How much weight can garage floors hold?

[vaine111]

Here in Michigan concrete that is meant to be driven on is 6" and sidewalks and the likes are 4".
Either way I'd ask around. You could call a place that specifically deals with concrete, cause I am sure there are some companies in your area that have been in business even when your garage floor was poured, if that is the case I'd bet that they have even done some sort of work that is pertaining to what you are trying to do.

 

[lujor]

Think about the problem from a practical viewpoint: what vehicles have you seen on it and can you reasonably assume have been on it? Large trucks? And for their weight, trucks have much less surface area in contact with the ground (higher psi), where a tank will spread weight out more and not pivot, bounce and shift. Surely there's no problem here. I would be more concerned about how level it is and, if it's not level, how you will go about leveling it. Good luck.

 

[lujor]

250lbs per square foot if the bottom is ALL in direct contact with the floor. STILL you almost certaily do NOT have a problem. Do you warn really heavy friends to try to avoid walking on the floor? "Make sure your fat a** puts on your gravity boots before coming over..." In this case I think you can ignore the numbers and just think it thru. On the other hand, if u have access to a free "expert" it couldn't hurt to ask.

 

[amazonfishman]

250lbs per square foot if the bottom is ALL in direct contact with the floor. STILL you almost certaily do NOT have a problem. Do you warn really heavy friends to try to avoid walking on the floor? "Make sure your fat a** puts on your gravity boots before coming over..." In this case I think you can ignore the numbers and just think it thru. On the other hand, if u have access to a free "expert" it couldn't hurt to ask.

You're missing the point. Random load for a short period of time is not at all the same as constant load. Constant load puts way more stress on supports than temporary load. That's why there are different engineering tolerances that are used if something is going to have a constant load as opposed to an occasional load like foot traffic or cars.

 

[dawnmarie]

What he said.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Thanks everyone for all the input. I know this isn't a simple answer, and will take some looking into. Cross your fingers for me that I get the go ahead with what I current have.

You're missing the point. Random load for a short period of time is not at all the same as constant load. Constant load puts way more stress on supports than temporary load. That's why there are different engineering tolerances that are used if something is going to have a constant load as opposed to an occasional load like foot traffic or cars.

This was what I was thinking, worried that the constant pressure (especially over such a large area of it) would be the demise of it. But, I'll just have to wait and see.

 

[lujor]

You're missing the point. Random load for a short period of time is not at all the same as constant load. Constant load puts way more stress on supports than temporary load. That's why there are different engineering tolerances that are used if something is going to have a constant load as opposed to an occasional load like foot traffic or cars.

So all the people (myself included) who have kept large vehicles and HUGE HEAVY storage cabinets in their garages for extended periods of time (years) need to worry? Plus, the strength needed to support shifting pressures/weights of large trucks and the like is no joke. It's not as if the two load bearing characteristics (short v extended) are completely unrelated. Hit the brakes hard when doing even5mph with a big-block engine and the contact surface of your tires is going to experience insane forces. 250lbs/sqft or even twice that for long periods of time is no need for concern in 99% of garages. 4" thick concrete (unreinforced) can bear 3,000lbs per sqft, reinforced is 4,000lbs per sqft. She/he doesn't need to worry about it.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Construction-Contractors-1093/Concrete-load-bearing-capacity.htm

 

[yzf450motoxrider]

allexperts is your source

 

[lujor]

allexperts is your source

Got the sameconfirmed by two local concrete guys(independently ofone another). Also pretended to be cosidering doing what the original poster is (garage pond) and both said there was nothing to worry about with the concrete itself or the ground underneath it assuming 4" concrete. I'm no chump.