Driveway is about half inch higher than garage floor
#1
01-10-14, 06:02 PM
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Driveway is about half inch higher than garage floor
Hello,
This is my first post here. Thanks everyone.
My house is 6 years old. When I bought the house six years ago, the builder only had one layer of asphalt on the driveway. About six months later, another layer was put on. I truly couldn't recall the height difference between driveway and garage floor. But today when I worked on a minor repair on garage door, I suddenly noticed that the driveway is actually about half inch higher than garage floor. I was shocked. I don't know if it is like this since the beginning or something more serious is happening, such as garage floor is sinking. I do have master bedroom above the garage though, but the garage is sitting on the concrete slab.
Any comment is welcome. Thanks.
This is my first post here. Thanks everyone.
My house is 6 years old. When I bought the house six years ago, the builder only had one layer of asphalt on the driveway. About six months later, another layer was put on. I truly couldn't recall the height difference between driveway and garage floor. But today when I worked on a minor repair on garage door, I suddenly noticed that the driveway is actually about half inch higher than garage floor. I was shocked. I don't know if it is like this since the beginning or something more serious is happening, such as garage floor is sinking. I do have master bedroom above the garage though, but the garage is sitting on the concrete slab.
Any comment is welcome. Thanks.
#2
01-10-14, 07:01 PM
Group Moderator
You are probably noticing the driveway heaving because of frost. In all likelihood, it will go back down once the frost goes out and will be back to normal come summer.
#3
01-10-14, 07:38 PM
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Hi XSleeper, Thanks for the answer. I am in Massachusetts. So it has been a tough winter so far. Since I am not great in house, I was worried about house sinking.
#4
01-10-14, 07:51 PM
Group Moderator
Yeah, sorry about sharing the cold with you guys out east this year. Be glad you're in MA not MN (Minnesota).
Your garage and floor should be on a footing (below frost) and should not move or settle. But sidewalks and driveways are just pads that sit on the ground. When the ground freezes, the ground expands and pushes concrete up.
I have no way of knowing was it was like before, though. So if you never noticed it before, maybe it is frost. On the other hand, you can't just keep putting blacktop on a driveway and not expect it to be higher than the garage floor someday! LOL So you never know.
Your garage and floor should be on a footing (below frost) and should not move or settle. But sidewalks and driveways are just pads that sit on the ground. When the ground freezes, the ground expands and pushes concrete up.
I have no way of knowing was it was like before, though. So if you never noticed it before, maybe it is frost. On the other hand, you can't just keep putting blacktop on a driveway and not expect it to be higher than the garage floor someday! LOL So you never know.
#5
01-10-14, 08:03 PM
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Honestly, as the first time home buyer six years ago, driveway was my least concern. Even after the builder put the second layer of asphalt on, I never bother to check the quality. That's why when I saw this today, I was so nervous. As I said, I was so worried about garage floor sinks which means big foundation problem.
Thanks again for your answer. We will get much warmer tomorrow with over 1 inch of rain. Going to be an interesting game for Pats.
Thanks again for your answer. We will get much warmer tomorrow with over 1 inch of rain. Going to be an interesting game for Pats.
#6
01-11-14, 12:48 AM
Member
Come Spring and warm weather, if the problem still exists, you should consider paying someone to mill off enough asphalt and then install a thin lift of same on the milled surface, to make the finished adjacent driveway an inch or so below the garage floor elevation.
#7
01-11-14, 04:09 AM
Normally the garage floor is a 1/2" or so higher than the driveway. Is it feasible to cut out a 1' or so of the driveway next to the garage and redo it so it's lower? I guess rainwater hasn't been an issue or you would have noticed it sooner. If the garage slab had sunk [not likely] you'd more than likely have cracks and the slab wouldn't be level.
#8
01-11-14, 07:28 AM
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I haven't seen any back flooding issue. I also checked some of neighbors' driveway, and none of them has the problem. That's why I was so worried yesterday.
#9
02-06-14, 01:27 PM
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I've actually noticed the same thing with my driveway being higher than my garage. My wife and I are both concerned. Though seeing the feedback you have received has lowered this.
Thank you for posting!
Thank you for posting!
#10
02-07-14, 03:52 AM
RUN FOR THE HILLS - your house is sinking ! none of the previous guys have any idea of what they're posting
just kidding - its frost & happens every winter so welcome to home ownership,,, you'll have other questions in the future so don't be bashful about asking
we like to help 
just kidding - its frost & happens every winter so welcome to home ownership,,, you'll have other questions in the future so don't be bashful about asking
we like to help 
#11
02-07-14, 10:37 AM
Member
"none of the previous guys have any idea of what they're posting"
Particularly true for the Depends spokesman.
Particularly true for the Depends spokesman.
#12
02-11-14, 10:20 AM
this may explain & alleviate concerns:
Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations: How Frost Heave Works - The Concrete Network - The Concrete Network
Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations: How Frost Heave Works - The Concrete Network - The Concrete Network
