Building suggestions wanted

[ns_in_tex]

We want to pour a concrete slab, inside a building, which we want to store our RV along with tractors & other equipment.

We think we would like to have a drain in the floor, so we could wash the RV or other equipment inside the building (in the shade), which would require the floor to be sloped to the drain.

We also would like to use it as a shop floor, which would be desireable for it to be level.

How little slope could we get by with to make the most of both situations or am I asking for trouble?

Any other suggestions for accomplishing this?

 

[RedDirt]

Any slope that you put into the slab for drainage will translate to your shop benches, stationary tools etc. That said, few slabs are dead level and flat and we all have to deal with shimming stationary tools and having adjustable out feed tables/rollers if they are not fixed in place and set level and in plane with the tool.

On a smooth concrete floor a slope if 1/16" per foot will give you some drainage but you may still have a "bird bath" here and there. 1/8" per foot usually gets rid of the bird baths. Most garages are specified for 3/16" to 1/4" per foot for no drainage problems.

Unless you are doing fabrication with a level, a flat plane is normally just as efficient for a shop. Maybe you can pitch your floor to the opening in one flat plane. Another way to incorporate a flat plane is to slope to a trench drain.

Hope this helps.

 

[MarkV]

Neil, don’t know if you have to do inspections in your area but many areas do not allow floor drains anymore due to fear of ground contamination from oil and such. An 1/8 inch per foot slope will drain well.

MarkV

 

[QRTRHRS]

Is the building large enough to subdivide with some kind of wall, even a stub wall? Perhaps you could lay up a block wall about four feet high then pour a level floor on the shop side and a sloped floor with a drain on the wet side?

I have seen this done along with a curtain that was pulled out to contain the spray from getting into the garage area within reason.

 

[tommu56]

We put a sloped flooor in the firehouse I ran with.
After living with that for 20 years I would opt for slope to the center of bays
that when you wash it go's under the vehicle and closer to drain and less pitch Like under the center of motor home (use the poly trench with a strainer in it to keep plumbing clean) and equipment that would run water away from the posts if it is a pole building too.

we used some thing loke this across the front of the bays I would put 10 or 12 feet long line under vehicle

Trench Drain System

tommu