ᐅ Garage Slope – Which Design Option?

Our neighbor has a drain positioned in the center, which naturally requires a slope. However, our floor is completely level, and this has proven to be perfectly adequate over the last 15 years (in other garages).

It is important to plan the garage door threshold on the foundation slab from the very beginning when pouring the slab. There should be a slight raised edge on the outside to prevent rainwater from flowing inside during even light rain. This means the door seal is about 0.5–1 cm (0.2–0.4 inches) lower than the garage floor level. Naturally, this needs to be positioned correctly, which requires knowing exactly how the door will be installed. We forgot this because the door (a sectional door) was planned only a year later. Now, from time to time, water still gets inside from the outside.

Hello everyone!

Since there is a discussion about slopes and construction details, I’d like to jump in with a different question. Are there any specific reasons or disadvantages to installing a garage floor without a concrete slab, simply using paving instead?

-> The advantages of paving could be the absence of trapped moisture and a more cost-effective, seamless transition from the driveway into the garage.

Any particular disadvantages? Apart from the fact that liquids can seep through, so spills like oil cannot be allowed...?

We are currently undecided whether to go with a concrete slab or paving. If opting for a slab, there is also disagreement about whether it should be built on strip footings (frost protection) or directly on the ground.

Any opinions or recommendations? Thanks! 🙂

Hello,

I am on the team in favor of a concrete slab foundation, simply because it offers the most flexibility for me. For example, if I want to later add permanent walls, I can either have masonry work done or build something myself with drywall.

Also, dealing with a jack on paving joints would quickly become very annoying for me. The joints immediately make me think of dust and dirt. Cleaning that up takes more effort, or you might have to sweep regularly.

Another reason I prefer a concrete slab is the risk of leaking fluids. Especially if you don’t plan (or are not able) to change vehicles every three years.

If you have paving in the garage, I am concerned about tire marks or spots where the vehicle stands showing up over time. Even if the base is properly compacted, nobody can really guarantee it won’t happen.

And just imagining tire marks becoming visible under the closed garage door’s rubber seal makes me cringe a bit :p

netuser schrieb:

Hello everyone!

Since there’s been a discussion about slopes and construction methods, I’d like to join in with a different question.
Are there any particular reasons or disadvantages to having a garage floor made of paving stones without a concrete slab underneath?

-> An advantage of paving would be, for example, that moisture doesn’t stay standing, and it’s cheaper with a seamless transition from the driveway into the garage.

Any specific drawbacks? Apart from the fact that liquids can seep through, so no oil or similar substances are allowed to spill...?

We’re currently undecided about whether to go with a concrete slab or paving stones.
If it’s a slab, there’s again debate about whether it should be built on strip footings (frost protection) or without.

Any thoughts, recommendations? Thanks! 🙂

In my opinion, paving stones are a poor choice. Over time they may settle where the car stands. Also, they absorb all kinds of substances and eventually look unacceptable. They are difficult to keep clean because of all the joints.

The worst case I know of was for a friend. Water got into his garage because it was pushed up through the paving stones, causing the plaster on the walls to start falling off since the walls absorbed moisture from this.

It may be by far the cheapest solution, but also the most impractical one with many disadvantages...

Bookstar schrieb:

now all the plaster is falling off the walls

I’m not quite sure why the interior walls of a garage would be plastered. So far, I haven’t missed this in any of the garages I’ve come across.