By the HomeArenaUK.co.uk — The Complete Guide to Home Equestrian Arenas Team · Updated May 2026 · Independent, reader-supported

DIY Menage Kit vs Professional Construction UK: Honest Pros, Cons & Costs

Building a menage—a dedicated arena for schooling horses—is one of the biggest investments most home riders make. You've got two broad routes: buy a kit and install it yourself, or hire contractors to build from scratch. Neither is universally better; the right choice depends on your budget, timescale, site conditions, and how hands-on you want to be.

What You're Actually Choosing

A DIY menage kit typically includes pre-laid membrane, geotextile, a specification for stone base layers, and sometimes a surface material (sand, sand-fibre mix, or synthetic). You're buying a package; the labour is yours or hired help.

Professional construction means a contractor surveys your site, designs drainage and structure, sources materials, and builds it end-to-end. They handle compaction, grading, and compliance. You show up when it's finished.

DIY Menage Kits: Pros

Lower headline cost. A decent 20m × 40m kit runs £3,500–£6,000, sometimes less. Professional builds for the same size typically start at £8,000–£15,000 once labour, design, and contingencies are factored in.

Timeline control. You can break the work into phases if cash-flow matters. Lay the base one summer, add surface the next. Contractors often want to work continuously to minimise mobilisation costs.

Simplicity for straightforward sites. If your ground is reasonably flat, drainage obvious, and you've got access, a kit does the job without fuss. Many riders have successfully installed them solo or with friends and family helping.

Kit suppliers' support. Reputable suppliers provide specification sheets and some telephone guidance. You're not entirely on your own.

DIY Menage Kits: Cons

Hidden costs add up fast. The kit price doesn't include delivery (£300–£800), hire of a compactor or mini digger (£40–£60 per day, often weeks), skips if you're removing old material (£150–£300), or extra stone if your base is softer than expected. Real-world DIY projects often run 20–40% over the kit price.

Site assessment is on you. If your ground is clay-heavy, drains poorly, or slopes awkwardly, you won't know until you're halfway through. A contractor would spot this upfront and adjust. You might discover you need better drainage, which means extra costs and disruption. A few riders have built kits and then had to rip them out because water sat in the surface for days.

Quality is inconsistent. Compaction matters enormously. If you're not renting proper equipment or don't know the technique, your menage will compact unevenly and break up within 3–5 years. Contractors use vibratory rollers and understand how many passes each layer needs.

Time is often underestimated. A 20m × 40m menage takes 2–4 weeks of solid labour if you're working full-time on it. If you're doing weekends, expect 2–3 months and a lot of disrupted plans.

Warranty and aftercare. If it fails, you're fixing it yourself. Kit suppliers aren't liable for installation quality or site conditions.

Professional Construction: Pros

Right the first time. A surveyor checks ground conditions, designs proper grading and drainage, and specifies the right materials for your site, not a generic one. This matters in clay-heavy regions or anywhere with poor natural drainage.

Proper equipment and expertise. Contractors own or have access to compactors, rollers, and laser levels. They'll achieve consistent density and a properly cambered surface that sheds water.

One point of contact. You're not juggling deliveries, hiring kit, or managing labour. The contractor coordinates everything and you get a finished product.

Guaranteed standard and usually warranted. If the surface starts breaking up within 12 months due to installation fault, most contractors will return and fix it for free. That safety net is valuable.

Faster timeline. A professional build typically takes 3–8 weeks depending on site conditions and weather. You're not waiting months.

Professional Construction: Cons

Considerably more expensive. Expect £8,000–£20,000+ for a 20m × 40m menage, depending on site difficulty and whether you want a synthetic surface instead of sand. In the South East, prices trend higher.

Less control over timing. You're negotiating the contractor's schedule. If you wanted it done by autumn, discovering they're fully booked until spring is frustrating.

Site disruption. Heavy machinery in your garden for weeks. Noise, mud, access difficulties for other parts of the property.

Variable quality between contractors. Not all construction firms are equally skilled at menage building. Poor drainage design or inadequate compaction will still cause problems even with professional labour.

Key Factors: Which Route?

Go DIY if:

• Your site is relatively flat and well-drained already
• You're confident managing a project and renting equipment
• You can work full-time on it or have reliable helpers
• You can absorb unexpected costs
• You're building a 20m × 40m arena or smaller

Go professional if:

• Your ground is sloped, clay-heavy, or prone to waterlogging
• You haven't built anything like this before
• You want it finished within a specific timeframe
• You value the guarantee and don't want to risk rework
• You're building a large menage (over 25m × 50m) or want a synthetic surface

The Middle Ground

Some riders hire a contractor to design and prepare the site (surveying, compaction, base layers), then install cheaper surface materials themselves. This costs £4,000–£8,000 and combines professional foundation work with lower headline cost. It's a sensible compromise if you trust your own ability with the visible surface layer but want expert guidance on the unseen infrastructure.

Bottom Line

DIY kits suit confident, hands-on riders with straightforward sites and time to spare. The cost saving is real, but margins are tight; one unforeseen drainage problem erases the benefit. Professional builds cost more upfront but deliver certainty and longevity, especially on awkward ground. Visit completed menages from both routes—the difference becomes obvious when you ride on one built properly versus one that's settled unevenly or holds water after rain.