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| How to prevent wet floor in half of garage? | Login/Join |
| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity  |
We are moving into a house with a two-car garage (yay!) but no basement (boo). So Mr. SK wants to put his weight bench and weights on one side of the garage, and also be able to keep the car in the garage. I would imagine that on rainy or snowy days, the car will bring in water, sometimes maybe a fair amount. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions about the best way (without spending a lot of money) to make a little barrier around the weight area so that any water from the car doesn’t get there? We could buy small concrete bricks or blocks and make a little wall, but would water seep under there enough to make it not useful? Any other ideas? TIA
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
You could use interlocking floor tiles to raise the equipment off the floor. Any water could just flow underneath and then evaporate over time. They are made to take the weight of a car, so the exercise equipment would be fine on it. Like these (the dashes are messing up how WTF processes the link, so you'll just have to copy this link and open it manually in another tab). https://www.costco.com/motoflo...quare-feet-per-box-1'-x-1'-tiles.product.100009181.html Those tiles go on sale periodically, maybe $40 off a box. And there are other companies that make them. Just look for "interlocking garage floor tiles"
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
Oh yeah, I was only thinking of a barrier, so I didn’t think of that option! That's a great idea. It’s more $$ than I was thinking of, but not that much, and it would be nicer and can go with us if/when we move again.
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
A little bit cheaper: https://www.homedepot.com/p/VE...50P00001V0/324077966
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
Thanks! I wonder if using regular gym flooring tiles would work, some are 5/8 inch thick. Do you think that would be up high enough to prevent water runoff/snowmelt from the car?
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
Not sure what the gym flooring is made of. My concern would be that it might trap moisture underneath or that it might actually absorb the water like a sponge. Then the gym equipment would be damp all the time. The water wouldn't want to evaporate from underneath and I think mold/mildew problems could be an issue. Bottom line, if you go a flooring route, it has to be waterproof and it should allow for air circulation so that the water can evaporate. That said, I don't think I'd do any of the self-draining garage tiles because I would worry about the water evaporating to the underside of any exercise equipment and rusting it. https://www.costco.com/plastip...oduct.100457737.html I would go for a solid tile.
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Has Achieved Nirvana |
Have you checked the slope of the garage floor? You can run water on the floor to check that. The floor tile might be better than sandbags. They could cushion the weights avoiding floor damage. Sandbags https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sakre...lb-Tube-Sand/3067709 to form a barrier
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
The sandbags are a great idea, Chas. And the suggestion to check the pitch of the garage floor.
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
WTG, all good advice, thanks! Thinking about the water issues, then, the Home Depot one might be the best bet. This one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/VE...50P00001V0/324077966 CHAS thanks for the suggestion of sandbags, but I don’t think I would want something soft(ish) bc I would imagine that over time, it wouldn’t last and would look bad. Maybe I’m wrong. Re the slope, we’ll check it, I didn’t think of that either. We haven’t actually moved in yet, but we will soon!
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
The sandbags are good solution for retaining the small amount of water you would get from anything dripping off the car. Not sure why they wouldn't last. You just line up a row of the bags, end to end, to keep the water away from the exercise side of the garage. The downside is that they are heavy (even more so when wet), and would be a pain to remove if you move out. And they're a bit of a trip hazard....says she who is cognizant of stuff like that as she gets older.... 
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
Maybe they would, but I just imagine going by with the garbage can, bumping the bags, tripping on them, and over time (and maybe not all that long), I would imagine they would break down in a way that a solid material wouldn’t. For one thing, I wonder what the bag material is, I am guessing it’s just not meant to be a permanent barrier, but maybe I’m misunderstanding.
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
From the Lowes reviews:  I think you have some good options available to you, depending on how much you want to spend and how much looks are important to you. And who knows? Might not even be a problem for you depending on how the floor is pitched. Pro tip: If you come back home from a drive on slushy, snowy roads, don't immediately pull into your garage. Stop your car on the driveway and use a broom to knock off the snow that collects in the wheel wells and the rocker panel. Then drive the car into the garage. Less snow on car = Less water melted on garage floor.
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
Thanks for that photo, I don’t think we’ll try the sandbags. I was wondering if there’s something else that could be a barrier (like concrete bricks plus some kind of lip or flap) but then Mr. SK would probably want something on the floor anyway, so the garage tiles might end up being the most cost effective in the final analysis.
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| Has Achieved Nirvana |
If there’s a concern about tripping over sandbags, concrete bricks seem to present the same, or worse, hazard. Is the garage insulated? Heated? Cooled? Just wondering how much he’ll be able to use it in really cold or really hot weather.
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| (self-titled) semi-posting lurker Minor Deity |
Probably it will be fine for most of the winter but we have talking about getting a space heater. The summer is the bigger concern, esp since he’s not likely to want to excessive with the door open. I think he should get a free standing portable AC thingy but he wants to wait and see.
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well-temperedforum.groupee.net The Well-Tempered Forum Off Key How to prevent wet floor in half of garage?