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Raising a garage floor

oldeblue | Posted in Construction Techniques on October 7, 2004 03:17am

I purchased a derelict (to put it nicely) house at auction here in Texas.  A previous owner had enclosed the garage and turned it into a music room.  However, he did not address the 1 1/2″ step up from the garage floor to the apron at the front.  I want to eliminate the step as I plan to install a floating laminate wood floor over the entire room and then promote it as a home theater or game room during the sale. 

I was thinking I could use 3/4″ treated sleepers 16″ OC followed by 3/4″ plywood.   Is this the right approach?  Someone suggested that I should pour concrete.  I’m not sure I like that approach but I am willing to entertain the idea.  What do you guys (gals?) think? 

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Replies

  1. User avater
    ProBozo | Oct 07, 2004 03:30pm | #1

    #1 question is how level is the existing concrete floor. at a minimum, you'll have to scribe or shim the sleepers.

    1. brownbagg | Oct 07, 2004 03:37pm | #2

      I, myself would just pour a extra 1 2/3 of concrete. Then it would not leave a hollow for bugs to hide.

    2. oldeblue | Oct 07, 2004 04:37pm | #3

      Shimming to level the floor is not a problem.  What about a vapor barrier?  And should I use felt or anything between the sleepers and the plywood?

      1. Mitremike | Oct 09, 2004 07:16am | #6

        given the chance to lay down a VB -Why wouldn't you? True the treated sleepers wont rot but what about the vapor coming up thru the slab itself and attacking the ply --try putting down a 2 foot square piece of poly tape down to seal and see it you have any vapor migrating thru the slab--We all know how concrete is the moisture super highway.

        wait a minute i just saw you are from Texas right? Slab on grade? Maybe I'm throwing ####little up north info into a area that it doesn't apply. Well my box is creaking so I'd better get off before....aaahhhh to late. Mike

  2. oldeblue | Oct 08, 2004 11:45pm | #4

    Hmmm, Breaktime at a loss for opinion?  <G>  Surely not!

    1. FastEddie1 | Oct 09, 2004 02:05am | #5

      If you use treated sleepers, there's no reason to use felt. 

      Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!"  Then get busy and find out how to do it.  T. Roosevelt

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