melting snow runoff in heated garage!

[efncrx]

So I usually brush as much snow off as possible, but this morning I woke up to 1/8" of water across 2/3 of my 24x48 heated shop! From one car! What a mess! I'm at a loss for ideas to keep the water in the area where I park the car untill I can squeegee it out. Shop temp is about 60*

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rookie2]

without a drain you would have to build a curb

 

[efncrx]

No go on installing a drain as the City wont allow one, as well as currently having radiant floor heating. (Cranking up the heat is not really an option either as the gas bill is already high.)

Any ideas on how to make a non-perminant curb? Materials?

 

[kursplat]

i've seen a few versions of these

 

[tdkkart]

No go on installing a drain as the City wont allow one, as well as currently having radiant floor heating.

You've got radiant floor heat and you've still got standing water?? Is your garage really damp otherwise?? Any water/snow/ice on the heated floor of my shop disappears very rapidly as it melts. The only way I can think of that not happening is if the garage is super damp already, but that doesn't seem likely this time of year in Mn.

 

[raddksn]

I run a fan directed at the floor under anything that comes in, wife's car, ATV after plowing,or snowmobiles. It dries prety fast!

 

[efncrx]

You've got radiant floor heat and you've still got standing water?? Is your garage really damp otherwise?? Any water/snow/ice on the heated floor of my shop disappears very rapidly as it melts. The only way I can think of that not happening is if the garage is super damp already, but that doesn't seem likely this time of year in Mn.

Garage is never damp, or wet all the water was melted off my Subaru! i kicked all the ice off the wheel wells and brushed off all visable snow, still had water everywhere!

going to throw a few box fans out there tonight and see if that helps! I cant have standing water as it will corrode and rust my equiptment on the floor

 

[sublime68charger]

My idea would be put a blowing fan pointed towards the vichilenlike already mentioned

Can you run a dehumidifier out there as well?

Just some thoughts

 

[efncrx]

My idea would be put a blowing fan pointed towards the vichilenlike already mentioned

Can you run a dehumidifier out there as well?

Just some thoughts

I have a feeling it would be overflowing by morning!

I'm going to try the fan tonight hopefully that helps some, keep the ideas coming you guys are awesome!

 

[RaceDeck1]

FreeFlow has been the solution for many winter garages. Stands over 1/2" tall and fully channeled to allow liquids to flow freely and evaporate. I love this in my own garage which is in the mountains and I drag a lot of snow and road slop in, and when I walk out in the morning all gone http://www.racedeck.com/freeflow-garageflooring.html

 

[efncrx]

@ racedeck1

for the price of the racedeck i could crank the heat to 75* and run multiple dehumidifiers..

how easy is it to roll heavy equiptment over the edging of the racedeck?

if I had some spare cash laying around i wouldnt mind purchasing some to try but not alot of extra cash at the moment

 

[Rookie2]

maybe ?
http://www.rubberform.com/products/industrial/spill-containment-berms

 

[Thumper68]

I used to have this issue in my old shop, I used bike inner tubes filled with sand to make a curb around the parking area.

Cut tube fill with sand and wire the ends closed place end to end from the door around the vehicle back to the door.

 

[efncrx]

I used to have this issue in my old shop, I used bike inner tubes filled with sand to make a curb around the parking area.

Cut tube fill with sand and wire the ends closed place end to end from the door around the vehicle back to the door.

Brilliant! I was thinking about something waterproof to fill with sand!

 

[nehog]

I have some very heavy duty plastic tarps (about 20-30 oz) nylon reinforced.

I built a perimeter on the floor with 2x4s and 2x6s (2x6 on the end where I drive over) using metal strapping to hold the wood together so it won't move too much. Did not attach to floor it just sat there. Then I laid the plastic on top, pushing it down to floor level, and using roofing nails and thin strips I ripped from 2x4s, attached it to the perimeter wood. I then had built a swimming pool about 15 ft wide by 25 ft long for the cars and trucks to sit over. I then used my wet/dry shop vac to **** up the water in the pool so I could discard it out doors.

If I reach the same problem level I had before, and have to do this over, I'm drilling in a drain!

 

[69jbjohn]

Put a concrete blade in your circular saw and cut a few 1/2" deep channels from the parking spot , to under the garage door. Water will follow the slope out of the garage. Two saw kerf width channels drains mine easily.

 

[sublime68charger]

I have a feeling it would be overflowing by morning!

I'm going to try the fan tonight hopefully that helps some, keep the ideas coming you guys are awesome!

you just get one that shuts off when the tank if full.

if you know you have parked a car full of snow in the shop you make sure the tank is empty to begin with.

or you set it up to drain outside. so the tank doesn't over flow.


some of the other idea's sound way better than mine.


good luck.

 

[greenbikemike]

Put a concrete blade in your circular saw and cut a few 1/2" deep channels from the parking spot , to under the garage door. Water will follow the slope out of the garage. Two saw kerf width channels drains mine easily.

That could work,but here in Minnesota,it gets real cold and I would think that as soon as it gets to the door,it'll freeze and back up,even with a radiant heated floor,plus unless he put the radiant heat in,I'd be leary of cutting the floor.
I'm lucky,in mine,I have a crack in the floor and it just melts and goes down the crack.
good luck and let us know what you come up with.

Greenbikemike

 

[Banjorear]

I've used a fan and kitty litter when there are real big puddles. We had a lot of snow last year in NJ.

 

[Ramper]

I use two ceiling fans (run them 24/7) in a three car garage. Got them on sale at menards
http://www.menards.com/main/lighting-fans/ceiling-fans/industrial-fans/turn-of-the-century-industrial-56in-ceiling-fan/p-2049650-c-7486.htm

 

[Garage Flooring]

So I usually brush as much snow off as possible, but this morning I woke up to 1/8" of water across 2/3 of my 24x48 heated shop! From one car! What a mess! I'm at a loss for ideas to keep the water in the area where I park the car untill I can squeegee it out. Shop temp is about 60*

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated!

Have you considered a containment mat?

Personally, I would use the Premium Auto Floor Guard. Have a look at this article about how to contain melting snow.

Another option would be to use the 3/4" thick Ribbed drain tiles we have on special for as low as $2.29/SF BUT Drain tiles just keep you above the water they do not contain it. If protecting the concrete is important, go with a containment mat.

 

[ontcanuck]

This the only way to go http://www.garageflooringllc.com/auto-floor-guard-containment-mat/



Works great here in Canada

 

[Garage Flooring]

this the only way to go http://www.garageflooringllc.com/auto-floor-guard-containment-mat/



works great here in canada

thanks!

 

[nickm1024cobra]

http://www.autogeek.net/parsmarclean.html

Ive used one of these parking mats for years in the winter. Wife pulls in all snowy and I don't want the water running under my toolbox, etc.

Every couple days I squeege it out. Keeps the garage nice and clean. It can hold Gallons of water.

I also remember on another forum a guy used a can of great stuff foam to lay down a thick bead on the floor on three sides of the vehicle. Let the water run out the door. Not sure how well it ended up working, but seemed like a creative low cost solution.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Justin nailed it. Those containment mats are awesome for you snow-belters.

 

[Chris05gto]

I guess I take my FreeFlow floor and my floor drain for granted........

 

[Garage Flooring]

http://www.autogeek.net/parsmarclean.html

Ive used one of these parking mats for years in the winter. Wife pulls in all snowy and I don't want the water running under my toolbox, etc.

Every couple days I squeege it out. Keeps the garage nice and clean. It can hold Gallons of water.

I also remember on another forum a guy used a can of great stuff foam to lay down a thick bead on the floor on three sides of the vehicle. Let the water run out the door. Not sure how well it ended up working, but seemed like a creative low cost solution.

The ParkSmart product you link to is available tin two thicknesses. a 20 Mil and a 50 Mil. The 20 Mil comes folded and in a box where the 50 Mil comes on a roll. I like ParkSmart, just not a big fan of the 20 Mil product, I prefer the 50. Some people have trouble getting them assembled, hence the popularity of the AutoFloorGuard (which is also folded).

Maybe I need to raise my prices though and charge for shipping

http://www.garageflooringllc.com/clean-park-20-mil-garage-mat/

 

[C2 Turbo]

I guess I take my FreeFlow floor and my floor drain for granted........

Hey Chris,

Look at the dirt that Corvette below in the picture brought into the garage and I wonder how that would look on a/your RD and how would you clean that?

Works great here in Canada

 

[Chetter]

I had the same issue and like you, the city would not let me put in a drain and I had the run off from melting snow flowing to places I didn't want it to go. So, come spring I used 1x2" by 8' wood strips to make some forms and using a thinset concrete and made myself a type of curb around the entire area where the wifes car and my truck park and the water stays in that area then I go out in the evening when we are in for the night and vacuum up the water that has melted since I heat my garage. I just put down a pair of floor mats from Garage Flooring LLC to cover the concrete as well and I still vacuum up the water since it has no place to go. I run a dehumidifier also to help dry things out. Granted you have to be mindful of the curb being there, I plan on using bright yellow paint to make it more visible but it has worked great for the past 18 years. As for the vacuuming, takes me about 10 minutes and I'm done.

 

[swissguy]

Turn off the heat.
That's what we do over here. And we have a lot of snow.
You don't want all the snow and ice melting on your car and release all of the salt and stuff.

 

[ontcanuck]

My garage is not heated but no matter how cold it is outside my garage never drops below freezing. So everything falls off the wife's car. The mud behind the Vette is from my dirty boots walking on the mat. To-day I am putting the Vette up on blocks and more out of the way. Picture below was from last winter before I put the new floor in. I am buying a good shop vac to **** up the water instead of using a squeegee.

 

[ScaldedDog]

Have you considered a containment mat?

Personally, I would use the Premium Auto Floor Guard. Have a look at this article about how to contain melting snow.

I just ordered one of these from you, Justin, in 7.5x17. I hope it doesn't snow again before it arrives!

Mark

 

[Bondo]

No go on installing a drain as the City wont allow one, as well as currently having radiant floor heating. (Cranking up the heat is not really an option either as the gas bill is already high.)

Any ideas on how to make a non-perminant curb? Materials?

Ayuh,.... Had that problem once,....
Just drilled a couple of 1" holes through the slab, down into the sub-grade, 'n filled 'em back up with small stones that just fit into the holes,...
The sub-grade perks away the water in no time,...

No drains installed, just a couple of accidental holes in the slab, that drain away the water,...

As for the radiant tubin',...
A point, 'n shoot thermometer will pin-point the tubes, so ya can drill 'tween 'em,...

 

[ontcanuck]

The matt does a great job it looks messy but all the **** falls on the mat and wet vac ***** it all up thanks Justin

 

[Chetter]

Yes the mats look like **** with all the melt off and dirt but it sure beats having it all over the floor. I'm glad I got mine this fall.

 

[greenbikemike]

Ayuh,.... Had that problem once,....
Just drilled a couple of 1" holes through the slab, down into the sub-grade, 'n filled 'em back up with small stones that just fit into the holes,...
The sub-grade perks away the water in no time,...

No drains installed, just a couple of accidental holes in the slab, that drain away the water,...

As for the radiant tubin',...
A point, 'n shoot thermometer will pin-point the tubes, so ya can drill 'tween 'em,...

Damn fine idea with the thermometer for find'n the tubes and then drilling holes.....I'm lucky[or not]I have a crack in the floor that drains the melt off,works good for this,but a pain for rolling around on!

Greenbikemike

 

[Blk88GT]

Cut a pit and bail it out with a bucket or dropped a submersible pump in it. My old shop worked that way and it was an excellent solution.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Cut a pit and bail it out with a bucket or dropped a submersible pump in it. My old shop worked that way and it was an excellent solution.

Where was this post 2-1/2 Years ago before I did my slab. Against the law to put a drain in, but everyone does anyways, I followed the law and didnt put one, I love my FLAT & Level floor all summer, but come this time of year, I start regretting it. A small pit/sump would have been JUST the ticket for me... too late now!

Although I'm now thinking I could/should drill a few holes in my expansion joint crack...couple 3/16" holes at the intersections of the cracks, would provide drainage and I could easily find them any time to clear em out with the SDS if needed...any downsides?

 

[DonPowers]

I picked up some used rubber roofing from a roofing contractor to place under the vehicles. A 30 ft by 30 ft sheet was the smallest he had. I cut the sheet into two pieces 14 X 24 each, stapled some strapping to the sides and rolled it up a bit to make a berm on three sides. Now I just sweep the water out the door.

EDM rubber new would run between $.65 a square foot to a $1.00.

 

[rcass]

EPDM is great idea, build a 2x4 frame and round over, staple in place. 10x20 for $119
http://www.menards.com/main/p-2259560-c-12589.htm