For many people, a garage is more than just a place to park cars. It works as a storage room or a workroom. This can mean that there are many objects in the room that can be damaged if the garage is flooded.

Yet, garages are often subject to flooding for several reasons. Rainwater can often seep in under garage doors. Additionally, roofs and water pipes are as vulnerable to leaks as the rest of your home.

However, there are a number of things you can do to help avoid the problem, which we will discuss in this article. So, read on!

1. Waterproof and Weatherproof the Entry to Your Garage

If you have a wooden garage door, you need to apply a waterproof stain to the door to keep water out. It’s also essential to seal the area between the garage door and floor. This is where most of the water is likely to get in the garage. There are several ways you could seal this area, and we will discuss a few.

• Concrete: You could place concrete between the floor and the door to provide a small, raised surface that will help keep water out. But you need to make sure that your garage door will still close properly.
• Threshold: Another option for waterproofing your garage would be to install a garage threshold. This is pretty easy since all you really need is a threshold kit and some glue. This should keep water from entering the garage between the garage door and the floor.
• Weather Stripping: Weather stripping can also be used to keep water out of your garage. Although you’ll want to be sure you use the correct height. It needs to precisely fit the area to create a seal.

Adjust Your Driveway

It could be your driveway causing your problem. If you tend to have a lot of water accumulating around your garage, it could get into your garage. You should do what you can to keep your driveway dry to avoid problems with flooding. There are several ways to do this.

Fix Your Gutters

If your gutters are damaged, water may run into your driveway, creating pools of water. This increases the chances of water entering your basement and possibly flooding it.

You should keep your gutters in good repair and make sure water is directed away from your driveway to try to keep water from accumulating in your driveway.

3. Install Drainage Vents on Garage Floor

Drainage vents can prevent your garage floor from flooding. These small incisions on the floor can help water simply flow back out of your garage.

Garage vents can also make cleaning a little easier. Installing garage vents is easy, especially with concrete.

4. Apply Sealant to the Garage Floor

You can apply a sealant to your garage floor to prevent the ground from becoming flooded. Concrete and wooden floors hold onto water a lot longer than a sealed floor. So, if you are looking to keep water out, consider applying sealant if you have not already.

Epoxy is a very good option that does not hold water and makes drainage easy. However, if you are not interested in sealing your floor, an alternative option that can help some is nonabsorbent floor mats.

5. Seal Water Entry Points

Likely, the most significant thing you can do to prevent flooding is to seal water entry points. It’s a good idea to do before the rainy season. Thoroughly inspect your ceiling, walls, door, and floor. Water can enter your garage from any of these points. You will need to seal and repair any entry points as quickly as possible.

• Ceiling: One of the most common issues causing leaks is damaged shingles. If they are curled up, fold them back down and apply roof sealant with a caulk gun. If it is caused by broken shingles, remove them with a prybar and replace them entirely.
• Floor: Cracks in a floor can be solved by using the correct type of filler for your floor. Apply the filler, then smooth out any imperfections in the filler and allow the floor to dry.
• Wall: Check for leaks from any piping behind your walls. Next, identify any cracks and sand them to reveal them more easily. Finally, apply a sealant to fill the crack and smooth to finish.

Conclusion

Garage flooding is, at best, a nuisance. At worst, it can cause severe damage both to structure and personal property. Your garage is often a place where you store many valuable possessions, from keepsakes to vehicles. So, taking the time to prevent flooding will definitely pay you back. It can protect not only your drywall but also your valuable memories.

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