What's the best way to drain melting snow from my car out of the garage?

[StageLeft]

We have a garage that doesn't have a drain and when we park our vehicles in there, any snow/ice melts and subsequently makes its way to the floor boards. I've tried putting some paper towel strips along the side and these work for a few days, but with it evaporating so slowly they eventually get drenched and stop working. BTW, Duct tape has zero adhesion to concrete, so I can't make a route with that.

Are there cheap solutions besides $150 mats, and if so, are there any good ones? I need some way to have all the crap melt and go towards the door!

BTW, we don't live in Alabama anymore, hence the question

 

[Malak]

Make a moat?

 

[compuwiz1]

How about a floor squeegee? When the car is out, just scramble the water. It will dry faster.

 

[StageLeft]

I have looked on the net and cheapest/best solution In can think of is a massive tarp put up on bricks and held in place by them with the part in front of the door lowered, so I think I will give it a go because this is driving me truly nuts.

 

[homercles337]

Gasoline + match FTW.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Gasoline + match FTW.

How does that get rid of water?

 

[Squisher]

The cheapest solution might be to waterproof the baseboards of the garage with some rubber baseboard molding, and adhere it with silicone adhesive/sealant.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Well the water is going to be sitting there, but get those rain channel things they have for roofs (look like upside down windshield wiper blades) and get some concrete glue and make a seal against the water wherever you do not want the water to go to.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

floor squeegee

 

[FilmCamera]

Clean the snow off your car before parking it in the garage?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Malak

Originally posted by: homercles337
Gasoline + match FTW.

How does that get rid of water?

No garage = no problem with water in the garage.

 

[Midlander]

My dad had the same problem. He eventually glued/screwed a board to the floor of the garage and caulked and painted it to keep it from getting wet. This created a dry walkway and kept the water from the baseboards.

He only had the issue along one wall, so this may not work as well if it is happening on all walls.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
floor squeegee

 

[illusion88]

Mop FTW??

 

[jupiter57]

I got lucky. Whoever built this last house I bought had the foresight to put about 3" of fall from the front to the back of the floor.
I had a small problem with the water slowing down when it got to the closed door, but a concrete saw, a new 2" trench drain, and some epoxy took care of that!

To help with your problem, go rent a Concrete saw, saw a 2" deep, interconnecting groove all around your garage floor, about 6" away from the baseboards/sides, when you get about 2' from the garage door on either side, angle the cuts towards the door and right out the door for a couple of feet (Or, cut out a trench drain, as long as it exits outside).
This won't do much for a deluge as from a garden hose, but should help with meting snow/wet car drips.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Is that even up to code? I've never seen a garage without a drain. Sounds like a builder royally effed up somewhere.

I second Jupiter's suggestion.

ZV

 

[Kelemvor]

I've never seen a garage WITH a drain...

We're looking to possible get one of those huge rubber mats you put down that has the grooves in them to keep the water from going all over. Might not actually drain it from the garage completely but it should channel it that direction instead of letting it go sideways to the walls. But I think our garage walls have one row of brick at the bottom specifically to protect against water damage too.

 

[Tom]

Don't know if this would work..

sprinkle powdered gelatin on the floor to thicken the water, then carry the slabs out into the yard.

btw, don't they teach Canadiens how to deal with snow and ice ?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Use a push broom about once a day to push the water and snow out.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Is that even up to code? I've never seen a garage without a drain. Sounds like a builder royally effed up somewhere.

I second Jupiter's suggestion.

ZV

I've never seen a garage with a drain. They just build them with a slight slope so the water runs out.

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
I've never seen a garage WITH a drain...

we built one into dads garage when it was built. nothing new