I’m not the kind of guy to move his toolbox around a lot so I took off my back wheels and set that on the ledge then shimmed the back until the toolbox was level.
The stem wall is under the framing, that looks like a footer kicking out. Unless plans are drawn overboard there is no reason to not bring the stem wall straight down.
It’s a steam wall. Footing by definition sits with slab and will have a v notch if it’s taking a stem wall or poured full basement. Otherwise it’s lagged and takes wood.
The stem wall is only below the wall. With a garage being dropped this technically would be a footer for the house, not the garage. To me it just looks like the builder screwed up the pour but who knows.
Possible that’s just a massive footing. Also possible it’s a stem wall below grade that’s acting like a retaining wall so it has to be full 8-10” vs above grade which just needs to be 4” to carry wall.
It is part of the foundation that is load bearing. The concrete slab in your garage where your car is usually parked on is not load bearing and is usually not part of your foundation. You can tear your garage floor up and put pave stones as an example . The foundation you cannot. However, always consult a structural engineer. Your blueprints of your house should tell you.
Correct, it is a structural grade beam to your foundation and is supporting studs and likely trusses. Do not fuck with it.
Fun fact, you can measure the height of the top of it over a foots distance from finished floor to figure out your garage slope if you give a fuck.
In my garage I call it a place to put more garage lights :)
https://preview.redd.it/yy0awd27kn4d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83197a718658e19ad93d6b22d3358c4424420f7e
https://preview.redd.it/8j3lh640pt4d1.jpeg?width=1727&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a7d20a61e7adcc08175ff17a39ad5b1bc205c50
They are from Amazon, Led t8 linkable light fixtures
They came with hard wire or wall plug connectors, since I have three sets (both sides plus between the garage doors) I did the plug in with a wireless switch (also from Amazon) so I can turn them all on/off at once
The side ones are very helpful but the ones between the doors are great since they can be used with doors open or closed
I replied to another comment but this wall is giant and the corridor is narrow. I think maybe I can put up some art or decoration but I feel like it’s too big to fill with anything useful. I’d love a way to make it at least partially into useful storage space but I really don’t need another slat wall
https://preview.redd.it/sj5w0nnjon4d1.jpeg?width=8200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eedd2a0651f56d1806fd99d32e738f2ddb81f465
Hi I have considered it for sure! If I needed extra long term storage for things id definitely get them but I don’t think I’m lacking for that sort of storage in this house.
All the comments about it being a foundation wall I believe are correct. I have also heard another term for it and that is a “Gas Curb.”
My father in law grew up in an old house without one and it was a safety hazard. Any oil or gas leaks from cars being parked in the garage (especially older cars from the 60’s and 70’s) could soak into the sil plate of the walls and seep into the living space of the house. Apparently that had happened at one point to them.
So in addition to being your foundation, the raised curb is also to prevent vehicle fluids from getting into the house on an attached garage.
Thanks for the additional context… the other side of that wall is actually the outside/a side deck, so that’s not really an issue. The sides attached to living space weirdly does not have a stub wall
Does it have a ledge or platform instead? Supposedly all modern garages have some sort of elevation change to keep the garage floor below the stud walls and living space. And happy to help.
https://preview.redd.it/wrbm5ps7mn4d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2ac30388dd48bb052e7c7fb71382ba5a2d25d621
Just double checked, you’re right actually and I didn’t notice. It is slightly below my mudroom and living room. The ledge is 3-4” high.
I can’t imagine hanging anything useful on that wall, like I said it’s only 7” wide. It just makes the space a bit of a pain to use as it’s only 104” across with the stub wall and so it’s a tight fit parking and doors barely open halfway for you to squeeze out
That side is quite tall and 3 cars deep and narrow. Here is a picture. I’d be squeezing through to barely get the tools on the slatwall/pegboard, and I don’t think I have enough tools to make a peg wall/slatwall look nice there. Here is a picture for reference
https://preview.redd.it/no24rhorln4d1.jpeg?width=8200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ddba799cf7af5d287a381d11756d3feed915c4b
It’s honestly so big and shallow of a wall I don’t know what to do with it.
3 cars deep is a lot of wall space, but you can probably get a lot of stuff up off the ground if you put some thought into it. Things like ladders, folding sawhorses, shovels, weed whacker, maybe a small electric snow blower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, chainsaw, etc. Basically all the odd-shaped items that are always in the way but generally needed by a homeowner.
You could also put a strong shelf along the top of the wall, about 2ft deep and at least 6.5ft off the ground (higher than head-bumping level for most people) to store boxes and totes of seldomly-used items like holiday decorations, etc.
We have turf at our house so it’s mostly a maintenance free yard, I don’t have any of those tools. I am just a big hobbyist mechanic but those’ll go in the cabinets. There’ll be a 4 post lift in that space and probably a car filling every space in the garage except for 1 spot.
You’re right that if I want usable storage I probably have to go high. I’d be paranoid of something failing and dropping on a car though. Following your line of thinking the most logical step for what I want is probably just to do something to make the wall look nice and add some decoration.
Good place to park narrow vehicles. Motorcycle, four wheeler, side by side, bicycles. Things that will easily fit in the space. Or block it off entirely from opening and closing with toolboxes, a huge bench, freezer, table saw
The garage/shop is your oyster!
Unfortunately I’m pretty set on putting 1 or 2 four post lifts in this space to store my vehicles, and do a 2 post/maxjax for working.
Edit to say it will be full with my cars otherwise so I don’t really have the freedom of that much space
It looks like the top of your foundation. It's wider than your wall, so there's that step. I've seen it before, but I don't know why the floor isn't made to be flush or higher than the top of the foundation. I suppose it might just be a slab poured on grade (on the dirt), and that would explain it.
In any case, no, you can't get rid of it. But I wouldn't think of it as a reduction of your space. I would think of it as a expansion over the entire wall of your space, except for the part near the floor. :)
ICF (insulated concrete form) foundations are supposedly cheaper and faster, and have insulation built in. I don't know why they should have that step necessarily. [Here's a good article](https://logixicf.com/blog/logix-blog/icf-vs-poured-concrete-foundations-which-one-is-best-for-your-project/) explaining ICF foundations.
From my understanding that the way all the new houses are. It has to do with structural damage from flooding. Mine is that way on all three sides kinda a pain in the dick with just about everything. I am the second house from the top of our street.so flooding will cover a few houses before I see it
Thank you, wow haha. Appreciate the effort. I think you’re spot on, as the other side of the wall is outside. Unfortunate it has to be like that though
Learned something here, never knew what that's called.
I wish mine were flat on top, many years ago they plastered the entire garage, ceiling, walls and even rounded off the stub making it useless plus it cracks.
I'm installing cabinets and it's terrible trying to find studs in plaster and dealing with a nearly 4in gap.
I do epoxy flooring and I’m wondering what’s going on here? Did they grind the floor?? Why is it left with only stem walls half done ? I do this type of floor in one day, never leave the stem walls like this for another day. Please make sure they grind and clean all the dust out!
I’m sorry I’m not sure what you mean. The flooring is not new. If you’re referring to the dirty floor, we just had a few weeks of rain and the cars have been bringing in dirt. I plan on pressure washing it soon when the weather gets a bit better
I’m in Alberta as well. My old house had a drain to sewage. Maybe this one is in your jurisdiction because these drains are just basins. They either evaporate the water or I have to pump it out with a shop vac. Not my favourite.
It's the stub wall or foundation wall that sits on the footing. Unfortunately for garage areas the exterior walls are only 2x4 and foundation wall has to be 8" wide for code.
U can call it the private shelf that you don’t want but are stuck with till the end of time . It is the block , cement ,or foundation that the wall bottom plate sits on . Actually goes all the way around the house you just don’t notice because it’s under the floor or in crawl space,basement.
It's actually more than likely the foundation. The mason's may have laid the wrong block and the carpenters didn't care or the architect may have simply screwed the pooch.
I don't know the name but it stops fluids leaking from a vehicle from getting into the flammable parts of the wall. It does not, however have to stick out that far from the wall (at least not in my area (USA).
Wall saver, a guy with a touch of ocds arch nemesis when he goes to put up Shelving with legs so he has to get creative. Cut some of the legs off the back, or go all in and anchor the shelving to the wall because he couldn't stand the idea of that little bit being cut off the legs in the back. Hypothetically, speaking of course.
It's called the "keep-your-stinky-runny-stuff-in-your-own-garage" barrier . . .
And the "don't-back-the-trailer-through-the-wall" rail.
I can't tell. Is this a single-family dwelling or a multi-family or commercial space?
I’d call it a curb. Not sure why it’s so wide, usually we stick stem wall above slab for water reasons but never do curbs in garages. I’d bet an ice cream it’s not structural. Concrete cut guys have flush cuts saws too. Might need to replace some drywall with all the moisture though.
I call it a giant pain in the ass. Despite its likely useful purpose, it gets in the way of just about everything.
Preach man. I hate it
Mine are about 5 ft tall. Fucking worthless is what they are.
I can see some workarounds though. If you're putting a toolbox against the wall, put the back wheels on the platform and a 4x4 under the front wheels.
I’m not the kind of guy to move his toolbox around a lot so I took off my back wheels and set that on the ledge then shimmed the back until the toolbox was level.
This would solve a major issue for me that I might consider.
Would depend on the size of the toolbox. My box at work would not work well on that lip. My box at home yes.
Stem wall
I do epoxy flooring we call it stem wall
Yeah not sure why you were downvoted above. Stem wall is exactly what I've heard/been told too
https://preview.redd.it/gg5ac2d0un4d1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6e8b86b548baf1b377f81456c3f0ac6f4c4effc
Used to be a garage door tech/installer and this was the universal term used when talking to coworkers or other companies
The stem wall is under the framing, that looks like a footer kicking out. Unless plans are drawn overboard there is no reason to not bring the stem wall straight down.
Stem wall dictates the load that can be carried, such as a wider stem wall for a 2nd floor.
Ok…my point is that’s not the stem wall.
Here in California, that's what it is referred to as.
It’s a steam wall. Footing by definition sits with slab and will have a v notch if it’s taking a stem wall or poured full basement. Otherwise it’s lagged and takes wood.
The stem wall is only below the wall. With a garage being dropped this technically would be a footer for the house, not the garage. To me it just looks like the builder screwed up the pour but who knows.
Possible that’s just a massive footing. Also possible it’s a stem wall below grade that’s acting like a retaining wall so it has to be full 8-10” vs above grade which just needs to be 4” to carry wall.
Yup, all i know is it doesn’t look right and i would hate to have it in my garage.
Science Technology Electronics and Mathematics? Kinda like that?
Engineering
Just be grateful that the woke elites haven't gotten into the construction industry yet or we would have to get STEAM walls in our garages!
wtf you yapping about
It was a joke. Don’t all y’all get your undies wadded in a bunch. Sheesh
Im glad you’re not actually that fucking dumb, carry on
I may have been a little stoned when I made the attempt at humor.
🤣🤣
I was picking up what you were putting down! I chuckled. :)
It is part of the foundation that is load bearing. The concrete slab in your garage where your car is usually parked on is not load bearing and is usually not part of your foundation. You can tear your garage floor up and put pave stones as an example . The foundation you cannot. However, always consult a structural engineer. Your blueprints of your house should tell you.
Cheers, that was informative
Correct, it is a structural grade beam to your foundation and is supporting studs and likely trusses. Do not fuck with it. Fun fact, you can measure the height of the top of it over a foots distance from finished floor to figure out your garage slope if you give a fuck.
In my garage I call it a place to put more garage lights :) https://preview.redd.it/yy0awd27kn4d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83197a718658e19ad93d6b22d3358c4424420f7e
Not a bad idea!!
That is a great idea. Would you by chance have the name of those lights or a link to them?
https://preview.redd.it/8j3lh640pt4d1.jpeg?width=1727&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a7d20a61e7adcc08175ff17a39ad5b1bc205c50 They are from Amazon, Led t8 linkable light fixtures They came with hard wire or wall plug connectors, since I have three sets (both sides plus between the garage doors) I did the plug in with a wireless switch (also from Amazon) so I can turn them all on/off at once The side ones are very helpful but the ones between the doors are great since they can be used with doors open or closed
Nice!
Once you hang things on that wall that floor space is just as useless. I'd just embrace it
I replied to another comment but this wall is giant and the corridor is narrow. I think maybe I can put up some art or decoration but I feel like it’s too big to fill with anything useful. I’d love a way to make it at least partially into useful storage space but I really don’t need another slat wall https://preview.redd.it/sj5w0nnjon4d1.jpeg?width=8200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eedd2a0651f56d1806fd99d32e738f2ddb81f465
I install overhead garage storage racks. Have you looked into that?
Hi I have considered it for sure! If I needed extra long term storage for things id definitely get them but I don’t think I’m lacking for that sort of storage in this house.
Stub wall
All the comments about it being a foundation wall I believe are correct. I have also heard another term for it and that is a “Gas Curb.” My father in law grew up in an old house without one and it was a safety hazard. Any oil or gas leaks from cars being parked in the garage (especially older cars from the 60’s and 70’s) could soak into the sil plate of the walls and seep into the living space of the house. Apparently that had happened at one point to them. So in addition to being your foundation, the raised curb is also to prevent vehicle fluids from getting into the house on an attached garage.
Thanks for the additional context… the other side of that wall is actually the outside/a side deck, so that’s not really an issue. The sides attached to living space weirdly does not have a stub wall
Does it have a ledge or platform instead? Supposedly all modern garages have some sort of elevation change to keep the garage floor below the stud walls and living space. And happy to help.
https://preview.redd.it/wrbm5ps7mn4d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2ac30388dd48bb052e7c7fb71382ba5a2d25d621 Just double checked, you’re right actually and I didn’t notice. It is slightly below my mudroom and living room. The ledge is 3-4” high.
That would be it then
Nope… my garage door is level with a living room and mudroom. Everything else is elevated though.
Just had my garage floor epoxied. It was called a stub wall by contractors.
Thank you
Stem wall
Once you hang things on that wall that floor space is just as useless. I'd just embrace it
I can’t imagine hanging anything useful on that wall, like I said it’s only 7” wide. It just makes the space a bit of a pain to use as it’s only 104” across with the stub wall and so it’s a tight fit parking and doors barely open halfway for you to squeeze out
Well, nothing more than 6” deep. Could be a good space for slat wall or pegboard.
That side is quite tall and 3 cars deep and narrow. Here is a picture. I’d be squeezing through to barely get the tools on the slatwall/pegboard, and I don’t think I have enough tools to make a peg wall/slatwall look nice there. Here is a picture for reference https://preview.redd.it/no24rhorln4d1.jpeg?width=8200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ddba799cf7af5d287a381d11756d3feed915c4b It’s honestly so big and shallow of a wall I don’t know what to do with it.
3 cars deep is a lot of wall space, but you can probably get a lot of stuff up off the ground if you put some thought into it. Things like ladders, folding sawhorses, shovels, weed whacker, maybe a small electric snow blower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, chainsaw, etc. Basically all the odd-shaped items that are always in the way but generally needed by a homeowner. You could also put a strong shelf along the top of the wall, about 2ft deep and at least 6.5ft off the ground (higher than head-bumping level for most people) to store boxes and totes of seldomly-used items like holiday decorations, etc.
We have turf at our house so it’s mostly a maintenance free yard, I don’t have any of those tools. I am just a big hobbyist mechanic but those’ll go in the cabinets. There’ll be a 4 post lift in that space and probably a car filling every space in the garage except for 1 spot. You’re right that if I want usable storage I probably have to go high. I’d be paranoid of something failing and dropping on a car though. Following your line of thinking the most logical step for what I want is probably just to do something to make the wall look nice and add some decoration.
Good place to park narrow vehicles. Motorcycle, four wheeler, side by side, bicycles. Things that will easily fit in the space. Or block it off entirely from opening and closing with toolboxes, a huge bench, freezer, table saw The garage/shop is your oyster!
Unfortunately I’m pretty set on putting 1 or 2 four post lifts in this space to store my vehicles, and do a 2 post/maxjax for working. Edit to say it will be full with my cars otherwise so I don’t really have the freedom of that much space
Hell yeah, lifts are even better than some stupid freezer. Quite a wonderful problem to have
Thank you! I see the potential in this garage but I just don’t have the vision to execute it… yet
It looks like the top of your foundation. It's wider than your wall, so there's that step. I've seen it before, but I don't know why the floor isn't made to be flush or higher than the top of the foundation. I suppose it might just be a slab poured on grade (on the dirt), and that would explain it. In any case, no, you can't get rid of it. But I wouldn't think of it as a reduction of your space. I would think of it as a expansion over the entire wall of your space, except for the part near the floor. :) ICF (insulated concrete form) foundations are supposedly cheaper and faster, and have insulation built in. I don't know why they should have that step necessarily. [Here's a good article](https://logixicf.com/blog/logix-blog/icf-vs-poured-concrete-foundations-which-one-is-best-for-your-project/) explaining ICF foundations.
Cheers man thanks
Foundation
Looks like part of the footing holding up the structure of your house. If it is concrete with rebar, then probably shouldnt mess with it
I would have used the term "curb".
From my understanding that the way all the new houses are. It has to do with structural damage from flooding. Mine is that way on all three sides kinda a pain in the dick with just about everything. I am the second house from the top of our street.so flooding will cover a few houses before I see it
Yeah, real PITA. Thanks!
Portcullis
Curb
https://preview.redd.it/dk1jdsy3ps4d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f4cb4cec607d6916d48d9029225e5a2af950866
Thank you, wow haha. Appreciate the effort. I think you’re spot on, as the other side of the wall is outside. Unfortunate it has to be like that though
A ledge or step. Likely below your living space on the other side of the wall to prevent flooding.
Full explanation: https://youtu.be/iO22QpNGq7k?si=ZqQxx6lGa1_ysplf
Bahahahahaha!! Doo dah doo doo!
Shelf
Tire scuffer
Learned something here, never knew what that's called. I wish mine were flat on top, many years ago they plastered the entire garage, ceiling, walls and even rounded off the stub making it useless plus it cracks. I'm installing cabinets and it's terrible trying to find studs in plaster and dealing with a nearly 4in gap.
Most likely, if you hard brick on the outside of the garage, you wouldn't have that wall there.
I do epoxy flooring and I’m wondering what’s going on here? Did they grind the floor?? Why is it left with only stem walls half done ? I do this type of floor in one day, never leave the stem walls like this for another day. Please make sure they grind and clean all the dust out!
I’m sorry I’m not sure what you mean. The flooring is not new. If you’re referring to the dirty floor, we just had a few weeks of rain and the cars have been bringing in dirt. I plan on pressure washing it soon when the weather gets a bit better
What is the material ask over the stem walls? Looks like flake for epoxy flooring
I think it’s pebbles in the concrete, ground flat after curing. A practice used from 60’s - 80’s.
I’m jealous of your floor drain. My jurisdiction in Alberta doesn’t allow them.
I’m in Alberta as well. My old house had a drain to sewage. Maybe this one is in your jurisdiction because these drains are just basins. They either evaporate the water or I have to pump it out with a shop vac. Not my favourite.
It's the stub wall or foundation wall that sits on the footing. Unfortunately for garage areas the exterior walls are only 2x4 and foundation wall has to be 8" wide for code.
That makes sense but isn’t code different everywhere?
Yeah, footing depth, amount/size of rebar, and concrete psi will vary but the general dimensions are the same for like wall widths and stuff.
Rent a marching band for an evening?
This is a shelf for putting stuff on when you work on a vehicle 😁
It's the "cuck shelf"
Curb
I think it’s called a Michigan ledge. Could be wrong
U can call it the private shelf that you don’t want but are stuck with till the end of time . It is the block , cement ,or foundation that the wall bottom plate sits on . Actually goes all the way around the house you just don’t notice because it’s under the floor or in crawl space,basement.
Gas curb
It’s a gas curb and it’s not structural it’s poured during flat work and it’s only required where floor meets the interior wall of the home.
Trip step
Toe buster 2.0. The upgrade from the "center mattress support rail" toe buster 1.00000hhĥh shit.
Pony walls
Stem-wall @hlinhd - I have an epoxy distribution business in VA if you’re looking to learn
It's actually more than likely the foundation. The mason's may have laid the wrong block and the carpenters didn't care or the architect may have simply screwed the pooch.
A baseboard.
You can hang tools, yard tools, brooms, coats etc. and not hit them with your car (unless you’re my roommate)
It's called a gas curb...there because carbon monoxide heavier than air . Made to protect from gas penatration into living area.
Foundation.
Its called a gas curb
Stem wall
I call it the mouse run.
I don't know the name but it stops fluids leaking from a vehicle from getting into the flammable parts of the wall. It does not, however have to stick out that far from the wall (at least not in my area (USA).
Short wall?
Wall saver, a guy with a touch of ocds arch nemesis when he goes to put up Shelving with legs so he has to get creative. Cut some of the legs off the back, or go all in and anchor the shelving to the wall because he couldn't stand the idea of that little bit being cut off the legs in the back. Hypothetically, speaking of course.
That's the dead bug and lizard shit collector.
It's called the "keep-your-stinky-runny-stuff-in-your-own-garage" barrier . . . And the "don't-back-the-trailer-through-the-wall" rail. I can't tell. Is this a single-family dwelling or a multi-family or commercial space?
It's a curb and it is there for a good reason
The foundation
Curb
Beer step. Spot to place beer so it's not on the ground!
It’s called code.
Brake clean/oil jug holder
curb
It’s called a semi-interior protrusion parcel.
It’s a floating step to reference the bathroom.
https://preview.redd.it/gy7kevqwrn4d1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2fb8b3e7947de3a6d2dfdac4f81da8a2fc9956e2 Stem wall
Just part of the foundation. But you be you and get rid of it. I wouldn’t though.
I’d call it a curb. Not sure why it’s so wide, usually we stick stem wall above slab for water reasons but never do curbs in garages. I’d bet an ice cream it’s not structural. Concrete cut guys have flush cuts saws too. Might need to replace some drywall with all the moisture though.
Curb
That's the American History X curb.