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Curb/step/platform along the back of garage?

2

2xtreme

New member
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
4
I search but didn't see anything so here is my question.

I have a new build home in Albuquerque, NM with a 3 car garage. It seems that all the houses in ABQ have a 3ft wide by 5" tall raised section along the back wall of the garage. It even steps out were the furnace room in. Someone told me it's a building code but my question is why? What is it there for?

Looks like it may be for stopping cars from hitting the back wall but that wont stop stupid people or someone who has a long over hag vehicle.

It could be to stop fluids from entering the house but is this really the only way?

Either way it makes the back wall nearly useless for anything except 3ft deep shelves because it doesn't end it's self to work benches or conventional cabinets. Just too wide.

Has anyone else dealt with this annoying garage feature and come up with a solution?
 
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K

kbs2244

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
14,065
Fluid and vapor wall.
You door into the house should be 12 inchs above the garage floor.
Doing it your way avoids stairs at the door.
 
A

Angelfire

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
1,367
Location
New Mexico and Ireland
I too live in ABQ. When shopping for houses several years ago, I asked a contractor to remove that from the build. His reply was it was to prevent or help to prevent folks from driving in too far but if I wanted to have it removed I could. Not sure if it's code now. I ultimately did not purchase from him (thankfully, what an *** actually). The house I did purchase has this raised level but it's only about 12" wide and 3-4" high. House was built in 1996 so who knows what's been put into place since then. Codes have changed a lot over the past 5-10 years.
 
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2

2xtreme

New member
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
4
This is what it looks like.
2013-02-17_17-20-44_975.jpg
 
C

csp

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Mar 23, 2010
Messages
5,719
Location
Franktown, CO
Gasoline vapors are heavier than air. The idea is to prevent vapors from entering the home and it is code when the living space floor isn't ** inches higher than the garage slab.

These houses must be slab on grade without basements.
 
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T

tomshep

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
441
In TX that is a parking curb. If you want it removed you can. However, you would step up into the house so there is a vapor edge still present.

My guess is local code.

Tom
 
E

Engineer61

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 26, 2012
Messages
225
Location
Colorado
Not vapors as much as liquid gasoline from some accident with your cars gas tank getting emptied onto your garage floor. That curb will keep the gasoline in the garage instead of allowing it to flow under the door into your house.
 
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