Concrete floor pitch question please . . .

[Cemoto]

My floor will be poured in two weeks. The inside dimension is 30' front to back.

This will be used more for storage in the winter rather than a workshop.

Since I won't be bringing wet or snow covered cars in, what pitch would you use?

The concrete guy said three inches first, then I told him I would not be parking wet cars in there and then he suggested a two inch drop over the thirty feet.

I thought level would be good.

Any thoughts please?

Thank you.

 

[p_mori7]

Mine is 30' deep and is level.

I have a squeegee handy in case I do have to bring in a wet car.

 

[joes169]

If you ever plan to park your daily drivers in it, you'll get water in it. I'd at least put 2" of pitch on the front 20', and leave the back level. Even at 2", if the concrete guys aren't very picky, and don't get it flat enough, it will still hold water in spots. Also, a little pitch is hardly noticeable, unless you need a perfectly level floor for some kind of precision manufacturing or something.......

 

[Cemoto]

If you ever plan to park your daily drivers in it, you'll get water in it. I'd at least put 2" of pitch on the front 20', and leave the back level. Even at 2", if the concrete guys aren't very picky, and don't get it flat enough, it will still hold water in spots. Also, a little pitch is hardly noticeable, unless you need a perfectly level floor for some kind of precision manufacturing or something.......

That is the thing, I won't be parking daily drivers in it.

I'm wondering if/how any pitch might effect scissor-lift operation.

Any advice please?

Thank you.

Regards,

.

 

[cyamaha2007]

FLAT FLAT FLAT. Shops get level floors garages get sloped floors. Having a level floor is wonderful.

 

[joes169]

That is the thing, I won't be parking daily drivers in it.

I'm wondering if/how any pitch might effect scissor-lift operation.

Any advice please?

Thank you.

Regards,

.

If you don't plan on bringing any water into the garage on a regular basis, level would likely be fine. Level AND flat is even better........

 

[Cemoto]

Thanks guys!

 

[NUTTSGT]

The new floor we put in my garage is level, nothing comes in that is wet normally.

Level, flat, and smooth . . . . .

 

[wssix99]

If you are going to store anything with fuel in it, I found a source that stated a minimum 1/8" slope every 1' is needed to get gasses out of the garage.

Its not so much the water you need to worry about, its the build up of things like fuel vapor, etc.

 

[ard1165]

2" in 30' will not affect scissors lift operation, but I would still go flat as long as you have them give you a troweled finish in lieu of broomed so you can squeege water off when needed.

 

[pattenp]

Building code (IBC) requires for garages that the area of floor used for the parking of automobiles or other vehicles shall be sloped to facilitate the movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main vehicle entry doorway.

 

[Kevin C]

I split my 26' deep garage. The entrance ( first 13 feet) is sloped. The end section of flat. If I don't pull too far in, the fuel system of any of the cars I park in there is over the sloped section.

The far end is where the shop equipment will go.

 

[Cemoto]

If you are going to store anything with fuel in it, I found a source that stated a minimum 1/8" slope every 1' is needed to get gasses out of the garage.

Its not so much the water you need to worry about, its the build up of things like fuel vapor, etc.

I've never heard of this before. I would think fuel and aromatic vapor would rise as tend to be lighter than ambient air. Propane settles I do know that.

Yes, this is primarily for storage, and vehicles w/ fuel in their tank will be stored over the winter months.

I am leaning towards level and flat as that was my first thought and many have agreed, but if there is a basis for pitch change in regards to safety then please inform me.

Any firefighters heard of this?

Thank you very much!

Regards,

.
.
.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Mine is 30' deep and is level.

I have a squeegee handy in case I do have to bring in a wet car.

FLAT FLAT FLAT. Shops get level floors garages get sloped floors. Having a level floor is wonderful.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

My shop is an airplane hangar. I wanted it flat so things like airplanes and tool boxes would not roll. Also wanted it level in case I needed to jack an aircraft or weigh one, would make leveling the aircraft easier.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I've never heard of this before. I would think fuel and aromatic vapor would rise as tend to be lighter than ambient air. Propane settles I do know that.

Yes, this is primarily for storage, and vehicles w/ fuel in their tank will be stored over the winter months.

I am leaning towards level and flat as that was my first thought and many have agreed, but if there is a basis for pitch change in regards to safety then please inform me.

Any firefighters heard of this?

Thank you very much!

Regards

Not sure what planet you have been on, but gasoline fumes are heavier than air, and settle. Largely why the codes require a gas water heater with a pilot, or electric one (due to the arcing in the thermostat) to be at least 18 inches off the floor in a garage or shop area.

If you throw gasoline (even a small amount) or a pile of brush on a slope, stand on the uphill side when it is lit. People have been burned by standing on the down hill side, where the fumes settle to. Not condoning the use of gasoline to start fires however.

Charles

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Not sure what planet you have been on, but gasoline fumes are heavier than air, and settle. Largely why the codes require a gas water heater with a pilot, or electric one (due to the arcing in the thermostat) to be at least 18 inches off the floor in a garage or shop area.

If you throw gasoline (even a small amount) or a pile of brush on a slope, stand on the uphill side when it is lit. People have been burned by standing on the down hill side, where the fumes settle to. Not condoning the use of gasoline to start fires however.

Charles

Do NOT EVER use gasoline to light a brush fire. Under the right conditions, the gasoline can cause burning debris to be blown halfway across a field.

 

[wssix99]

I've never heard of this before. I would think fuel and aromatic vapor would rise as tend to be lighter than ambient air. Propane settles I do know that.

A lot of people are not aware of this. Gasoline vapors (like Propane) are heavier than air and fall to the ground. (Octane molecules are actually much heavier than Propane - and any common molecule you'll find in air.)

This is why smoking isn't allowed at gas pumps. Vapors fall to the concrete pad and disperse - but they are more concentrated closer to the pumps. These vapors are problematic when in an enclosed space like a garage or a boat:

I am leaning towards level and flat as that was my first thought and many have agreed, but if there is a basis for pitch change in regards to safety then please inform me.

1/8" every foot is practically level and you'll never notice the difference. And its safe for the reasons above. If you try for really "flat" and get even a slight slope away from the doors, you could develop a pocket of trapped gas in the room.

Any firefighters heard of this?

I know of at least one.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Code for city, etc. sidewalks here is 1/8" fall per foot to the curb. If it doesn't measure that you run risk of having to re-pour.

So using that as a guide, you'd need 3" fall for a 24" slab. I don't know if it would be noticeable.

I'd prefer flat and use a squeegee.

 

[darkk]

I have a 30x30 and code here *attached to house* is 1/8" per foot. The slope from rear to front is not really noticeable and we have a lot of equipment and a 4 post lift not shimmed to level and have no problems.