I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle of
the floor. To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it (this
time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water touching
wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. I'm not sure what the
best approach is. If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under the
frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep enough
that they would absorb a lot of water. I don't really have the time or
money for that. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe I should dig holes say a
foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc?
I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that would not be too
difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them break
after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out every
day. Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most of
it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

On Feb 29, 10:03�pm, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. �In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle of
the floor. �To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. �It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it (this
time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water touching
wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. �I'm not sure what the
best approach is. �If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under the
frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep enough
that they would absorb a lot of water. �I don't really have the time or
money for that. �Does anyone have any ideas? �Maybe I should dig holes say a
foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc?
I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that would not be too
difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them break
after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out every
day. �Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most of
it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

how about a under the slab drain with openings at the collecting spots
going to a sump pump.

with a low voume of water, this should do it.

do you have a place to send the water?

"Moo" moooooo wrote in message
. ..
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. TIA for
any ideas.


Leave the truck outside.

Many areas forbid drains in the garage to prevent people from dumping oil
and/or anti-freeze or other chemicals down the drain and contaminating the
storm drains.

"Moo" moooooo wrote in message
. ..
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle
of the floor. To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it (this
time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water touching
wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. I'm not sure what the
best approach is. If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under the
frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep
enough that they would absorb a lot of water. I don't really have the
time or money for that. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe I should dig
holes say a foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up
with drain etc? I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that
would not be too difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them
break after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out
every day. Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most
of it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

On Feb 29, 9:03*pm, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. *In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle of
the floor. *To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. *It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it (this
time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water touching
wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. *I'm not sure what the
best approach is. *If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under the
frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep enough
that they would absorb a lot of water. *I don't really have the time or
money for that. *Does anyone have any ideas? *Maybe I should dig holes say a
foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc?
I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that would not be too
difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them break
after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out every
day. *Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most of
it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

Tear down the garage and redo it as you want

On Feb 29, 9:03*pm, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. *In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle of
the floor. *To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. *It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it (this
time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water touching
wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. *I'm not sure what the
best approach is. *If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under the
frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep enough
that they would absorb a lot of water. *I don't really have the time or
money for that. *Does anyone have any ideas? *Maybe I should dig holes say a
foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc?
I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that would not be too
difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them break
after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out every
day. *Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most of
it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

You need to move before it all hits you

wrote in message
...
On Feb 29, 10:03�pm, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. �In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle
of
the floor. �To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. �It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it (this
time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water touching
wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. �I'm not sure what the
best approach is. �If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under the
frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep
enough
that they would absorb a lot of water. �I don't really have the time or
money for that. �Does anyone have any ideas? �Maybe I should dig holes say
a
foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc?
I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that would not be too
difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them
break
after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out every
day. �Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most
of
it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

how about a under the slab drain with openings at the collecting spots
going to a sump pump.

with a low voume of water, this should do it.

do you have a place to send the water?

-----

That's what I was thinking. Trouble with taking the water out is there is
no place to vent it outside (since it is below zero for most of winter here,
the normal sump arrangement venting above ground outside will not work).
Also concerned that the water will silty/sandy and will block a pump.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
t...

"Moo" moooooo wrote in message
. ..
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. TIA
for any ideas.


Leave the truck outside.

Great idea, I'll leave it outside in -20 cold and add 15 minutes to my
morning clearing snow and warming it up.

"EXT" wrote in message
anews.com...
Many areas forbid drains in the garage to prevent people from dumping oil
and/or anti-freeze or other chemicals down the drain and contaminating the
storm drains.

"Moo" moooooo wrote in message
. ..
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle
of the floor. To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it
(this time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water
touching wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. I'm not sure what the
best approach is. If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under
the frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep
enough that they would absorb a lot of water. I don't really have the
time or money for that. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe I should dig
holes say a foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up
with drain etc? I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that
would not be too difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them
break after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out
every day. Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most
of it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

Conversely, I've also seen some areas requriing garage drainage linked to
the foundation drainage system

"ransley" wrote in message
...
On Feb 29, 9:03 pm, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle
of
the floor. To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it (this
time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water touching
wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. I'm not sure what the
best approach is. If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under the
frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep
enough
that they would absorb a lot of water. I don't really have the time or
money for that. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe I should dig holes say a
foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc?
I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that would not be too
difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them
break
after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out every
day. Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most
of
it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

You need to move before it all hits you

Such intelligent insight, so glad you shared. You must be one of those
people who has to say something, even if you have nothing remotely
worthwhile to say. Are you my mother in law in disguise?

On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:03:47 -0600, "Moo" moooooo wrote:

I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously

snip
TIA for any ideas.

Mat

I used to live in northern Ohio were garage drains are common and
useful for the melting ice chunks that form behind tires. But here in
the South there is no such thing and we get occasional small puddles.
The logical solution is to park in the driveway when your vehicle has
snow or water on it.

""Blattus Slafaly £ ¥ 0/00 "" wrote in
message ...
Moo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the middle
of the floor. To make matters worse, there is a load bearing 2x4 wall in
between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the areas where it pools
badly. It's starting to rot and I'm probably destined to replace it
(this time with a layer or two of block at ground level to avoid water
touching wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. I'm not sure what the
best approach is. If money and time was no option, I would dig up the
floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking beds under
the frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the garage, dug deep
enough that they would absorb a lot of water. I don't really have the
time or money for that. Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe I should dig
holes say a foot diameter, 4 feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up
with drain etc? I would need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that
would not be too difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had them
break after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop vac out
every day. Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but most
of it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

Put grooves in the floor where it puddles to the garage door, under the
door and out. Hopefully your driveway tapers away from the garage.Use one
of those cement cutting discs in a skill saw and keep lowering it as you
approach the door. You probably don't need much taper.

--
Blattus Slafaly ? 3 7/8

I like this suggestion.....but any idea how get the grooves at the right
depth and pitch?

Moo wrote:

""Blattus Slafaly £ ¥ 0/00 "" wrote
in message ...
Moo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting
seriously ****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the
truck. In previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through
the door naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the
middle of the floor. To make matters worse, there is a load bearing
2x4 wall in between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the
areas where it pools badly. It's starting to rot and I'm probably
destined to replace it (this time with a layer or two of block at
ground level to avoid water touching wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. I'm not sure what
the best approach is. If money and time was no option, I would dig
up the floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large soaking
beds under the frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side of the
garage, dug deep enough that they would absorb a lot of water. I
don't really have the time or money for that. Does anyone have any
ideas? Maybe I should dig holes say a foot diameter, 4 feet down,
and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc? I would need 2 or 3 to
catch the key low points, but that would not be too difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had
them break after one season, and I don't want to have to get the shop
vac out every day. Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but
most of it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat

Put grooves in the floor where it puddles to the garage door, under
the door and out. Hopefully your driveway tapers away from the
garage.Use one of those cement cutting discs in a skill saw and keep
lowering it as you approach the door. You probably don't need much taper.

--
Blattus Slafaly ? 3 7/8

I like this suggestion.....but any idea how get the grooves at the right
depth and pitch?
Use a tapered board as a guide?

Given how much pawn-shop skilsaws cost (no way do you want to do this
with a good saw), not to mention the abrasive wheels, I'd see if the
local rent-all place has concrete saws. Or given that I would have to
teach myself a use-once skill, I'd just call a concrete cutting or
flatwork company, and see how much they would charge for the work. They
have honkin' big saws, sometimes air-powered from a truck-mounted
compressor, that would make real short work of it. And a flatwork
company would probably even understand what you were trying to
accomplish. Most recent driveways I have seen, the expansion joints are
not floated in by hand old-style, they are saw-cut in the green
concrete. Old cured concrete will be a lot harder, so they will have to
cut slower, but the principles are the same.

aem sends...

aemeijers wrote:
Moo wrote:


""Blattus Slafaly £ ¥ 0/00 ""
wrote in message ...

Moo wrote:

I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting
seriously ****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from
the truck. In previous houses, floors have been angled to drain
through the door naturally, although I've never seen it work
particularly well.

In this house the water pools up in a couple of areas, towards the
middle of the floor. To make matters worse, there is a load bearing
2x4 wall in between 2 stalls that is in the middle of one of the
areas where it pools badly. It's starting to rot and I'm probably
destined to replace it (this time with a layer or two of block at
ground level to avoid water touching wood in future).

I really want to find a way of draining the floor. I'm not sure
what the best approach is. If money and time was no option, I would
dig up the floor, put in drains, and have then feed some large
soaking beds under the frost line (3-4 feet here in MN) to the side
of the garage, dug deep enough that they would absorb a lot of
water. I don't really have the time or money for that. Does anyone
have any ideas? Maybe I should dig holes say a foot diameter, 4
feet down, and fill with gravel, cover up with drain etc? I would
need 2 or 3 to catch the key low points, but that would not be too
difficult.

I don't want to do the stupid mats as I know people that have had
them break after one season, and I don't want to have to get the
shop vac out every day. Looking for a low maintenance option.

I've putzed around on google for a few hours looking for ideas, but
most of it is the stupid mats.

TIA for any ideas.

Mat


Put grooves in the floor where it puddles to the garage door, under
the door and out. Hopefully your driveway tapers away from the
garage.Use one of those cement cutting discs in a skill saw and keep
lowering it as you approach the door. You probably don't need much
taper.

--
Blattus Slafaly ? 3 7/8


I like this suggestion.....but any idea how get the grooves at the
right depth and pitch?

Use a tapered board as a guide?

Given how much pawn-shop skilsaws cost (no way do you want to do this
with a good saw), not to mention the abrasive wheels, I'd see if the
local rent-all place has concrete saws. Or given that I would have to
teach myself a use-once skill, I'd just call a concrete cutting or
flatwork company, and see how much they would charge for the work. They
have honkin' big saws, sometimes air-powered from a truck-mounted
compressor, that would make real short work of it. And a flatwork
company would probably even understand what you were trying to
accomplish. Most recent driveways I have seen, the expansion joints are
not floated in by hand old-style, they are saw-cut in the green
concrete. Old cured concrete will be a lot harder, so they will have to
cut slower, but the principles are the same.

aem sends...

I'm surprised nobody's suggested a skim coat of leveling compound...
looks like someone did that to my basement floor years ago and it
appears to have held up well. Not sure how much you can get with it though.

I'd wait for another opinion; I've never done this, just throwing it out
there as an idea.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

On Mar 1, 10:10*am, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

t...

"Moo" moooooo wrote in message
...
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. *TIA
for any ideas.

Leave the truck outside.

Great idea, I'll leave it outside in -20 cold and add 15 minutes to my
morning clearing snow and warming it up.

Warming it up doesn't have to add any time to your morning routine. I
hit the button on my remote starter when I get out of the shower and
it's warm before I get done getting dressed. Waste gas, not time!

On Mar 1, 10:10*am, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

t...

"Moo" moooooo wrote in message
...
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. *TIA
for any ideas.

Leave the truck outside.

Great idea, I'll leave it outside in -20 cold and add 15 minutes to my
morning clearing snow and warming it up.

Don't they say that putting a salt laden vehicle in the garage makes
it rust sooner, or is that an old wife's tale? Or maybe they don't use
salt where you live?

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message

Don't they say that putting a salt laden vehicle in the garage makes
it rust sooner, or is that an old wife's tale? Or maybe they don't use
salt where you live?

********************

Rusting is a chemical reaction. Warmer temperature speeds it up.

On Sat, 1 Mar 2008 22:10:34 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Mar 1, 10:10*am, "Moo" moooooo wrote:
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

t...

"Moo" moooooo wrote in message
...
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. *TIA
for any ideas.

Leave the truck outside.

Great idea, I'll leave it outside in -20 cold and add 15 minutes to my
morning clearing snow and warming it up.

Don't they say that putting a salt laden vehicle in the garage makes
it rust sooner, or is that an old wife's tale? Or maybe they don't use
salt where you live?

Salt will make metal rust and generally the higher the temperature the
faster. Anyway, an easy solution to the wet floor is a good janitor's
mop or floor squeegee.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. net...

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message

Don't they say that putting a salt laden vehicle in the garage makes
it rust sooner, or is that an old wife's tale? Or maybe they don't use
salt where you live?

********************

Rusting is a chemical reaction. Warmer temperature speeds it up.
Why waste everyone's time debating irrelevant alternatives? If you don't
have a worthwhile asnwer, resist the urge to reply.

Corrosion is not a concern....mechanicals will have worn out long before
bodywork. And for my leased vehicle, who cares anyway? If you have ever
had to get up in the morning to scrape snow and ice in below zero +
windchill weather, you will understand why people have garages.

Moo wrote:
I moved into a 30 year old house this summer, and am getting seriously
****ed off with puddles of water from melting snow from the truck. In
previous houses, floors have been angled to drain through the door
naturally, although I've never seen it work particularly well.

Put a big pile of kitty litter (the clumping kind) in the area where the
water congregates.

Use your snow shovel to heave the clumps into the garbage bin.

This reduces an evaporation problem into a shoveling problem.