Garage Floor Slope............ - Lateral-g Forums

wiedemab · #1 12-25-2012, 02:16 PM

OK - I'm hoping that the group can talk me back from the ledge instead of push me over.

I've been traveling for work almost every week. During this time, I'm having my garage built. I had discussed (and really wanted) a nearly level floor with a drain that I could squeegie the water to.

Well, I finally got around to uncovering the floor to look at it today and realized that they put about 3.5" of slope across the 30ft bldg. (about 1% or 1/8" per ft).

I know this is standard practice, but it isn't what I wanted. I keep thinking about the fact that a 10ft shelf is going to be an inch out of level.............

So - - -PLEASE tell me I'm overreacting and that in reality it won't be a big deal! I'm really considering having it busted out and re-poured, but that will be hard to swallow financially.

I really hate not being around when stuff gets done.

**GregWeld** · #2 12-25-2012, 02:33 PM

My building is 30' X 48' and the floor is PERFECTLY FLAT. I asked for it to be that way.

All you have to do is to allow for your slope when building shelving or benches - or doing anything which requires you to pull a measurement off the floor...

It'd be a lot cheaper for you to just invest in a self leveling rotary level. It's a good tool to have anyway.

Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Level-...r+level+rotary

wiedemab · #3 12-25-2012, 02:40 PM

Thanks Greg.... Mine will be 30X44' and I also wanted it flat. I'm not sure what happened. I'll talk to my contractor tomorrow.

I don't want my toolboxes to not sit level and I have some metal pallet racks that I'll have to shim to be level. I know they can compensate for it when they install my lift, but............ I'm just struggling with the fact that it isn't what I wanted.

I can always level my frame table when working on a project too. It isn't the end of the world, but just not what I freakin' wanted! I know if I had been around when they were pouring it, I would have checked to make sure they were going to pour it level.

OK - rant over.

So probably not worth busting the floor up over, I guess.

**WSSix** · #4 12-25-2012, 02:57 PM

Possibly not worth breaking the floor up and redoing, but if you had this in writing and the contractor didn't follow it, I don't think you should have to pay for the full cost of the work. I'd be upset too.

intocarss · #5 12-25-2012, 03:09 PM

If I paid for something to be a certain way and it wasn't... I'd have them replace it at thier cost! It would suck to have to live with something that is just going to piss you off everytime you look at it JMOHO

wiedemab · #6 12-25-2012, 03:16 PM

I need to go back through the contract. I don't recall that it specified it in the wording is the problem..........

**GregWeld** · #7 12-25-2012, 03:30 PM

A drain AND flat aren't two things that go together....

So if there's a drain involved - they would have sloped the floor to the drain.

I do agree with Jer though! If the contract says flat - and you want flat - it will drive you nuts every day that it's not.

We jackhammered 50 cubic yards out of our backyard around the pool because it started to crack and the cracks drove me nuts! Only one way to fix that!

You see all the dirt area - and where the new pavers are? ALL of that got jackhammered out and it was laced with #4 rebar! Then we replaced it with the pavers. The jackhammering went on for about 2 weeks!

BUT I was happy we bit the bullet!

wiedemab · #8 12-25-2012, 03:50 PM

I agree - level and drain don't jive.... My thought was to have a drain to push the water to without having it go out my door and onto my driveway (especially in the Winter). I wanted the floor level for ease of work bench placement etc.. I didn't really care that the water wouldn't flow to the drain. My plan was to push it to the drain.

I will talk to my contractor tomorrow and go from there.

Does anyone have this type of slope in their garage that can offer some practical "how much of an issue it is" advice. If I'm going to have it fixed, now is the time to do it, before the rest of the building is completed......which will probably be awhile since we were just issued a Blizzard Warning

Rick D · #9 12-25-2012, 04:15 PM

Also something to keep in mind is what is code in your area? Maybe he had to pour it with the slope?

wiedemab · #10 12-25-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick D

Also something to keep in mind is what is code in your area? Maybe he had to pour it with the slope?

Yeah, that is one of the things that I want to verify. He may not have had a choice. I haven't talked to him since they poured it. I didn't want to bother him around the holidays and frankly, I've just been busy too.

I'm just hoping that it isn't something that I will curse every time I go to move my tool box around or move a vehicle around on casters etc.. I'm going to go check Dad's shop to see what it has as a reference. I don't think it is have much of any fall to it, but it may be more than I think - - and it hasn't really caused us too much of an issue.