Porch Floor Grate

[MountainDon]

I had this thought a while back but haven't taken time to pursue it.

I'm thinking that a steel or aluminum grate installed in the porch floor just before the entry door could be nice. Mud from your shoes could be scrapped and stamped off and through and there would be no snow build up. Thoughts?

I've not searched out any sources other than the ones that cover the street storm drains.  (No, I wouldn't do that!)


Maybe it could also be rigged as a trap door that falls open when intruders step on it.

[Daddymem]

I thought about this when building our house but we ended up with concrete steps instead.  I was looking at the grates used as decking in industrial buildings, they have some that are non skid too.  I've seen it done where the grate sits on a surface (not open on the bottom) and you would remove the grate when the openings were full of dirt and clean the recessed area out.  This way the grate didn't have to support weight over a span.

[Daddymem]

I also thought about getting some furnace grates from a salvage place.  Like this: Scroll down to July 17, 2007.

Here is a company that sells them for this exact purpose. Dirt Drain $50

[MountainDon]

Thanks Daddymem.  I was thinking of something in the 3x3 to 4x4 foot range, but this is nice and no doubt a lot less $ than a larger one.


and it's made in Michigan. Probably one of the last industries there.

[Rover]

Its readily made industrial grating.  I've used it for 2 applications and had it made to size and then galvanized.  1.5" thickness is common so it can sit over your porch joists and match the thickness of 2" decking.  (ya, I know that is a little overkill).  Go to a metal fabricator or maybe directly to a grating supplier.
At my house, I put the condenser of the air conditioner just under the deck.  Then used grating directly above it to allow it to freely blow air up.  (Think of the famous Marilyn Monroe picture of her wearing a dress standing over some subway airwell)
At another location, a friend built a low wood deck off the back of the house.  It was built over to basement windows, so we incorporated grating to get sunlight in.
I love the stuff.  I think I'll use the grating at the ramp into my elevated tool shed to get the dirt off the ATV.

[OldDog]

Got any Buddies that work in the Oil or Chemical industry?

I came out of the Chemical industry and we used grating evertwhere.

Good Idea you have!

Bruce

[NM_Shooter]

Don... you can get expanded metal in sheets that either lay flat, or have a half twist to the metal segments... the half twist would facilitate foot scraping nicely.

You could make a frame for it out of angle iron, and make it removable from the porch so you could maybe shovel out any debris that accumulates underneath.

I bet Koenigs would have the expandable metal with a twist.  I have a welder if you need to borrow it.

-f-

[Redoverfarm]

Don buy a high end set of ATV ramps and cut to size and bolt or weld two together.

[MountainDon]

I found a manufacturer who was helpful.  http://www.gratingpacific.com/index.htm  A 48 x 48 inch galvanized welded steel grate would likely cost around $400. 

I believe I will pursue other homegrown materials/methods.



Thanks for the welder offer Frank. I do have a wire feed welder with Argon/CO₂gas. I'll be checking with a friend at Choice Steel for expanded metal.

[MountainDon]

When I get it all figured out and built I'll post pictures. Maybe link it under my My 15.75 x 30 Jemez Cabin topic.

Probably over the winter sometime. The logs are still working out for temporary. 

[deedonke2]

down here in south louisana a lot of composition grading like you found on eternet is being used on off shore rigs, none slip knock off dirt.I HAVE seen made in to steps as well as decking for wharfs and so on ,neet idea.

[glenn kangiser]

We often see it in the junk yards around here.   Maybe cheap? hmm