Do Sugarhouses Need Concrete Floors & Drains?

[OrangeAgain]

I have seen many sugarhouses that have concrete floors and drains and some that have wooden floors with no drains.

[ecolbeck]

Some have self draining gravel floors....

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Drains are very handy to have especially around the evaporator. We will be doing some drain troughs in the concrete when we build our sugar shack.

[Sledheed]

No, believe it or not… people used to make syrup right out there in the woods. Stood right there on dirty and leaves ahd made syrup. I have heard some of them even did it over an open fire. If it didn’t drain well, probably found a higher spot the next year. Very few things you actually “need” to make syrup. You need time, motivation, the right weather, supportive family, source of fire, access to tree’s, boiling vessel, and most importantly maple sap. Have fun, make syrup

[motowbrowne]

Need? No. But I doubt there are many people who regret including them in their build. I sure wish I had them.

[bigschuss]

What exactly happens in a sugarhouse that requires drains in the floor? I am just a small scale hobbyist....90 taps on a 2x4 Mason. I have never in 20 years wished I had, or needed, drains in my floor.

Just curious. Is it something about larger commercial operations? Post-season power washing? Reassurance against major spills or leaks? Butchering goats between boils?

[johnallin]

I built our sugarhouse with a concrete floor and do not regret it. Put a drain in the corner which comes in very handy when it’s time to clean up. Being able to hose the whole floor down at the end of the day keeps everything clean and tidy.
Don’t think it’s really necessary but sure would advise adding it to the plans.

[motowbrowne]

What exactly happens in a sugarhouse that requires drains in the floor? I am just a small scale hobbyist....90 taps on a 2x4 Mason. I have never in 20 years wished I had, or needed, drains in my floor.

Just curious. Is it something about larger commercial operations? Post-season power washing? Reassurance against major spills or leaks? Butchering goats between boils?

Well, some folks run their RO right into the floor drain after their permeate tanks are full or during a rinse cycle. I can also say that we've probably all spilled syrup, sap, or concentrate and floor drains make any cleanup like that easier. Plus yeah, just washing everything. Anytime you make it easier to keep stuff clean, there's a better chance it'll get cleaned.

[bigschuss]

Well, some folks run their RO right into the floor drain after their permeate tanks are full or during a rinse cycle. I can also say that we've probably all spilled syrup, sap, or concentrate and floor drains make any cleanup like that easier. Plus yeah, just washing everything. Anytime you make it easier to keep stuff clean, there's a better chance it'll get cleaned.

Thanks Ryan. Ah yes...running the permeate down the drain makes a lot of sense. Didn't think of that. I'm not on RO. Maybe someday.

I think because I am so small of an operation I have never really spilled that much or needed to clean everything down to that degree.

[LMP Maple]

We have a 1200 tap operation in Vermont a large sugarhouse with a crushed stone floor. Not a season goes by that we don't regret it. keeping the evaporator level year to year is a challenge. Simple things like sitting in a bar stool without tipping over, and rolling a drum of syrup on a syrup dolly would be a lot easier on concrete.
When I built my tiny sugar house off the back of my shed the first thing I did was pour concrete. No drain but if I had one I would run the water coming off the hood into it when the bucket catch was full, that's how I would use it.

[TapTapTap]

I spill a drop and suddenly the entire floor is sticky as it gets tracked everywhere.. I couldn't live without a floor drain. And of course the other name for sugaring season is Mud Season so it's not all about cleaning up spilled syrup. Plus, I'm wood fired so there's a lot of wood debris to clean.

Not only do I have 3 drains in my modest 16x34 sugar house, I also have concrete frost walls extending 12" above the slab which makes it even easier to clean.

The only regret is that I should have built our residence the same way. Ha ha.


Ken

[TrentonMaple]

12x16 Sugarhouse. Built on concrete pier footers with wood frame on top.

If I had to do it again, without a doubt...poured concrete slab and frost wall. I would love to have a floor I could hose off and a drain in it.

[DMF]

We live on a steep slope so we built our sugar shack on piers but we poured a cement floor as well. I framed the floor 12' OC, used 3/4" T&G PT plywood, plastic sheeting over that and 3" of reinforced concrete. 5 years and no cracks in the floor (sound of me knocking on wood over here). I wish I have added floor drains on either side of the evaporator. I suppose I could add them now, and I'll probably talk to my concrete guy about it, but I'm afraid it will cause the rest of the floor to crack. We plan to add an addition for a kitchen/work area. That floor will have the drains in it for sure.