Stupid Step

[ryanp77]

So about half of the houses in my neighborhood have this step in the garage. It is 3 1/2" high 4' deep and runs the length of the garage. My wife and I just bought a new car and it doesn't fit with this step in here. Is it possible to break this out and resurface the floor? Is it a difficult job to do n your own or should I leave it to the pros?

 

[bczygan]

So about half of the houses in my neighborhood have this step in the garage. It is 3 1/2" high 4' deep and runs the length of the garage. My wife and I just bought a new car and it doesn't fit with this step in here. Is it possible to break this out and resurface the floor? Is it a difficult job to do n your own or should I leave it to the pros?

I designed and built numerous homes with that step. It was fashionable and served a few purposes. Some places required it.

It keeps snow and rain and spilled gas (And gas vapors) and oil in a depressed area relative to the rest of the house. It also served as a stop, to keep you from driving through your garage wall.

It created a raised area for storage, also away from snow and water etc.

And it served as a step, reducing the distance between garage finished floor level and the house finished floor level, thus usually eliminating the need for a small step that would take up room, and be dangerous to use.

How difficult it will be to change, depends on how it was installed. It could be twice the thickness of the rest of the floor slab. That would make removal and replacement more difficult.

But if I was the installer, I would have left finished grade higher in that area to save concrete.

In any case, you are going to have to saw cut and demo and remove this area of the slab and then excavate as needed and re-pour the concrete floor in this area. Chipping out and resurfacing isn't a reasonable option.

The question is what kind of slab do you have? If it is floating, with the walls on a separate foundation, you can just rip it out. If the walls are built on the slab you will have to saw cut the perimeter.

Since it is difficult to saw-cut right along the existing exterior walls, you may end up with a small curb there.

Your best thing is to look at all your options.

You maybe could add on to the front of your garage or even add another bay on the side or front. You might could build a whole new garage and shop, elsewhere on the property.

Or you could just demo and re-pour in just the minimum area required for this one car.

Bill

 

[Crusarius]

does the bumper hit? make ramps to clear the bumper. that step is code for new construction. it is intended to prevent fuel vapors from the car getting into the house and finding an ignition source.

 

[ryanp77]

The house was built in 1995 and like I said some houses have them and some don't, so I am not sure if it's a fuel vapor thing why everyone wouldn't have it. I can see the use for a storage and from the pics I do use it for some storage. The way the house and garage is set up I can't add another bay( have 3 already) and with my association I can't add a she'd let alone a separate structure. I am not sure if it's floating or not I will have to take a look tonight and see. As for the ramps my wife ordered some for the short term but doesn't want it as a perminent solution.

 

[ryanp77]

Is the car band new or new to you? In the end it may be much cheaper to just buy a different car...

Brand new

 

[ryanp77]

Call a local contractor and get a bid.
He possibly will know the legalities, has done the job before and will give you an idea of cost.

It requires many specialty tools, some which are expensive to rent... So much that a contractor may match the price of doing it yourself.
It is many hours of hard labor and requires craftsman skills.
Depending on your schedule it could be months.

Yeah I put a call into a couple of places and have someone coming out next week. I was just wondering if it was something I could potentially try and do myself.

 

[bczygan]

Yeah I put a call into a couple of places and have someone coming out next week. I was just wondering if it was something I could potentially try and do myself.

Sure, with a diamond bladed concrete saw, a sledge and a bunch of backbreaking labor for the demo, excavation and removals. And the usual concrete installation tools.

And that's assuming there is no wire mesh or rebar in there.

Bill

 

[FloridaharleyRider]

Lots of builders did that to provide a platform for water heaters, AC units etc. and failed to lengthen the garage so a larger vehicle would fit in. At least that's what they did here in FL but the newer homes don't seem to have that.

 

[gungatim]

every garage i've seen that was part of a modern, post-60's type of subdivision had that. It's how they get away with calling it a 2 1/2 stall garage. It's there so your trash can, lawnmower, workbench, etc. is not sitting in water when you pull in and rain drips or snow melts.

you could pour a cement ramp up to it if you wanted, would be a lot easier and cheaper than cutting that out...

 

[captain14]

How about just building a wood ramp in front of the tire to elevate it slightly to the raised portion? This would be easier than anything else. Just to see if everything fits until a long term solution is found.

Small incline up like a ADA ramp to the front door of a building.

 

[roscoe2000]

Have you tried backing in? Pulling or backing in, at 3-1/2" tall you should be able to drive over the lip...but you'll need a curb stop prevent hitting the wall.

 

[PT Doc]

does the bumper hit? make ramps to clear the bumper. that step is code for new construction. it is intended to prevent fuel vapors from the car getting into the house and finding an ignition source.

not code here in Colorado, and our county is known to be full of codes.

 

[ryanp77]

Have you tried backing in? Pulling or backing in, at 3-1/2" tall you should be able to drive over the lip...but you'll need a curb stop prevent hitting the wall.

Yeah I thought of that it does for not much space between the door and front of car, I don't mind it but once again the wife says no, mainly because she can't back up to save her life and I have to do it.

 

[OzarkMan]

yeah, my wife can't back up either and we have an acre!

We have that same curb in the garages here. The only houses I've seen without are the ones that are built on post tension foundations or monolithic pours.
I made sure I didn't have that in my new garage. We really don't get rain or snow anyway. Just a blast furnace of 110º here and there...

 

[zkling]

How about some type of raised flooring? There's a 1'x1' square step at the top of our garage which is on the back side of a interior house wall. I was told it's a gas curb. 50's built house. It too is a pain, although not quite as bad as yours.

 

[Corsair4360]

Our garage built in 1978 has the same abortion about a 4" step. It is one of the most annoying things I have ever seen in a garage. Not built by me, but for my wives uncle who was an artist (dead now).

 

[workhurts]

So what hits again? The bottom of the bumper?

Just put two sheets of plywood down and drive over them. There are probably better materials out there but that would seem like the easiest solution for now.

They also make these wheel stops that tell you exactly where to park. You can put those down for the front wheel.

If it's not a bumper issue and the wheels are hitting, how much more room do you need?

 

[graffix000]

What car is that low that it won't pull into the spot? Curious as it is only 3.5".

 

[PugetDude]

does the bumper hit? make ramps to clear the bumper. that step is code for new construction. ...it is intended to prevent fuel vapors from the car getting into the house and finding an ignition source.

I've got one at my house in AZ. It's got a gas water heater with a pilot light sitting on it....

 

[ryanp77]

So the first estimate came today $1550 to remove the entire step and pour new concrete to fix what was cut out, plus would have to redo the steps going into the house or $1250 to cut out 2/3 of it leaving the steps just giving us room to park the car. Calling another couple of laced to get an estimate have called 2 others last week and never heard back.

 

[404]

So the first estimate came today $1550 to remove the entire step and pour new concrete to fix what was cut out, plus would have to redo the steps going into the house or $1250 to cut out 2/3 of it leaving the steps just giving us room to park the car. Calling another couple of laced to get an estimate have called 2 others last week and never heard back.

Some plastic deck planks to make a ramp?

 

[Gotcha640]

I'd also like to know what car, and where you hit (tires, car too long, or bumper/splitter, car too low). My boss has a c7 corvette, and he manages to get over 2.5" speed bumps at the office, straight on. Not sure how much space he has, but that's at driving height. They can be raised an inch I believe.

If too long (maybe you bought the hennessee recreation of the excursion?) the ramps would also help.

Mostly just curious.

 

[deezee]

Is the plastic air dam on the vehicle hitting it? You could remove or have the dam cut down a bit.

 

[ryanp77]

I'd also like to know what car, and where you hit (tires, car too long, or bumper/splitter, car too low). My boss has a c7 corvette, and he manages to get over 2.5" speed bumps at the office, straight on. Not sure how much space he has, but that's at driving height. They can be raised an inch I believe.

If too long (maybe you bought the hennessee recreation of the excursion?) the ramps would also help.

If my wife pulls in straight she pulls up until the front tires hit the step, since the step sticks out 4' her car (Honda odyssey) sticks out to far to close the garage door.
Mostly just curious.

Is the plastic air dam on the vehicle hitting it? You could remove or have the dam cut down a bit.

No it's the length of the Odyssey hitting the step and not allowing the garage to close

 

[Strouty]

Why would you ever want to put a car in the garage?

 

[R.Anderson]

Why would you ever want to put a car in the garage?

I like this thought.

That is a stupid step, to me that is more of a trip hazard than a safety feature, for combustible vapor there has to be way better ways for that.

Expensive fix to have it dug out and poured, could grind the edge down to form a ramp more so where the tires are, would take some time but cheaper. I would use a air hammer to chip most away and finish with grinding.

 

[workhurts]

No it's the length of the Odyssey hitting the step and not allowing the garage to close

We figured it wasn't the width

What part of the car is hitting the step? Bumper or tires.

 

[SilverSS1969]

No it's the length of the Odyssey hitting the step and not allowing the garage to close

How small is the garage?

My garage is 21 foot long. If I put the back tires of my Tahoe against the step in my garage, I can still fit my wife's Yamaha 450 Grizzly, in front of the Tahoe, sideways, and still close the garage door.

I even had my crew cab short bed 2500HD in it, can I could fit it in the garage. I only have about 6 inches to the garage door, but it fits.

I like the step because it gives me something to pump the tires against rather then backing into the dinning room wall.

 

[Tucko]

Lay a 2x4 on it's side, to act as a ramp, and just drive up onto it.

 

[ozyborn]

Garages are for guys, cars are for carports. Wasting valuable work space by parking a car......

 

[Rod N]

Is it just me that gets frustrated when OP asks for advice and then will not give us details?
What is hitting is really important.
Or is his question only how to remove the step/platform?

 

[Dan_inthewind]

Yeah I thought of that it does for not much space between the door and front of car, I don't mind it but once again the wife says no, mainly because she can't back up to save her life and I have to do it.

So,,, how does she get the car out when she wants to go some place? Back in or drive in is only one way, still have to back up at some point? What am I missing?

 

[OJ Bartley]

I'd probably look at pouring new concrete to make a gradual slope ramp. You won't have to worry about cracking foundation, weakening the rest of the floor, or demo/removal. When you're done, paint that section so it stands out and nobody will stumble going over it.

 

[gungatim]

So the first estimate came today $1550 to remove the entire step and pour new concrete to fix what was cut out, plus would have to redo the steps going into the house or $1250 to cut out 2/3 of it leaving the steps just giving us room to park the car. Calling another couple of laced to get an estimate have called 2 others last week and never heard back.

Gee, how much to just knock the entire garage down and build a bigger one?