Garage Floor Drain Question

[lyle11]

This is a long shot but I thought maybe someone encountered this and had a cheaper solution. I have a garage floor drain that has what is called a Vitrified Clay Bell in the floor. It is 13” diameter and there is a ledge about 2 1/2” below the surface. It had a cast iron grate on feet that sits on this ledge so it’s just below floor level. After 39 years of salt from cars and water the cast iron grate rusted away and finally collapsed.

The good news is, there is a place online located only about 50 miles from my house that makes replacements that are better than original. The bad news is it costs $198.

This is not directly in the line where cars drive, I have seen heavy duty Class B rated PVC grates that would do the job for a lot less money but not the right size which is 12”-13”. If it’s too deep I figure I can saw it to off the proper depth. I keep getting kicked out to the login screen when I try to add a photo but, this doesn’t connect to a pipe. It just covers a hole in the floor


Just throwing this out there in case someone has any ideas. I haven’t found anything but before I spend over $200 with tax I figured it can’t hurt to ask.
Thanks

[Eugene]

I would go with a metal grate. Reason. I think it would last much longer than a plastic one.

Another option, if you have wood on hand. If you have to purchase the 2X lumber, go with the metal grate.

[Don McCombs]

You could have one made up at a fab shop from stainless or plain steel plate. If you give them the correct dimensions, it should fit perfectly.

[Bob McCarty]

I live in a dry climate, but I'd get some treated lumber and and make one on the bandsaw and drill press.

[Don McCombs]

Bob’s is an excellent idea.

[Dale Finch]

Here's a similar post from a couple years ago:
http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=107107

[Mht]

Im a tightwad so I’m sure I’d fabricate my own out of something I’d find laying around my shop. I do have welders and torches though and a pretty good assortment of steel odds and ends. A little flat stock heated and bent into a circle and a little expanded mesh and I’d be done

[lyle11]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was hoping to find an off the shelf PVC drain that would work but so far everything I find is too big (14”) or too small (10”). Needs to be 12”-13”. I don’t have the skills or tools to fabricate my own metal cover. It’s not just a round disk. It has to either be 21/2” thick or have at least 4 and preferably 6 feet to sit on the ledge in the vitrified clay bell.

It could have been much worse because the hole in the floor after it collapsed under the weight of my wife’s car tire (she heard something but didn’t know what it was) was hidden under vinyl garage flooring with the seam in the vinyl sheets over the drain hole. I was out of town and got home 20 minutes before my wife very likely stepped in it.

[SamsFarm]

I know there is a green plastic one made that fits in a piece of 12" double wall corregated plastic pipe.

Sorry, but I never measured one, and dont have one handy!

They used to cost around 20 or 30 bucks.

They are 2 to 3" thick, and probably have a rating to be driven across

[Eugene]

Have a garage floor drain that has what is called a Vitrified Clay Bell in the floor. It is 13” diameter and there is a ledge about 2 1/2” below the surface.

I live in a dry climate, but I'd get some treated lumber and and make one on the bandsaw and drill press.

I think any local wood worker/carpenter could knock one in is about 1/2 hour.

Pressure treated 2x4, no knots. Cut down to 2 1/2" wide. Use the 1" cut off as 1/4" spacers. Two bolts to hold together.

[lyle11]

I know there is a green plastic one made that fits in a piece of 12" double wall corregated plastic pipe.

Sorry, but I never measured one, and dont have one handy!

They used to cost around 20 or 30 bucks.

They are 2 to 3" thick, and probably have a rating to be driven across

I found the green plastic drain for a 12” pipe in Class B (support a car tire running over it at low speed) and it’s about 14” across. Too big. These drains are made to fit to a pipe so I’m pretty sure what I need isn’t manufactured.

[lyle11]

Have a garage floor drain that has what is called a Vitrified Clay Bell in the floor. It is 13” diameter and there is a ledge about 2 1/2” below the surface.

I live in a dry climate, but I'd get some treated lumber and and make one on the bandsaw and drill press.

I think any local wood worker/carpenter could knock one in is about 1/2 hour.

Pressure treated 2x4, no knots. Cut down to 2 1/2" wide. Use the 1" cut off as 1/4" spacers. Two bolts to hold together.

I could make this. I can fabricate wood projects, but I’m not set up for metal projects like this. Not sure how long it would last with a lot of road salt and moisture here but it might be several years.

I have no current plans to sell this house. But, the garage floor is heavily pitted from 39 years of road salt. I could see a future owner installing a new concrete floor which will need a new drain. My next door neighbor has owned the house since it was built. She never parks in the garage. It’s too full of stuff. Her floor looks like new.

Thanks

[lyle11]

I can finally post photos today. Here is what I’m talking about.

F05F39E0-C937-48D7-B31A-A37B8ACB55D9.jpeg (31.65 KiB) Viewed 2647 times

[SamsFarm]

https://www.greydock.com/landscape-drainage/plastic-landscape-drain-grates/catch-basin-replacement-grates/12-round-flat-grate-for-catch-basin-black?adpos=&msclkid=d390ee8c20ba11816c278c35dd34d5a8&sc_intid=689&scid=scplp689&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Stack 2 or 3 on top of each other till your flush with the top or close to it!

11.75 od, 1.13" thk!

[lyle11]

https://www.greydock.com/landscape-drainage/plastic-landscape-drain-grates/catch-basin-replacement-grates/12-round-flat-grate-for-catch-basin-black?adpos=&msclkid=d390ee8c20ba11816c278c35dd34d5a8&sc_intid=689&scid=scplp689&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Stack 2 or 3 on top of each other till your flush with the top or close to it!

11.75 od, 1.13" thk!

Thanks. I’d have to avoid driving over it with a car, which isn’t difficult based on the location, but it’s another option.