Install A Floor Drain In Your Concrete Floor

A floor drain in a garage, or basement, is very handy when you want to drain off an water that that has spilled. In some cases, you might have a need to wash something inside and a water drain sill easily make sure that the water doesn't stay inside. Clean up is as simple as pushing the water towards the drain.

Preparation

Installing a drain is made much easier when you can install it prior to the cement being poured. This way you can easily level off the area with a slight bevel so the water will naturally run towards the center of the floor, or wherever your drain is located.

Also decide which types of materials will be entering your drain. If you are using just regular water, then you can tie into your septic system. If you are going to using hazardous materials in your garage, or basement, then you will need to find out the local codes and regulations.

Plan Drainage

If you are building a new floor, then plan out where the drainage will go. Layout the pipes in place and install the drainage cover and trap. A trap will help to make cleaning your drain much easier and will keep larger debris out of the drain. Once your pour the floor your drain pipe is already there.

Existing Floor

Some of the time you will want to add a floor drain into an existing concrete floor. The process is not hard, but does take some time and use of heavy equipment.

Dig Trenches for Drain Pipes

If you are going to tie into the current septic system, then you will need to dig a trench for the new pipe to go from your garage to the septic pipe. Using a backhoe will make this much quicker, but you can dig it by hand to lessen any damage to landscaping.

Dig Trench in Concrete Floor

Using a jackhammer you will need to dig out a trench in the concrete floor for the floor drain. Dig under the wall to connect to the trench you dug outside. Lay the piping and secure it into the septic system.

Pour New Concrete

At the end of the pipe, where you want the actual floor drain to be located, place a can (a coffee can will work) over the drain hole and pour new concrete to fill in the trench you dug. Mix concrete according the the mixing directions and smooth out with a trowel. Add a little bevel to the concrete so the water will go down towards the drain instead of just sitting around it.

The concrete will be much lighter than the surrounding concrete floor. If you want to make everything a consistent color you can paint the floor or add interlocking flooring.

Add Drain Cover

After the concrete has had time to set up, remove the can from the drain hole. Install the drain cover and trap to finish off your floor drain.