foundation issues. advise please. *pics*

[hen2]

Hey there,
first post so take it easy on me.
I have a single car garage with a very badly cracked cement floor. The landscaping directs water at the foundation and it leaks in on the floor and it has gone under the foundation to cause the cracks. I believe it's a 2 or 3 inch slab. Also, the driveway slopes down a small amount towards the garage allowing some water to enter. The garage is about 50yrs old.
It is a big single garage and I would like to eventually add a 2 post hoist to work on cars and possibly expand the garage a bit.
I'm looking for advise on what to do about the floor. I would like to have at least a 6inch slab to mount the hoist to.
Should I tear down the garage and build a new one? seems very expensive.
Is there anyway to lift the garage up to pour a new foundation?
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[JBR]

Anything can be done for a price.

You could have the garage jacked up or moved off site while a new foundation is laid.

Or you could start from scratch.

Either way, you will be paying for a foundation. What you need to find out is the difference between jacking up or moving the existing garage and replacing it.

Another factor is do you have enough height in the existing garage for a lift.

I would think the landscaping could be altered to divert the water from the foundation. You could also have a channel type drain installed front of the door.

Good Luck. Let us know what you decide and how it works out.

 

[DekeT]

Fixing the water runoff problem is your first concern. You will always have problems with your structure until that is solved.

 

[billfig]

Yes I agree with fixing drainage first. not sure on your specific yard/garage layout w/out more pics but maybe cut and fabricate a 4"-6" drain across front of garage and carry it down to the rear of garage outside and maybe to a dry well? garage seems to small to work in, let alone a lift too?

 

[bczygan]

Looks like an attached garage. Jacking up isn't an option if that is so. Solve the drainage issues first. A trench drain across the drive in front of the garage door. Perimeter drains around the outside with outlets at grade or into a french drain. Regrading for positive drainage away from the structure. Are you in a freeze/thaw area? More photos needed inside and out and of roof structure. Do you have height for lift? Do the cracks cause tripping hazards? Do the different parts of the slab move up and down differently from each other? What kind of finished floor are you looking for? How do you know depth of slab? How are your gutters and downspouts? Do you have kick outs on the downspouts?

 

[ajchien]

Another vote on fixing the drainage issue.

 

[SuperSocket]

If you're going to add to the garage and replace the flooring and most likely raise the existing garage to fit the lift... then it makes really no sense to keep what is there.

I would use it until you're ready for the big upgrade and then start fresh.