entry door step-down: removal?

[jrod60]

My attached garage has a single entry door at the back with a landing about 3" tall. This raised portion runs the entire width of the back wall and is 27" deep. Looks like this but less doors and a taller step (this is not my garage or blog):
http://static.onemansblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/sealing-the-garage-step-1.jpg

I hate this thing. I currently have my toolboxes up there, but i can't move them because of the step. A workbench I have on it now just fits, but a chair won't push under because of the lip. Any shelving or cabinets i would put up there aren't going to be the full 27" depth so it's wasting space in a 2-car garage. It's generally a minor nuisance, but I feel like things would be nicer without it.

Is there a reasonably easy way to get rid of this and end up with a relatively flat floor afterward? I know of concrete saws and jackhammers, but neither of those seem ideal for just taking the surface off. Ideas, or just **** it up and continue onward?

 

[Chevy-SS]

Damn, that's seems odd to pour it like that. Anyway, it might be easier to add three inches to rest of floor, especially if you know someone in concrete business.... maybe they can swing by when they've got some concrete mix left over and just dump it out and level up your floor..... Of course, this may not be feasible depending on garage door, etc.....

In that case, you'd need to make a mess. Good jackhammer guy could have that out in a few minutes, I betcha......... I would take out whole section, then re-pour level to existing floor...

 

[Lassen Forge]

Yeah, that seems like an awfully strange pour... and a 3 inch lip? I've seen some strange structural stuff done (one a basement under a house that was actually a cover for a prohibition-era booze factory) but this - a 3" lip - just makes no sense.

My first thought was garage tiles, but 3" is pretty steep... If it were me... I'd probably have a 3" pour put over the rest of the floor to level it up, then maybe cover the whole thing with Garage Tile to "hide" the second pour. It would be quicker, cheaper, and give you better result than a surface grinder to take that down... and not weaken the concrete in that section.

Other than that, if you had to **** it up, maybe put shelving back there, or make it a stand for the new drill press and lathe, heck... no, I think I'd still hire the local concrete guru and drop a 3" blanket on the low section. losing 2 1/4 feet of the back of my garage would *really* torque me off every time I saw it...

 

[Kaizen]

first I'd make sure you don't have any lines like sewer running out there. if not then I am guessing you have a slab in the house and they made an error. remember the walls were not built when they did it.

my solution. home depot diamond circular saw blade for like 40 bucks. set it a couple mm more then you need. make like ten cuts every few inches across then as much as you can stand towards the house. claw of a normal hammer or anything will knock out the pieces. clean it up make sure its below final level and put a top coat on it.
or rent an electric jackhammer and hit it from the front. I like the first idea as you don't take out more then you need. those circular saw blades are awesome. last for a long time but make lots of dust so take precautions. no matter what you do will be a mess.

 

[CNGsaves]

There IS A REASON for that ledge . . . . think it's called vapor ledge.

Purpose is not allow fumes from spilled gas, propane, etc from migrating into the house since your doorway is nearly on same level with garage floor.

Do NOT smooth out the whole floor !!

Instead, just build an angled "ramp" near the door so you're not stubbing your toe every time going into the house. The rest of the ledge you'll just have to live with it for your safety, and safety of those inside the house.

 

[Kaizen]

There IS A REASON for that ledge . . . . think it's called vapor ledge.

Purpose is not allow fumes from spilled gas, propane, etc from migrating into the house since your doorway is nearly on same level with garage floor.

Do NOT smooth out the whole floor !!

Instead, just build an angled "ramp" near the door so you're not stubbing your toe every time going into the house. The rest of the ledge you'll just have to live with it for your safety, and safety of those inside the house.

is there a name for it? wouldn't removing it cause a 3inch drop at the entry door? so no migration?

 

[jrod60]

Removing the whole raised area won't lower the door so the "safety" aspect (however trivial that might be) won't be affected.
And I'm certainly not paying to repour the whole thing 3" deep, so I guess I'll just put on my big boy pants and deal with it. Though the saw and hammer thing may be an option.

 

[larry4406]

is there a name for it? wouldn't removing it cause a 3inch drop at the entry door? so no migration?

In the houses I have built this is referred to as a "Chemical Curb".

 

[rowyco]

What about the saw hammer method for only the areas you need removed? Where the stool pushes into your work bench and in front of the door? Then you wouldn't have to remove the whole thing?

 

[FordTruckWench]

is there a name for it? wouldn't removing it cause a 3inch drop at the entry door? so no migration?

The 3 inch drop will also block water. The wide step in the garage thus provides a "dry" place to store things. Water dripping off of your vehicle won't be able to reach that stuff.

This would be more useful in ice and snow country than in the OP's Texas...

 

[DangerousDan55]

Hey jrod60, we're almost neighbor's! I live North of 290. Off Katie Hockley rd. My daughter lives off of Fry rd.
The step. Its Very common here in the Houston area. Anywho, mark out the area for you seating, set your saw depth & make many cuts. Chip it out & take an angle grinder to work the area smooth to your satisfaction. Go to Harbor Freight & buy the better grade air mask for the concrete dust. On the dust mask I took a paper napkin & cut it to fit.over the original filter. This helps your mask filer last longer. It comes in a zip lock bag so you can keep it clean during storage.

 

[fury9]

We call them a gas curb

 

[rburke65]

I call them a pain in my assss.

 

[nolimits76]

I call them a pain in my assss.

LOL, best answer yet.

As others pointed out there is a purpose. Around here, they are pretty common on older homes. Newer homes tend to stop the curb near the door.

I had one in my last house that I liked. But my garage was deeper and wider than normal and the "lip" was about 5' deep so I had more space to work on. I liked having it up higher so stuff didn't get wet.

And when not working, it was a good parking stop for the tires -- in other words, no worries about the wife taking out the house.

 

[raf0419]

My vote is ramp it with some concrete. 1-2' should do it.


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[mhoss44]

Common helper for these is a ramp, make it out of treated lumber. 2X6s attached, you can cut an angle them similar to a window sill. This ramp can be moved. Also you can build a small platform for in front of a bench.


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[ADSR]

That would drive me bonkers. I'd hammer the floor out and make the the doors had a good seal.