It's winter and my garage will soon be a lake....

kgb · 12-01-04, 05:01

Well, it is winter time and that means my garage floor becomes a mini Lake Michgan. All of the snow melts off of my car during the night and in the morning it is a huge puddle on the floor. Is there anything I can do at all to help this soon to be mess?

Last year I just used a shop vac to suck up the water once a week but that did not keep it from getting to the walls or wood cabinets I have.

Thanks!

Red98gt · 12-01-04, 05:44

Maybe a floor mat that holds the water?
here is just an example, I don't have one so I can't recommend any.....

http://www.caraccessories.com/garage_floor_mat.asp

bet993 · 12-01-04, 06:26

Wow that sucks. Your floor should have been poured with an ever so slight slop towards your garage door to let this water drain out.

I wonder if a dehumidifier would help evaporate the water? Another brainstorming idea...what about one of those turbo style fans that grocery stores have in the cart area? You could aim it under the car directed torwards the garage door. Maybe the combination of a dehumidifier and the fan would make the problem managable. Or also combine one of the parking pads as mentioned above.

dternst · 12-01-04, 06:38

Could you build something similar to this water containment mat?

It seems easy enough to duplicate: Some tarp and perhaps a few 2 X 4s. Position the 2x4s on the long side (so that you can drive over the board). Staple or wrap the 2x4s in the tarp on the other sides. The 2x4 will provide a lip to prevent the water from reaching the walls.

http://detailking.goemerchant7.com/i...ExpandedDepts=

Will need to scroll down a little...

kgb · 12-01-04, 06:40

Quote:

Originally posted by bet993
Wow that sucks. Your floor should have been poured with an ever so slight slop towards your garage door to let this water drain out.

I wonder if a dehumidifier would help evaporate the water? Another brainstorming idea...what about one of those turbo style fans that grocery stores have in the cart area? You could aim it under the car directed torwards the garage door. Maybe the combination of a dehumidifier and the fan would make the problem managable. Or also combine one of the parking pads as mentioned above.

I tried a dehumidifier last year but it did not do much. The floor slab was poured in 1958 so it is not in the best of shape.

I am really thinking a mat would be best.

Thanks for the help so far!

splattj · 12-01-04, 07:35

You could get a masonry saw and cut a square out in the center. Then you could create a well and use a sump-pump set-up to remove the water from the garage. Of course, you should consult a building engineer first....

Otherwise a big squeege once a day should keep the buildup to a minimum. Or you could use this as an excuse to get a big industrial garage heater that mouts up by the ceiling.

kgb · 12-01-04, 07:39

Quote:

Originally posted by splattj
You could get a masonry saw and cut a square out in the center. Then you could create a well and use a sump-pump set-up to remove the water from the garage. Of course, you should consult a building engineer first....

Otherwise a big squeege once a day should keep the buildup to a minimum. Or you could use this as an excuse to get a big industrial garage heater that mouts up by the ceiling.

I am one of the city's building inspectors so that is not a problem. LOL But the problem is the floor does not slope to the middle so the water goes all over.

I hate to do anything major just because we plan on moving in a year or two and I plan on finind a house with a bigger garage.

The squeegie might work.

splattj · 12-01-04, 07:52

Home depot carries a 24" floor squeege for $22.
Lowes has one as well:
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...221-1316-54524
Good luck. I lived in West Michigan for 20 years. I know how it gets.

kgb · 12-01-04, 09:02

Quote:

Originally posted by splattj
Home depot carries a 24" floor squeege for $22.
Lowes has one as well:
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...221-1316-54524
Good luck. I lived in West Michigan for 20 years. I know how it gets.

Thanks!

At least I got my winter tires on before the snow!

jimc · 12-01-04, 12:05

Here is a wall-to-wall garage mat. I have one and i'm very satisfied with the product.

http://www.bltllc.com/

scottabir · 12-06-04, 09:47

Grab a jackhammer from the city and have at it in the middle so there is a drain hole

Im sure Detroit wont mind is you use some of there stuff...it not like they use it to fix the roads

Flexin · 12-06-04, 11:20

I would say the mat idea would keep the water in one spot. If not a squeege would remove it everyday. Or you could do what I did. I have a heater in my garage and its on all the time. I have it set low. Its perfect for working out there. If I'm sitting around I turn it up just a bit. Last year I had my car in there for part of the winter. When I would pull it in covered with snow I would just leave it. In the morning the snow was gone and the floor was almost dry.

I don't put my car in there anymore. I have a bigger car now and with my motorcycle and quad it would just be to crowded.

James