lighthoof panels and geotextile fabric. We sell bundles with fabric included at a discount. All orders ship free in the continental US with volume pricing applied automatically.
☐ Call your quarry and schedule gravel delivery. Ask for 3/8" minus or 1/4" minus angular crushed rock with fines. Schedule delivery for the day of or day before your planned installation.
☐ Source edge border lumber. Landscape timbers, railroad ties, or pressure-treated boards. Pick these up from your local hardware or landscape supply store.
Before Installation Day
☐ Line up a helper. Two people is ideal. It's not a one-person job if you want to finish in a day.
☐ Reserve a plate compactor from your local hardware store rental center. A hand tamper works for very small projects but a plate compactor is significantly faster and produces better results.
☐ Gather basic tools. Rake, shovel, wheelbarrow (or tractor with bucket), temporary stakes (metal or wood), and heavy scissors or a utility knife for cutting panels to fit around posts or structures.
☐ Plan where your horses will be during installation. They can't access the work area until the project is complete and all stakes are removed.
☐ Check the weather. A dry weekend is ideal, but rain won't stop you — Lighthoof can be installed in wet and muddy conditions as long as your mud is less than ankle deep.
That's the complete list. No excavation equipment, no concrete, no contractors, no specialized tools.
You Don't Have to Do It All at Once
If a full paddock project feels like too much for right now, start with your worst spot.
A 4-panel bundle with fabric is under $1,000 and covers 288 square feet. That's enough to fix the gate entrance, the shelter porch, or whatever area makes you cringe every time it rains. One weekend. Immediate, dramatic improvement.
When you're ready to expand — next month, next season, whenever your budget allows — new panels connect to existing installations seamlessly. Start at the edge of your current section and build outward.
This is a permanent investment you're making one section at a time. Many of our customers are repeat buyers who started with a small project and expanded from there.
When to Plan by Region
The best time to install Lighthoof is when the ground is firm and the weather is cooperative. But you're not locked into a narrow window — Lighthoof can be installed well into the rainy season as long as your mud is less than ankle deep.
The real cutoff is frozen ground. When the ground freezes, it's too hard to drive stakes and the panels resist stretching in cold temperatures. Once the ground thaws in spring you're back in business — but that's a long winter to wait if you're dealing with mud every day.
Here's a rough guide to ideal installation windows by region:
| Region | Best Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest (WA, OR) | Through mid-October | Persistent rain arrives October, but install is possible through fall |
| Northeast (New England, Mid-Atlantic) | Through late October | Ground freeze begins November–December depending on location |
| Upper Midwest (MN, WI, MI) | Through mid-October | Early freeze-thaw possible late October; don't wait |
| Southeast (VA, NC, SC, GA) | Through early November | Milder fall gives more flexibility |
| Mountain West (CO, MT, ID) | Through early October | Early snow and frozen ground possible mid-October |
| Southern states (TX, FL, LA) | Through late November | Longest window; watch for hurricane season rain |
Count backwards 2–3 weeks from your target completion date and that's when to place your order.
Ready to Start?
Planning a Lighthoof project is simpler than most people expect. Measure, order, schedule gravel, pick a weekend. That's the whole process.
- Shop Lighthoof Panels + Fabric Bundles — Free shipping, volume pricing at checkout
- Watch the Full Installation Video — Complete walkthrough from start to finish
- Read the Gravel Guide — Know exactly what to order from your quarry
- Contact Us — Call or text 800-279-4716, email mud@lighthoof.com, or chat on our website
If you have questions about your project — how many panels, what gravel, where to start, whether your timeline works — we do this every day and we'd love to help you plan.
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