Floor drain?

[GP0256]

I am building a new garage, 32'x48' and am contemplating a drain in the floor as it is not poured and the structure has not been started. That being said, I am putting car lifts in it and am afraid of haing to level the lift too much of I have a drain as the flooring will need to be poured towards the drain, making the floor uneven. Any thoughts as to why I should or should not include a drain would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nolimits76]

Depends on your location. Warmer climates won't have the snow & ice accumulation and consequently won't have as much to drain. For instance, I live in OK and garage drains are not very common on houses here.

Homes up north in colder climates seem to have drains, along with radiant heating in the slab.

Regardless of climate, guys that do lots of detailing or other water based in their work might find drains useful.

 

[Clik]

NO! You'll regret putting in floor drains.

I have two garages, one with 3 bays and three drains. The funnel shape isn't drastic but does cause problems.

The other garage has very slight grade toward the two bay door which is much better. I can use the flat floor but still can hose it out when I need to.

The one with the bay drains I am constantly trying to work around them. Roll-around boxes end up with one wheel slightly off the ground and doing anything in the way of welding or even carpentry work becomes a problem when you don't have a flat floor to lay stuff out on.

In my commercial garages, I sealed up the drians because of pollution liability risks with either ground contamination with the one on septic, or sanitary sewer discharges of oil on the other.

 

[mygarageone]

You can put a trench drain , just inside the garage door . Properly installed it will be a non issue. The one half of the floor can be gradually slopped to the drain . If you have any plans for washing cars etc .. Have the drain put in.

But then you may live were you can have the doors open all the time and that's makes washing anything in the garage a non issue.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many (most ?) municipalities will not allow you to hook up a garage floor drain to your sewer system nor will they allow you to hook up to a dry well. Hooking to a septic is not good either.

 

[Andy8430]

I live in Iowa and like to see garage drains. Snow and ice can melt into the drain instead of freezing under the door. I'd recommend trench drains which are easier to slope into and can limit the issues described above with uneven floors.

 

[Punchwood]

Just pitch the floor to the door. Drains are a PITA.

 

[CNGsaves]

IF . . . and I repeat IF . . . a floor drain is allowed in your area, then I'd recommend a TRENCH DRAIN rather than single floor drain. Some episodes of Hometime have been airing where ultra-expensive house was built in Minnesota and that garage had trench floor drain. Makes it much easier for concrete guys to slope the floor just enough so water runs to trench. That garage had the trench a couple feet inside the garage door and went across the entire width of the garage door.

Update your GJ Profile with location like City/State/Country.

 

[APEowner]

The biggest issue I have with drains in a working shop is that no matter what you drop or where it'll end up in the drain. I'd rather have a flat floor and squeegee water/snow out the door on occasion. If I parked in the shop more and worked in it less then a drain would be more attractive to me.

 

[maynard9089]

I regret putting drains in my 2 car garage. Never again.

 

[GP0256]

Glad to hear all of the responses fellows, this is greatly helpful. As per the code, when I got my permit for zoning, the lady told me that where I live is on the "Honors System", meaning, just don't get crazy with the placement of the barn and no harm no foul, so the drain issue with the permitting is not a issue at all. As for the drains, I am in PA, but as for washing cars, in my main garage (24' x 24'), I have a hot water spigot and a drain, so I am leaning towards NOT having one in the bigger, detached garage unless someone can some up with a compelling argument why I should!

 

[mygarageone]

Many (most ?) municipalities will not allow you to hook up a garage floor drain to your sewer system nor will they allow you to hook up to a dry well. Hooking to a septic is not good either.

That's not true , where do you get your info ?

 

[Ohio Auto]

I have a drain in my attached garage and one drain in my 30 x 50 shop.

I wouldn't have it any other way. The one in my large shop is right in the middle and the slope is not an issue for me. I can detail my cars and scrub down my floors. Can't even think of not having drains..to each their own.

 

[mygarageone]

Just pitch the floor to the door. Drains are a PITA.[/QUOTE

You base this on what ?

I have a trench drain in my garage and have absolutely no issues , non , nada , zip . Trench drains are the only way to go if some one wants a drain in there garage.
Put in a sand catch box and your all set.

 

[mygarageone]

Anyone that lives in a cold weather state and uses there garage and has snow and water , will want a floor drain , it's the only way to get rid of the water .
Sure sweep it out the door and end up with a ice pond .

 

[GP0256]

Do you anticipate a problem with the lift installation on a floor that is unlevel? That is the only thing that worries me but I get the trough drain idea. Most of the time, if there is a car in there, it will not have just been driven out of the snow and rain, very rarely anyway, so that does not concern me. I do appreciate all of the diverse opinions though. I still have a month or so to make a decision before the floors are poured, so this is very helpful.

 

[Scott65]

Depends on climate, snow, etc. I have two drains in the main part of my garage and I cannot imagine life without them. I wash cars and hose out the garage all winter. You can get enough slope and still have it flat for the lift. Trench drains are also a great option.

 

[Ohio Auto]

I've worked in several shops that have lifts...and they all had drains. I've never heard of someone being concerned about having a lift and a drain...it's done every day.

 

[Punchwood]

Just pitch the floor to the door. Drains are a PITA.[/QUOTE

You base this on what ?

I have a trench drain in my garage and have absolutely no issues , non , nada , zip . Trench drains are the only way to go if some one wants a drain in there garage.
Put in a sand catch box and your all set.

I base this on experience. My garage has a center drain and I hate the damn thing. Is that good enough for you ????????? Heaven forbid someone have an opinion unlike yours.

 

[mygarageone]

I base this on experience. My garage has a center drain and I hate the damn thing. Is that good enough for you ????????? Heaven forbid someone have an opinion unlike yours.

You basing your opinion on your garage and your dislike because of where it is located
because you don't like them , you make it sound like there a bad thing to have .

No there not , if done with a trench drain and properly located . There will not be any issues. Because a person has one bad experience , that should determine the results ?
If floor drains were all the bad or pita as you say , no commercial garage would ever have one and yet I have never seen or worked in a commercial garage with out one. That should tell us something.

And all I asked was why did you think there a pita ? I like to have facts about this kind of thing.

 

[GP0256]

I've worked in several shops that have lifts...and they all had drains. I've never heard of someone being concerned about having a lift and a drain...it's done every day.

I was more concerned about the slope and the lift being level. They make shims to level it, but since it is new construction, I have the option to go either way. Thank you for your input

 

[Punchwood]

You basing your opinion on your garage and your dislike because of where it is located
because you don't like them , you make it sound like there a bad thing to have .

No there not , if done with a trench drain and properly located . There will not be any issues. Because a person has one bad experience , that should determine the results ?
If floor drains were all the bad or pita as you say , no commercial garage would ever have one and yet I have never seen or worked in a commercial garage with out one. That should tell us something.

And all I asked was why did you think there a pita ? I like to have facts about this kind of thing.

First of all I was speaking to CENTER drains NOT trench drains. Secondly, the OP asked for opinions. I gave mine. You don't like it. Well, that's too bad. It's a free country the last time I checked. I also hate purple vehicles. Is that OK with you ? Would you like to convince me that purple vehicles are the best thing ever? What about brussel sprouts? Do I HAVE to like them also?????? Get a grip man. It's just an opinion.

 

[mnavillus]

I find my trench drain is invaluable for washing out the shop floor area and keeping things clean!

that being said....its raining today so I will go out side 70 degrees and work in my shorts and t-shirt and rinse tyne floor down!

heck with all that SNOW!

 

[bloomcounty]

I have a small area in my 36 x 48 right inside the door with a drain where
I can wash cars and the rest of the floor is level

 

[mygarageone]

First of all I was speaking to CENTER drains NOT trench drains. Secondly, the OP asked for opinions. I gave mine. You don't like it. Well, that's too bad. It's a free country the last time I checked. I also hate purple vehicles. Is that OK with you ? Would you like to convince me that purple vehicles are the best thing ever? What about brussel sprouts? Do I HAVE to like them also?????? Get a grip man. It's just an opinion.

 

[Punchwood]