No floor drains

[motrads]

My 3 stall Concrete floor has no drains and slopes toward the doors. Huge problem here in Wisconsin. As the snow, ice and slush melts off the cars it runs toward the doors, and often freezes them to the floor. My old homes garage had a floor drain in the middle of each stall so as the snow melted it drained to the middle and out of the garage. Don't want to pour a new floor here, and looking for another way to correct the problem. Possibly have the concrete ground so it slopes to the middle, and install drains there, or use some type of Crete to build the outside higher, allowing drainage to the center.

The builder was able to save a few bucks here by not installing drains, but cost me a world of headache.

Any suggestions would really be appreciated. Thanks, Motrads

 

[burleyfarm]

Have same issue here in SW Michigan. I try to leave my wife’s CRV outside after returning and kick off as much snow buildup as possible before I bring it in the garage. I have an F-150 that won’t fit in the garage so its what gets used the most in the winter.

I’ve considered installing a trench style drain about a foot in and parallel from the door, boring through the stem wall and connecting it to my underground downspout drains. It would be a lot of work to cut the slab for the drain and bore through the stem wall so for now I sweep out as much snow or water as I can and live with it.


Dave

 

[59 wagon man]

builder wasn't trying to save money most places dont allow floor drains in garages without an oil interceptor so most consumers would complain about the additional costs

 

[Armorpoxy]

We had a client who had this problem and he cut a slot along by the doors similar to expansion joints. He laid in waterproof Heat cable like is used on gutters and roofs to prevent freezing and then used polyurea caulk over the heat tapes. He used a simple thermostat and an off off switch so he only ran it when he needed it when ice formed to save on the electric and problem was solved fairly inexpensively so the water was kept from freezing and ran out or evaporated.

Not the perfect solution but it did the trick!

 

[motrads]

Whether it goes down a drain, or out the front door it'll end up in the storm sewer either way. All of my neighbors garages have drains, one under each stall, and quite inexpensive when building new.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many (most) municipalities do NOT allow drains in garages. Too much chance of oil going into the ground or into a municipal drain.

 

[sleek98]

Our city is one of the few around that do allow drains and I had to request it if I remember correctly.

I like the idea of running a heating strip near the door.

 

[Bsimster]

Your slab is going to pitch out, its actually working by design if everything is pushing towards the exterior doors. Is your garage attached or detached? Any type of drainage outside the doors from the driveway side?

Being that you are saying the snow is melting, I would assume you are insulated at minimum if not heated as well. Maybe notch the concrete just prior to the door and pitch the notch to a side. (example - 0.5" wide to 1" wide - left side is 0.25" deep and gradually deeper as you go across maybe up to an inch deep ) then make another notch under one of the door to drain it out

Im not an engineer but I dont see why it wouldnt work and be cheap enough

 

[joes169]

The least invasive way to add a drain would be to cut the last 2' of floor out at the OH doors and install trench drains. Trying to grind to pitch to a center drain won't work, unless you have a 8" + thick floor, not to mention grinding any kind of depth out is extremely slow and expensive.

Have you tried coating the bottom of the door weather strip with Vaseline to get you through the winter?

 

[joes169]

I've yet to pour a garage floor in dozens of different municipalities in SE Wisconsin where we weren't allowed to install a drain to either outside grade, sanitary sewer, or storm sewer.........

 

[motrads]

Does the slab rest on the foundation wall, and would that be a concern if I cut a trench drain, perhaps causing the slab to crack and sink?

I think I'll consult a mason this spring, but may be hard to find someone willing to mess with a job like this.

Also makes no sense that some municipalities don't allow floor drains. My car drips, and the runoff goes out the doors, and to the ground or street anyway. If I park in the driveway, or I'm driving on the road it's the same thing, it all still goes to the ground or storm sewer. No oil interceptor required. lol

The best scenario is for everything to go down a floor drain then out to grade or storm sewer. No mess in the garage. ;-)

 

[allinon72]

Does the slab rest on the foundation wall, and would that be a concern if I cut a trench drain, perhaps causing the slab to crack and sink?

I think I'll consult a mason this spring, but may be hard to find someone willing to mess with a job like this.

Also makes no sense that some municipalities don't allow floor drains. My car drips, and the runoff goes out the doors, and to the ground or street anyway. If I park in the driveway, or I'm driving on the road it's the same thing, it all still goes to the ground or storm sewer. No oil interceptor required. lol

The best scenario is for everything to go down a floor drain then out to grade or storm sewer. No mess in the garage. ;-)

It's one of those environmental overreactions - someone with a drain in the garage must be changing oil daily and letting it dump right into the drain.

 

[4 FN 27]

Always check with the locals first...do not believe a word when somebody says they do not allow it. Check first...yourself. My builder on my last house said I could not have Floor Drain. I did not check myself.

My neighbor had one because it is allowed. I lived in that mess from 1994 until 2009...now every Garage/Parking Stall has a Floor Drain and no Flammable Waste Trap as mine are all day lighted.

At the plant we have to have Flammable Waste Traps and they are allowed.

The local may have requirements to meet and they may not.

Don't believe any one here when they say you cannot...unless they are your building inspector or city planner.

As far as your current situation it sounds like a tear out and redo...

I understand your frustration.

 

[LVIIIR]

Similar issue with my garage. It's absolutely annoying, but life could be worse.

 

[Jazz1]

Lumber tarp with 2”x4”s around perimeter is my method of collecting melting ice. Shop vac ***** it up.
When I built floor drain not allowed.

 

[Dodge]

My 2 car garage also did not have a floor drain when we bought the house. I cut a 3'X3' section out of floor, where the water was running to. I then dug down about 2-3' and filled it with rock. Installed a plastic catch basin, 9"X9", I think. Then mixed up sakrete and poured with slope to the thickness of the floor. Works great for the water, snow that runs off the vehicles. Sometimes I squeeze the water to the drain. I don't wash in there. Been there for 24 years! Never a problem holding water either.