Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

[Paul J.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

Paul, at a top level, I agree.

20 years ago I poured 6 bag mix, all virgin aggregate and it is and was greenish and never a crack, spalding etc.

Flash forward and you can't buy real stuff in MI unless you buy it a yard at a time or mix your own, both which I have done, contrast to the commercial stuff that they try to blow past you with smoke and mirrors. Issue is for a garage floor, even half, its too much to haul a yard at a time and or mix your own and you get the same garbage they are pouring for the roads, that one would assume the DOT verifies as I recall from decades past.

The quality difference is readily seen, 5 years later the roads are destroyed and need rework. Look at highways done new 1980-ish and they are solid as a rock. Spec or no spec the new ones are junk. They just redid a major interchange a couple of miles away - let's flash forward and I let you know when the road is spalding, pocked etc. My estimate is less that 5 years...

That's interesting, Ron. It sounds like there were some big changes in the past in how your DOT does business. Perhaps it was a cost cutting measure. Larger aggregate and fillers like fly ash decrease the amount of cement required in a mix, greatly reducing the cost.

[Dan S.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

Thanks to all who responded to my concrete questions. I'm feeling a bit more comfortable about purchasing a 4 post lift. Of course, now that I will have more space soon, another car won't be far behind.

And, Valeria, thanks for allowing me to ask the questions in your thread.

Dan

[Mark T.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

John H's post about the concrete is correct. However you have all seen 4 post lifts at the regionals and nationals. Many times they are used on asphalt and are safe to use. Most 4 post lifts are designed to be used with casters so they can be moved about. In CARLISLE every year they are used on grass for the exhaust installations. I don't recommend this but it can be done.
Michael, Backyard Buddy is a excellent lift I do like the outside slider design. However their cost is the highest and lead time can be excessive. Quality Lifts is a great alternative it is a ALI certified list it gives more room underneath and is a 9000 lb lift and they are very competitively priced as compared to the better lifts.
Many of the brands mentioned in this thread are not the same as when they were bought and installed . If anyone wants to discuss lifts or lift companies send me a pm.
MARK TULLEY

[Bruce B.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

One additional bit of information.
If you are dealing with a new floor be careful where the crack (control relief) lines are cut in the floor. Two post lifts specify how far your posts must be from the crack lines.

[Daniel K.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

This is a quote from the Mohawk Rep I'm working with in regard to the concrete floor and a TWO POST LIFT. And, I'm attaching a picture of a shop where in floor lighting was installed under the lift. A great idea and one I'll use going forward.

* The floor must be properly aged to American Concrete Institute specifications. The floor does not require reinforcement,

but a minimum of wire mesh is recommended.


The floor should be test drilled to verify minimum floor thickness and to confirm building drawings. A core sample should
be obtained and tested to verify minimum floor compressive strength. When investigating floor properties, consult building
drawings to verify proper floor reinforcement.
All 2-post lifts require a continuous single slab. Spanning expansion seams or positioning posts on separate slabs is not
acceptable.

--- ALL MOHAWK LIFTS MUST BE INSTALLED ON CONCRETE ONLY ---

DO NOT

install any Mohawk lift on any surface other than concrete, conforming to the minimum compressive strength,
aging, reinforcement, and thickness stated in the table above.

DO NOT

must be a minimum of 6 inches away from any expansion seams, control joints or other inconsistencies in the concrete. All

inconsistencies in the concrete. Refer to anchor manufacturer specifications for specific information concerning edge
distances and bolt to bolt distance requirements.

NEVER, NEVER

install a Mohawk lift on hand mixed concrete.

DO NOT

install any Mohawk lift on a secondary floor level or on any ground floor with a basement beneath without written
authorization from the building architect and prior consultation and approval from Mohawk Resources Ltd.
If the floor does not meet these minimum pre-existing floor requirements, it is suggested to construct a slab as outlined in

New Slab Recommendations

. If the location of the lift is in a seismic zone, contact Mohawk Resources Ltd. for seismic