Basement floor drain not at lowest point

[Konr]

Hi all,

I just bought my house 2 years ago and have recently noticed a huge
problem with my laundry room. The floor drain is not at the lowest
point. It's actually on the other end of the room from the lowest
point.

Recently, my washing machine over flowed and spilled water onto the
floor which promptly flowed out of the laundry room into my carpeted
family room.

I want to get this fixed, but I don't want to rip up the entire
concrete slab. Is it possible to regrade the floor pitching towards the
drain? Any other suggestions?

The room is about 10 x 8, and the low point that all the water drains
to is about 2 feet outside the door to the room. The existing drain is
in the opposite corner from the door.


----------------------
| o |
| drain |
| |
| |
| - door
| -
| | O
| | low pnt
----------------------

My friend suggested raising the height of the floor 2 inches at the
door and pitching it towards the drain, creating a platform of concrete
over the existing floor. I suppose that'd be fine, but don't know the
best way to do this.

Konr

[PipeDown]

Post by Konr
Hi all,
I just bought my house 2 years ago and have recently noticed a huge
problem with my laundry room. The floor drain is not at the lowest
point. It's actually on the other end of the room from the lowest
point.
Recently, my washing machine over flowed and spilled water onto the
floor which promptly flowed out of the laundry room into my carpeted
family room.
I want to get this fixed, but I don't want to rip up the entire
concrete slab. Is it possible to regrade the floor pitching towards the
drain? Any other suggestions?
The room is about 10 x 8, and the low point that all the water drains
to is about 2 feet outside the door to the room. The existing drain is
in the opposite corner from the door.
----------------------
| o |
| drain |
| |
| |
| - door
| -
| | O
| | low pnt
----------------------
My friend suggested raising the height of the floor 2 inches at the
door and pitching it towards the drain, creating a platform of concrete
over the existing floor. I suppose that'd be fine, but don't know the
best way to do this.
Konr

In general you can regrade concrete surfaces by adding more concrete on top.
The key to success is in getting the old concrete really clean and open
(open means that it does not have a polished look, the pores are open). If
not, you should etch it with acid or a safe-etch (no acid) product. If
already painted or epoxy coated, you might be able to get away by painting
on a layer of concrete bonding agent before pouring the new layer.

Probably can use straight morter for an inch or so, mixed right you can
shape it as required. Alternatively, for slight slopes, you can use a self
leveling mix but you will not end up with slope to the drain but might
better than what you got.

Don't use concrete mix, the pebbles in the aggrigate will prevent you from
spreading it thin (well, the 2" section won't be much of a problem but the
tapered edge will be impossible).

If this floor is to be exposed, you may want to spend the extra money and
get a colorant or stain to improve the look. There is also fiberglass like
additive you can put in the mix to prevent cracking (instead of wire mesh,
which you wouldn't use in this application anyway)

Another option is to tile the area and use the tile and thinset to build up
the difference you need.

[Joe]

The floor drain is not at the lowest point. It's actually on the other end
of the room from the lowest point.
****************************************************************************
This seems to be standard procedure with many masons.

[RicodJour]

Post by Konr
Hi all,
I just bought my house 2 years ago and have recently noticed a huge
problem with my laundry room. The floor drain is not at the lowest
point. It's actually on the other end of the room from the lowest
point.
Recently, my washing machine over flowed and spilled water onto the
floor which promptly flowed out of the laundry room into my carpeted
family room.
I want to get this fixed, but I don't want to rip up the entire
concrete slab. Is it possible to regrade the floor pitching towards the
drain? Any other suggestions?
The room is about 10 x 8, and the low point that all the water drains
to is about 2 feet outside the door to the room. The existing drain is
in the opposite corner from the door.
----------------------
| o |
| drain |
| |
| |
| - door
| -
| | O
| | low pnt
----------------------
My friend suggested raising the height of the floor 2 inches at the
door and pitching it towards the drain, creating a platform of concrete
over the existing floor. I suppose that'd be fine, but don't know the
best way to do this.

Typical laundry rooms are often poorly designed. It's a major workroom
of the house and people often fail to make it a friendlier place to
work. Instead of just dealing with the specific fix for your problem,
get an added bonus out of it as your reward.

Build a low platform with low side rails, waterproof the inside, and
drain that with a stretch of pipe to your existing floor drain.

The raised platform will put the machines at a height where you won't
have to stoop as much - save your back. Depending on your preferred
height of that platform and the available added amount of storage, the
underside can be open, have doors on it or dollies that roll out that
will hold laundry baskets, cleaning products or whatever. And it'd be
quick - probably only take a couple or few hours.

Waterproofing the interior could be done by painting the panned
platform and caulking the seams, or you could use a couple of pieces of
Ice & Water Shield or some other self-adhesive roofing membrane.

R