Asphalt garage floor

[jstahmann]

I'm purchasing an older estate this Friday that has a free-standing two car garage that dates back to the 1930's. At some point the owners laid asphalt for the long driveway and into the garage. The garage asphalt has never fully cured and is somewhat soft - if you park on it you leave tire marks, and if you have anything like a shelf or tool chest on it they will slowly sink into the asphalt.

The Garage is the front building. The building behind it is a larger shop that the previous owner used as a wood shop.

I've thought about two different options - I could get some quotes and hire someone to dig out the asphalt and re-pour the garage floor with cement. The main worry about this is getting someone that can get the asphalt out without damaging the garage structure or cement foundation.

The other option would be to just lay garage tile (race deck, gladiator, etc) on top of the asphalt and call it good. I think by doing this option the tiles would pretty much press into the asphalt over time and may not stay flat (but at least it wouldn't sound like you're walking on floor tiles on hard surface, because the tiles would become part of the asphalt). There have been various fluids spilled in the garage over the years that make it soft and almost flaky in some spots, but the overall condition is just soft and not-cured.

The rest of the driveway is asphalt, and it's in great shape, perfect hardness, but the garage floor is a mess.

Any suggestions for a long-time lurker, first time poster?

TIA

John

 

[JakeKohl]

I think you know the answer.

I believe you will find that any floor surface will need a reasonably firm/dependable floor system under it (including Racedeck). Asphalt is not a firm/dependable floor and it probably has levelness issues as it is. The correct answer is to remove it and poor a concrete pad.

 

[Kevin54]

I'm purchasing an older estate this Friday that has a free-standing two car garage that dates back to the 1930's. At some point the owners laid asphalt for the long driveway and into the garage. The garage asphalt has never fully cured and is somewhat soft - if you park on it you leave tire marks, and if you have anything like a shelf or tool chest on it they will slowly sink into the asphalt.

The Garage is the front building. The building behind it is a larger shop that the previous owner used as a wood shop.

I've thought about two different options - I could get some quotes and hire someone to dig out the asphalt and re-pour the garage floor with cement. The main worry about this is getting someone that can get the asphalt out without damaging the garage structure or cement foundation.

The other option would be to just lay garage tile (race deck, gladiator, etc) on top of the asphalt and call it good. I think by doing this option the tiles would pretty much press into the asphalt over time and may not stay flat (but at least it wouldn't sound like you're walking on floor tiles on hard surface, because the tiles would become part of the asphalt). There have been various fluids spilled in the garage over the years that make it soft and almost flaky in some spots, but the overall condition is just soft and not-cured.

The rest of the driveway is asphalt, and it's in great shape, perfect hardness, but the garage floor is a mess.

Any suggestions for a long-time lurker, first time poster?

TIA

John

Tearing it out is the easy part. A skidsteer should fit through the door and if not, something like a Dingo would. If you don't trust someone to do it, rip it out yourself. Get a spudbar, jab it down in, and start prying the old up.

As far as everything else, forget the Racedeck. Like you said, it will sink in and all become uneven. To do it correctly, the old needs ripped out and a new concrete floor poured.

 

[Falcon67]

My first house had a two car with an asphalt driveway and asphalt in the garage. Rip it out and pour concrete. Asphalt - great for driveway, ***** for working on vehicles.

 

[rburke65]

I second the motion as above....the skid steer will remove it without a problem if the operator knows what they are doing....and yes also to the concrete.

 

[Garage Flooring]

It is true that best case to to tear it up. No doubt. It makes the most sense and is what I would do... But Signature Flooring, and I am sure Racedeck and others make roll out event flooring that supports a lot of weight -- even on substandard substrates. Not a perfect solution but I would think they would disperse enough weight not to sink...

 

[jstahmann]

Thanks for the replies. I'll post some more pictures, start a project thread on this place.

 

[CoconutPete]

Is there concrete under the asphalt? My garage is from 1930 also and has a concrete floor. My driveway was redone years ago and they decided to pave over the slap/approach to the garage right up to the door.

I ripped it off last year, just jabbed a shovel under it and broke it up that way - it looked like i never bonded properly - mine was also a little squishy in the heat.

 

[patsabre12]

Is there concrete under the asphalt? My garage is from 1930 also and has a concrete floor. My driveway was redone years ago and they decided to pave over the slap/approach to the garage right up to the door.

I ripped it off last year, just jabbed a shovel under it and broke it up that way - it looked like i never bonded properly - mine was also a little squishy in the heat.

What did you do with the concrete underneath it. How bad was it, did you rip that up too? I'm in a similar situation with asphalt poured over a concrete floor in a garage. Trying to figure out what to do after the asphalt comes off.

 

[JohnX14]

What did you do with the concrete underneath it. How bad was it, did you rip that up too? I'm in a similar situation with asphalt poured over a concrete floor in a garage. Trying to figure out what to do after the asphalt comes off.

You realize this thread is almost 14 years old? Regardless, nice find. You need to remove the asphalt, remove the concrete below (which had to have been failing which is why they rolled asphalt on top of it) dig out the unsuitable soils, fill with gravel, compact, and place new concrete. JMO.

 

[CoconutPete]

What did you do with the concrete underneath it. How bad was it, did you rip that up too? I'm in a similar situation with asphalt poured over a concrete floor in a garage. Trying to figure out what to do after the asphalt comes off.

Holy ****, blast from the past!

Well... I have long since sold that house, but the concrete underneath was in OK shape, so I left it and just scrubbed it with simple green and pressure washed it.

Good luck w/ your project.

 

[Briandel]

Congrats on the place.

That asphalt isn’t “uncured” after that many years it’s fully cured. What’s likely happening is it was laid thin and/or without a proper base. Asphalt also isn’t great for static loads (tool chests, shelving, jack stands). It’s meant for flexible traffic loads, not point loads in an enclosed space.

Tiling over it will just telegraph whatever movement is underneath. If it’s soft now, it’ll still move — the tiles will just follow it. If it were mine, I’d cut it out and pour a proper 4" reinforced slab over a compacted base. Asphalt is actually easier to remove than old concrete, and as long as you don’t undermine the perimeter footings, the structure won’t be affected.

I’d dig a small test hole first to see what’s under it — that’ll tell you everything.

 

[patsabre12]

You realize this thread is almost 14 years old?

Yup but I saw that CoconutPete's was active yesterday so figured he was still hanging around. But nope, he's still kicking!

I’d dig a small test hole first to see what’s under it

That's my next move. I spent quite a while watching rented dingos / small skidsteers breaking up asphalt and concrete. I can definitely do at least the demo and dirt removal/cleanup on my own, then have someone come in and pour the concrete.

I'll report back here on how it goes and some pics but it's probably gonna be a couple months before I tackle it.