Garage floor advice

[b21playa]

Hi all

My garage floor is very thin, looks to have been laid at about 3” with no dpc. I want to use my garage for car repairs with a lift and wanted to know what specs I should go to and rough costs ensuring a stable surface. It’s approximately 6m in length by just over 3m in width.

I was thinking dig out and replace with 100mm compacted hardcore, steel mesh and 150mm concrete.

Appreciate any advice

 

[noseall]

Hi all

My garage floor is very thin, looks to have been laid at about 3” with no dpc. I want to use my garage for car repairs with a lift and wanted to know what specs I should go to and rough costs ensuring a stable surface. It’s approximately 6m in length by just over 3m in width.

I was thinking dig out and replace with 100mm compacted hardcore, steel mesh and 150mm concrete.

Appreciate any advice

Are you concerned about jacking the car etc?

 

[b21playa]

Are you concerned about jacking the car etc?

Yes.
I’ve used drive on ramps for either front or rear but thinking about getting either a 2-post lift or a scissor lift

 

[jj4091]

I don't think 100mm of einforced concrete would be suitable for a 2 post lfit I think they need quite substantial footings. Try googling car lift instalation.

 

[b21playa]

I don't think 100mm of einforced concrete would be suitable for a 2 post lfit I think they need quite substantial footings. Try googling car lift instalation.

I was thinking 150mm, 100mm was compacted sub base. I will take a look at installation docs.

Will it need a dpm and if so how does that work at the front entrance.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It's very unlikely your existing floor will be suitable, you've got the right sort of idea by the sound of it.

Check the specs of the lift you're looking at, and similar ones. See what base they require, if they don't state then contact the supplier.

You're putting the entire weight of a car plus the substantial weight of the lift itself onto two fairly small areas. You may even need to build a pillar from a concrete footing to support it, then pour the floor around/over it.

If in doubt, overdo it.

 

[Scally-Ho]

How wide is your garage? My 4-post lift is a sizable beast, but then my workshop is a barn type building. Although a decent depth concrete floor, my lift has steel load-spreader plates under the posts.

 

[b21playa]

How wide is your garage? My 4-post lift is a sizable beast, but then my workshop is a barn type building. Although a decent depth concrete floor, my lift has steel load-spreader plates under the posts.

It’s around 3.1m wide.

I think I’ll end up going with a scissor type lift, spreads the weight more and won’t take up as much space. Just need to clear the damn thing…probably the hardest bit as nowhere for it to go