How to Keep Water Out of the Garage

When we first bought our home, water didn't leak into our garage. Over time, though, we were faced with a wet garage floor every time it rained. Even with the garage door closed, water would pour into our garage during even minor storms. When heavy storms hit, nearly the entire floor could be covered. With a little detective work, we found possible causes as well as solutions for our problem.

Do you need to keep water out of the garage? If so, here are some possible fixes:

To stop water from leaking into your garage, start with the driveway

If your garage hasn't been prone to water issues before, take a look at your driveway. If your driveway has recently had new blacktop put over the old blacktop, this could be the culprit for your drainage issues, allowing water to flow directly into your garage. Why? Because the the driveway could now have areas higher than the garage floor.

Even a relatively minor slope can suddenly cause water to flow into your garage. This was the prime reason water leaked into our garage.

The fix? Try to reach the blacktop contractors to make sure the blacktop problem is corrected and a new slope drains water away from the garage. If they refuse, this is a relatively easy DIY project, even though it can be messy. You need to make sure that you add some blacktop near the garage door, making sure that water drains away from your garage. Check to make the slope isn't too high, allowing your car to glide gently over it.

If you are in a new home and the water leak has been a constant issue,contact your home's building contractor as soon as possible to request that it be fixed. Explain how the driveway tilts towards the garage. A reputable contractor should be there quickly and make sure you are satisfied.

Next, take a look at your gutters and roof

Do you have gutters above your garage door? If so, make sure leaves and debris don't build up in them, causing water to pour directly in front of the garage door. No point in causing problems when this can be such an easy solution. Gutters do little good if they aren't routinely maintained and won't keep water out of the garage.

However, even those which are cleaned out regularly may slant towards the driveway or allow water to leak into the garage. Repair them, realign them or check with a gutter specialist to find better solutions. They may need to be replaced - or just straightened out. Ideally, gutters should drain water away from the garage door and into water spouts that direct the water away from the house.

Another possible problem occurs when the roof edges near the garage act as conduits to let water pour towards the garage door. To keep the water out of the garage, a bottom or threshold seal may be necessary, in addition to properly aimed downspouts.

What is the difference between a bottom and threshold seal? As the name implies, a bottom seal is placed directly under the bottom of the garage door. A threshold seal is generally put on the garage floor. Either of these should help keep water out of the garage. There are a number of brands out there, so do ask someone at Ace Hardware or another company about which ones are recommended.

Double check any remaining air gaps as well as old weather stripping

Over time, garage doors can age and air gaps between the door and driveway can develop. Weather stripping can also get tough and crack. If the garage door is too old, it may need to be replaced but small air gaps can be fixed by a repair person or even by the homeowner (with a little guidance from the home improvement or hardware store staff). Weather stripping may also need to be replaced. If the garage door is ancient, it may be both cheaper and more energy-efficient to buy a new garage door. Newer models are designed to withstand heavy rain, snow and ice.