Why’s my garage so damp?
Discussion
Went in to the garage this morning and contents all damp, ie cardboard boxes feel soggy, anything metal feels wet to touch even the wooden garden chairs feel damp.
It’s a new build property the garage is not attached to the property but a detached garage with a pitched roof split into two garages with a block party wall.
Been here a few years and never noticed it so bad.
The only thing I can put it down too is the recent extremely cold weather over the past week(up to -10c) now it’s turned warmer over night almost +9c and wet and windy?
Any thoughts? Any solutions to dry out other than leave garage door open on a better mild dry day.
To add it doesn’t have power for a dehumidifier but that imo would be pointless anyway as not totally sealed.
It’s a new build property the garage is not attached to the property but a detached garage with a pitched roof split into two garages with a block party wall.
Been here a few years and never noticed it so bad.
The only thing I can put it down too is the recent extremely cold weather over the past week(up to -10c) now it’s turned warmer over night almost +9c and wet and windy?
Any thoughts? Any solutions to dry out other than leave garage door open on a better mild dry day.
To add it doesn’t have power for a dehumidifier but that imo would be pointless anyway as not totally sealed.
Edited by GT4P on Monday 19th December 12:46
mine got very damp too! don't think I've seen it like that before, must be the temperature change that we had! from negative to +12 in less than 24 is a bit a shock. A lot of very cold air mixing with warmer and bam everything is wet. I could smell it in the air last night before it settled on the walls/tools etc.
Thanks for the quick responses guys I am not the only one suffering then. Hopefully if we get some dry sunny weather this week which I think we might I will leave the garage door fully open to get some air in there.
Mind you the garage has kept my beers colder than fridge over the past couple of weeks lol
Mind you the garage has kept my beers colder than fridge over the past couple of weeks lol
I've been out with the karcher window vac moping the floor up in my garage twice this morning. Car is also covered in condensation.
A week of subzero temps to double digits is the cause I think. The slab will be still pretty cold, the warm moist air is just dumping moisture on to it. I've got a little fan on in mine just to push air around a little, in a vein effort to improve things.
A week of subzero temps to double digits is the cause I think. The slab will be still pretty cold, the warm moist air is just dumping moisture on to it. I've got a little fan on in mine just to push air around a little, in a vein effort to improve things.
My garage is not very damp, but one thing that's not helping is rain has blown under the door and through gaps between door and frame.
It's been pretty stormy here!
I have a rubber strip running across the floor for the door to seal against.
I have made some effort to ensure rain that gets between door and frame ends up outdoors.
I think I need to re-visit this and do better, but many garages have pretty poor defence against wind and rain.
Often the concrete slab extends outside and water pools on it and simply runs under the door.
The warm damp air meets cold space scenario happened in my loft over the weekend, frost on the loft ladder at one point!
It's a game of trading good ventilation against rain blowing in.
It's been pretty stormy here!
I have a rubber strip running across the floor for the door to seal against.
I have made some effort to ensure rain that gets between door and frame ends up outdoors.
I think I need to re-visit this and do better, but many garages have pretty poor defence against wind and rain.
Often the concrete slab extends outside and water pools on it and simply runs under the door.
The warm damp air meets cold space scenario happened in my loft over the weekend, frost on the loft ladder at one point!
It's a game of trading good ventilation against rain blowing in.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
The weird weather from 0 degrees to 13 degrees in a matter of hours is responsible for mass condensation!
Made me think I might stick a temp and humidty meter in my garage for a week see what it is like 
It's fairly well insulated compared to others in the area - I know this because the frost/snow takes much longer to disappear from the roof when it warms up
I’m so glad to see this thread as today I went out to the garage to change the battery on the 2CV having put the job off due to it being so bloody cold.
The garage is normally absolutely fine, as I went in I put the lights on and BANG the garage electrics tripped out! When I felt the switch it was very wet with condensation, both cars were completely wet and the windows steamed up.
Never known this before and in fact it’s generally so dry that the previous owner of the house used it as his office!
At least my mind is at rest that there’s nothing going awry, just an overnight change from -7 to +13….so pretty unusual
The garage is normally absolutely fine, as I went in I put the lights on and BANG the garage electrics tripped out! When I felt the switch it was very wet with condensation, both cars were completely wet and the windows steamed up.
Never known this before and in fact it’s generally so dry that the previous owner of the house used it as his office!
At least my mind is at rest that there’s nothing going awry, just an overnight change from -7 to +13….so pretty unusual
Just commenting to say my usually bone dry garage is damp today like everyone else, so much so the brake discs have rusted over.
Is it good practice to leave the car outside for a bit? My garage isn’t heated and the only ventilation is the gap around / under the door and an old tumble dryer exhaust hole in the back wall.
Is it good practice to leave the car outside for a bit? My garage isn’t heated and the only ventilation is the gap around / under the door and an old tumble dryer exhaust hole in the back wall.
OutInTheShed said:
My garage is not very damp, but one thing that's not helping is rain has blown under the door and through gaps between door and frame.
Exact same situation with my garage too after venturing outside for the first time in days. There was a lot of wind and rain last night and the first couple of feet of garage floor is soaked - never seen that before.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff