Garage Inspection Pit
Discussion
eldar said:
Put a sump in the bottom of the pit so you can empty the water that accumulates there...
Listen to this.I moved into my house this year. It has a lovely big detached double garage with an inspection pit. I have the plans showing how it was built back in about 1990 - properly tanked in the pit. The seller told me it had always had water in it, and that while there was a pump, he'd never used it. Doubt I will either, but that's not the point; it'll be below the floor level and it *will* get wet.
eldar said:
Put a sump in the bottom of the pit so you can empty the water that accumulates there...
I worked with a chap that had recovered, over many years of painful operations, from being badly burned (think human tourch) that started from a spark produced by a pump that drained the water out. He went into the pit, pump was switched on and he didn't realise that the car above him had been dripping petrol (mainly vapour). Whoooommmphhh.
While it is only a remote possibility, being an integral garage, there is a possibility the house has a raft foundation and the last thing you want to do is chop a hole in it.
Have seen the glassfibre liners and they may prevent water ingress - but wonder how they work in really wet conditions as such things will try and float - presume they need to be well anchored into the slab? Also take care not to undermine the retained edge of the slab when excavating the hole.
Have seen the glassfibre liners and they may prevent water ingress - but wonder how they work in really wet conditions as such things will try and float - presume they need to be well anchored into the slab? Also take care not to undermine the retained edge of the slab when excavating the hole.
I'd want something a bit more solid than breezeblocks, to prevent them from toppling over if the weight was uneven. You would also have the hassle of driving up them every time you wanted to put the car in the garage and you couldn't board over them and use the space for something else.
SkinnyBoy said:
I would invest in a hoist or a scissor lift. Pits are open graves waiting for your body.
One of my dads friends was working on the engines on his boat in the engine room which wasn't ventilated enough, sadly he died. His situation is no different to that of a pit, be very careful.schmokin1 said:
big advantage of a lift is that you can unbolt it and take it with you when you sell the house. Grand
and a half for a pit or same for a lift, lift it is for me if there is room to fit it....
You do need to chack that the floor is up to the lift though - newbuild garage floors are unlikely to be strong enough to take the loads that the lift's pillars will put on a relatively small area?and a half for a pit or same for a lift, lift it is for me if there is room to fit it....
Stegel said:
While it is only a remote possibility, being an integral garage, there is a possibility the house has a raft foundation and the last thing you want to do is chop a hole in it.
What does it mean when there is a raft foundation ? why can't you dig a hole in it ? (pretty sure my garage has this set up and would not mind a pit)Ben
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