Anyone lowered their garage floor?

Youngfd · May 10, 2015

I am thinking about lowering the floor in my end bay down 18 to 24 inches before I pour my floor. Looking for addition height so that I can put in a car lift. Anyone done this before? You see lots of houses with attached garages and one bay lowered for motorhome storage. Jim

59 wagon man · May 10, 2015

how tall is the building now?

James-W · May 10, 2015

It is certainly possible to lower the floor, but whether or not it is a good (practical) idea remains to be seen.

If you have a floor in one part of the garage that is 2 feet lower than the rest of the floor, then you need a ramp of sorts in order to get a vehicle down to the lift. Most likely that would be concrete, which is fine, but now you have a way for water to get down there too.

You would also need a railing of some sort so people wouldn't fall because of the 2 foot drop-off.

Youngfd · May 10, 2015

About 10'6" at front and 9 something at rear. Yes, was planning on some sort of a railing for sure. j

LB-1911 · May 10, 2015

Are those posts in ground or on piers?
Depth?

Sure you can do it, with proper planning.

Youngfd · May 10, 2015

Posts in ground. Not sure of depth. Knew that would be one challenge. j

Diesel Dan · May 10, 2015

James-W said:
You would also need a railing of some sort so people wouldn't fall because of the 2 foot drop-off.

Perfect spot for a wall, at least that is what I did when I lowered a section of an old barn floor.

Jagmandave · May 10, 2015

I have a split level home, with the garage under the bedrooms, and the floor is cracked, broken and just a mess, I also have a substantial slope to the driveway, uphill to the house.....so I've been giving a lot of thought to this very idea.

My problem is how the house would look from the street with out of proportion longer garage doors or alternatively the extra fascia between the tops of the doors and the windows in the rooms above. I probably would have to build a retaining wall to one side of the driveway too....

This is the only way I'll ever get a regular two post lift in my garage so I can stand under a car instead of squatting.

I'll be curious to see how your project turns out.

View media item 14050

NUTTSGT · May 10, 2015

I would take into account (for serious consideration) what you'll do with the water that will want to drain into the lower bay when it rains.

kbs2244 · May 10, 2015

From your PIC it looks like you have a good slope away from the building, so drainage should not be a problem.
Assuming you have, or can make, a good foundation a two level driveway and inside floor would be the major concerns.
You will need a strong retaining wall along the right side of the driveway to the middle door, and some way to keep yourself from falling down onto the lower level inside.

Playwme · May 10, 2015

Go for it. I reckon your building layout is perfectly primed for it.

Cant see water being an issue as it looks like the whole garage is perched up nice and high. Might need to widen the driveway a bit to get around the retaining wall you may need on the left side of the last bay. There will be other issues but nothing that can't be solved reasonably easily.

Instead of a railing between the bays put a row of cabinets or drawers with a bench on top. From the hoist bay you'll have good tool storage starting from 2 ft up to about 6 ft. From the high side you have a bench overlooking the hoist bay.

Anyone lowered their garage floor?

Youngfd

Well-known member

Attachments

59 wagon man

Well-known member

James-W

Well-known member

Youngfd

Well-known member

LB-1911

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Youngfd

Well-known member

Diesel Dan

Well-known member

Jagmandave

Well-known member

NUTTSGT

Super Moderator

kbs2244

Well-known member

Playwme

Well-known member