Heavy rainfall penetrating your garage space can be an ugly sight. Not only does it leave your floor muddy, but anyone could slip and fall, too. Even more, it can also damage any part that it gets exposed to, most notably, your garage doors.
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Just like any other part of your house, your garage doors regularly get exposed to the harsh weather condition– especially the rain. Rainwater can creep inside your garage and soak everything that it reaches. What’s challenging about it is that most garages don’t have the proper design to keep it watertight. So, if the water pools on the garage door after a heavy rain, then it can get worn out immediately. Even worse, it can cause quite a damage, which can be expensive to repair.
One of the most crucial ways to keep your garage door’s pristine condition is by protecting it from the natural elements. Depending on the location of your garage and the scope of the problems, there are ways to help you manage it effectively.
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Steps To Shield Your Garage Doors From Rainwater
1. Install Gutters
Installing guttering to your garage is one of the best ways to keep the rainwater from getting underneath the door. Doing so will help redirect the water off from the garage during a storm. You can install news ones just along the sides and edges of your garage roof then attach a couple of downspout extensions.
Doing so will help carry the rainwater off the garage door and protect it from exposure. Aside from shielding your garage against rainwater damage, it also protects its foundation from deteriorating.
2. Apply Seals
Next, consider checking the bottom of the garage doors to see if the seal needs replacement. Keep in mind that it can get worn out or damaged as the years’ past. Thus, allowing pests, debris, and even water to get inside your garage space. If you noticed that the seal doesn’t touch the garage floor anymore even when it’s closed, then it’s probably time to replace it immediately.
You can also install raised rubber floor seals to add more protection to your garage. Keep in mind to replace them each year to prevent any minor water problems.
3. Evaluate The Soil Grade
If you have an elevated ground right close to your driveway, it means that the rainwater will automatically run onto the driveway instead of getting drained away from the garage. If it’s the case, then you need to consider creating a new path for the water to run to prevent it from forming a pool.
If you’re considering creating a pathway, you need to consider where it goes, too. If you divert the water and runs into another person’s yard, then you’re only trading one problem for another.
4. Put Permeable Pavements
Another way to protect your garage doors from unnecessary water damage is by installing permeable pavements. For those who are concerned about drainage, having permeable pavements is a viable solution.
That’s because it allows the water to pass through the voids and openings and return it into the ground underneath it. Thus, reducing the run-off making of the rainwater which reduces the likelihood of flooding.
5. Building Landscaping Swales
Landscaping swales is also an ideal way to keep your garage doors safe from floodwater. If the land on either or both sides of your driveway is sloping downward, you can consider having landscaping swales as a drainage solution.
A swale is a shallow depression on the soil that is wider than it is deep. Building a swale near your driveway can be a place where you can collect the rainwater so that it can reenter the ground.
What’s interesting about landscaping swale is that you can design it to make it look like a part of your yard. Some hire landscape artists to make it look like a creek bed surrounded by river rocks and a few aquatic plants.
6. Place a Demountable Aluminium Flood Barrier
You can also try to evaluate the ground conditions at your garage door and see if it’s in good shape to install a flood barrier. If it’s higher than 5mm undulation in the ground, then it’s highly advisable to lay a concrete plinth to make it even.
If you’re using the garage frequently, then it’s highly desirable to set a metal plate on top of the concrete plinth to shield it against any cracking. Having a flood barrier is a cost-effective solution to protect your garage from getting flooded.
7. Put a Trench Drain
If you ever decide on installing a flood barrier, retrofitting a drain to your garage is a practical choice. Doing so will prevent the water from backing up the pipe in case a massive storm hits your area. If you want to install it in your garage, you can do the following:
- Cut down a linear trench in the pavement starting from each side of your driveway.
- Insert a U-shaped steel or PVC channel directly in the ditch.
- Pour concrete around the exterior of the channel that acts as a flush with the pavement.
To ensure that it’s not going to get flooded, you need to check on the drain periodically by removing the grill and clearing it of any debris.
Protecting Your Garage From Rainwater
Ensuring that your garage gets the proper protection against rainwater is an excellent way to maintain its condition. Not only will it help you maximize its lifespan, but it’ll protect you from expensive repairs, too.
If you have no luck with any of the steps stated above, then there’s a considerable chance that the rainwater is coming in from elsewhere. If that’s the case, installing a drain right inside your garage is a good choice.
You can shield your garage doors from rainwater leakage by being proactive. Regularly check your garage for any signs of water damage or any potential leaks. Getting to the root of the problem can help you fix your water damage problem before it gets worse.
- How to Keep Water from Coming in Under Garage Door - June 30, 2020