Internal Garage -Moisture from wet cars

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Internal Garage -Moisture from wet cars

mentalinc

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#304507 10-May-2023 11:25

Hi All

Just wondering how others deal with internal garages (carpeted), and driving wet cars into them after it's been raining?

The metal garage door, windows and frames are all get condensation on them.

After any tips or things we should be doing.

When it's stopped raining we're leaving the door open a bit to get some airflow through, but that's more of a bandaide...

thanks

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BlueShift

1692 posts

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#3074514 10-May-2023 11:43

I've been thinking about installing an extractor fan in my garage for that reason. Plus, we hang up laundry in there when its too wet outside.

Its a matter of making sure there's a clear incoming path for air that doesn't just drag more moisture in from the steamy outdoors. Possibly a vent grille in the ceiling to allow it to suck in reasonably dry ceiling space air. Pulling it in from the rest of the house by leaving the internal door open a bit would work, but also reduce the temperature in there.

scuwp

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#3074542 10-May-2023 13:24

We have insulated our metal sectional doors, and just leave it open a crack to let a draft in. Dries out soon enough and no rain gets in. Don't have carpet though.

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Behodar

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#3074543 10-May-2023 13:25

I pulled all the carpet out after I bought the place :)

tweake

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#3074578 10-May-2023 15:44

mentalinc:

Hi All

Just wondering how others deal with internal garages (carpeted), and driving wet cars into them after it's been raining?

The metal garage door, windows and frames are all get condensation on them.

After any tips or things we should be doing.

When it's stopped raining we're leaving the door open a bit to get some airflow through, but that's more of a bandaide...

thanks

ideally garages should have ventilation built in. especially if there is a room above the garage.

all that moisture, plus heat from the car, will go up through the ceiling. most kiwi garages are air leaky to hell and it all flows up in to the roof space and out through the roof. plus they are usually not insulated so they get hot and that helps drive moisture out. downside is if it gets sucked in by a ventilation system if its got an intake in the ceiling.

make sure the house is separated from the garage. ie the internal door is sealed like an outdoor door. then ventilation, either just windows or a vent through the ceiling up to the roof.

tweake

2391 posts

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#3074581 10-May-2023 15:49

BlueShift:

Possibly a vent grille in the ceiling to allow it to suck in reasonably dry ceiling space air.

won't work. the drive is almost always up. a passive vent in the ceiling would allow the wet air up into the ceiling space. better to plumb that vent through the roof and the natural flow will take the wet air out and suck in outside air in around the garage door or window etc.

to push ceiling air into the garage you would need to use a fan, ie ventilation system.

mattwnz

20141 posts

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#3074679 10-May-2023 18:51

Generally garage doors are not airtight and have some gaps around then and between the sections in the door. I have another issue where water from the car drips off the car and wheels and then tracks along to the walls and potentially could get soaked up by the skirtings. But I dont see your issue that much of an issue unless you are constantly driving in an out and bringing in a lot of water and it doesn't dry out. But it is one of the reasons I am not a fan of garage carpet. I think developers often install it reduce the need to finish the slab with a good surface and hide slab cracks. But it is a PITA if you want to do any woodwork etc in the garage and I imagine removing it will leave dry glue all over teh floor.

It doesn't sound like you have door insulation which may help reduce condensation building up on the door.

mentalinc

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#3074697 10-May-2023 19:13

I was thinking about the door insulation, but now just concerned the condensation will build up on the door still, but behind the insulation?

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Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#3074789 10-May-2023 21:02

Garage carpet is crap in my opinion. My sister was determined to have it installed in her house, and then complained endlessly about it - it was constantly covered in silver birch seeds that were hard to remove (exactly like I warned her) and when her husband's car leaked oil, it was well camouflaged and they ended up walking it into the hallway carpet, and they also had the condensation issues.

When building my new garage I went for a 2 part epoxy finish. Hard as nails, looks great (like a car showroom) and easy to sweep or vacuum clean. On the odd occasion I have spilt oil etc on it, it just wipes up with zero effort. I haven't really had any issues with water dripping off the cars yet but I have a squeegee on a broom stick just in case.

Delphinus

611 posts

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#3074803 10-May-2023 21:54

Wheelbarrow01:

When building my new garage I went for a 2 part epoxy finish. Hard as nails, looks great (like a car showroom) and easy to sweep or vacuum clean.

Are you able to share details on the product? What prep was required?

Jase2985

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#3074864 11-May-2023 05:34

Delphinus:

Wheelbarrow01:

When building my new garage I went for a 2 part epoxy finish. Hard as nails, looks great (like a car showroom) and easy to sweep or vacuum clean.

Are you able to share details on the product? What prep was required?

I used this stuff https://www.regiscoatings.co.nz/Products/Instance/Floor-Coatings/Epotread-1000-Semi-Gloss/

mine was on a new build but i cleaned the concrete, acid etched the concrete, cleaned the concrete, dried the concrete for 3=4 days with a heater, then put down 3 coats of the product over 3 days.

I used about 20L for a 60sqm garage

qwertee

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#3074879 11-May-2023 08:09

I am glad I didnt install carpet when I moved into this 12 year old house. Much easier to clean and keep it neat.

It was a Sika product, see my post with pictures and product details

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=240741&page_no=2

CrazyM

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#3074891 11-May-2023 08:48

I used to get heaps on condensation on my garage windows. I installed 2 fans (150mm grills + 140mm computer fans) blowing air from the roof space and condensation is gone, even with a warm wet car on a cold night. As other people have noted garage doors are leaky so that is where the air vents out

Bung

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#3074892 11-May-2023 08:58

It might depend on the choice of carpet. When we bought our current car I was concerned that the wheel arches had a finish similar to carpet tiles rather than the underseal I was used to. 3 years on and road dirt just hoses off with a bit of scrubbing.

We once drove Wellington to Hamilton to visit friends at their new house. They insisted that I park in the garage rather than in the drive. Very awkward moment next day when moving the car ripped 4 tyre marks out of the painted floor. What ever it was didn't work with warm rubber.

MikeAqua

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#3074899 11-May-2023 09:51

I have an extraction fan installed above my workbench. I turn this on when I'm doing anything involving solvents, fine dust or soldering (also wear a respirator). To dry the garage, I just leave it on for a while with the windows cracked. If I have a sunny day on the weekend and I'm at home, I open the garage doors and air it out - this is by far the most effective way.

I also have a silicone squeegee. If I arrive home with a wet car and it's stopped raining, I'll squeegee the worst of the water off and leave the car in the driveway for a while before I put it away. Just letting the water drip off the bottom of the car before garaging will help a lot. I only bother with this in the colder months.

In our new build, there will be shade sails immediately outside two of the garages. On wet days the cars can just sit under them until they are dry.

Mike

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#3074954 11-May-2023 10:30

Delphinus:

Are you able to share details on the product? What prep was required?

Yes I used the Epotread 1000 as well. I paid a guy to electric sand the concrete slab beforehand, and then after vacuuming and wet mopping multiple times and a week of drying, I applied the coating myself with a roller in four sections separated by my expansion cuts which provided a natural stopping point. Prior to starting I filled the expansion joints with a flexible sealant - also from the Regis range.

I bought a pair of grass aerator spike shoes as pictured below. This enabled me to walk over the wet areas as I laid the product down so that I could get it even. This is risky as it can lead to air bubbles forming in the surface as it's curing. I ended up with a few but not too worried.