snow/slush containment

[plh_in]

I posted in the flooring forum & am getting no response.... I need something to contain the snow/slush runoff when I park my truck. I do not have a drain.

Does anyone have any experience with the parking mats, absorbent socks...etc.? Would a piece of in/out carpet work good enough?? I am in central IN and dont deal with alot of snow but enough where it makes a mess w/ puddling to the walls, under the bench, etc.

Thanks for any ideas....

 

[boiler7904]

Welcome to the site.

I brush and knock off as much as possible before pulling into the garage. Too bad I can't get my wife to do the same.

Whatever falls on the ground / melts gets squeegeed out the door with the entire floor hosed / mopped when temps are warm enough.

I'd be concerned with materials like carpet growing mold.

 

[eldirector]

Here you go:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3NJN8

Outline your parking area to keep the water contained. When you back out in the morning, squeegee the water out.

 

[JohnK007]

For $942 I'll live with the slush! Good idea though.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I find that several layers of cardboard can soak up the snowmelt here in Ohio. I like Eldirector's suggestion but not the cost. You could duplicate that with garage door bottom weatherstripping.

 

[Gary S]

The easiest way is to build a garage with a sloped floor so it drains out the doors. I put 1" of slope per 4' when I built my garage floor so the water drains out as it thaws the snow off the vehicles.
Since you don't have a sloped floor, you don't have this choice, so you are looking at alternatives. The "drain pans" are probably something that should work if you can find something that fits your needs.

But, maybe this thread will remind others who are building a garage that there is a simple way to deal with this if it is planned for before the slab is poured.

 

[nate379]

My garage is sloped as such and it's ok other than the fact that they water pools up against the door until you open it and that isn't something I really like.

I have about 2" of slope over 26 feet and it's more than enough for the water to drain to the door. Good rule of thumb is 1/4" per 4' DON'T slope it too much or you will have to shim everything and your toolboxes won't stay put without locking the wheels. Makes it VERY hard to work on cars that need to be level, like setting up suspensions.

My Dad's shop had a flat floor and it just ends up getting squeegeed out once in a while. Water doesn't build up too much other than if something full of snow is parked in there like several snowmobiles after a day of riding or the plow truck do to maintenance on it.

 

[srmofo]

I just pured my slab and it is in the code that the floor has to be sloped 1/8in per foot.

Heres an idea though similar to that $1000 contraption. Take an old garden hose and fill it with lead shot then cap the ends. If it still seeps under, then duct tape it to the floor

 

[metal1313]

you could take some tall adhesive backed weather striping and make a 3 sided box that is open to the door. thats what i'd do. that said i dont park in the garage and doubt i ever will unless i have a huge shop in addition to a garage.

 

[TonyMazz]

I live in Wisconsin and had a choice...I chose to slope to a drain inside as if water / slush accumulates by the door in the winter it will freeze hence my garage door is frozen to the floor...so I have a drain with a 4" PVC pipe drain ....just a thought...

 

[m289271]

My garage is sloped as such and it's ok other than the fact that they water pools up against the door until you open it and that isn't something I really like.

I had the same problem with my garage at my old house. The water would drain to the door and re-freeze. I bent the top support on the door trying to open it once. After that I had to check for ice before I opened it. My current garage has a flat floor which I like better.