Garage Lift

[Bruce B.]

Re: Garage Lift

IN most cases a garage floor with some slant are due to code which specifies the amount of drop so if gas leaks out on the floor it will drain to the door opening not the home, assuming it is a attached to living space such as a home.
It has nothing to do with snow or water on the floor.

[Michael J.]

Re: Garage Lift

Well, that's just what the county building inspector told me about mine, and since mine is not attached to anything, he had no problem with me taking it out. Maybe when he said "etc." he meant gasoline?

[Paul J.]

Re: Garage Lift

Standard residential codes for concrete slabs require a 4 inch minimum thickness for all slabs, including a garage. Codes can be a little different from location to location. The slab thicknesses vary due to placement, but are pretty much at least 4 inches. These codes were developed for 1200 psi concrete, which is no longer used. I've poured plenty of 1800 psi but I think that today all the suppliers only sell 2400 psi as their lowest rated structural concrete.

Without getting my structural books out you should be fine. Note that the pads for the lift concentrate about 1/4 of the total weight of the car and the lift into the total square footage under each lift pad. It's a simple calculation to figure out the loading. This can create flexing but it won't fail. The slab will resist flexing better if there is steel in it.

Paul

[Kurt G.]

Re: Garage Lift

I have a 4-post Rotary brand lift. The garage floor is 5 inches thick and no problems. My '94 makes its home on the top and the '72 sits underneath.