Portable Garage condensation
Discussion
Hi all,
Not really home mechanics but more somewhere to do home mechanics in and a problem with it.
I built a Clarke Portable Garage from Machine Mart as somewhere to keep the car out of the weather and also allow a bit of evening or poor weather spannering. I had expected some condensation but am really quite amazed at how much is produced and how it drips on the car.
I rigged a tarpaulin in the ceiling of the garage and it keeps the worst of the condensation off the car, although the water pools in the tarp and runs off the edges.
Does anyone use a dehumidifier or fan heater in a portable garage? If so, which brands do you recommend and how often/when are they switched on? Are there any other fixes people have tried, or is this just something to accept, especially in winter?
Many thanks
Not really home mechanics but more somewhere to do home mechanics in and a problem with it.
I built a Clarke Portable Garage from Machine Mart as somewhere to keep the car out of the weather and also allow a bit of evening or poor weather spannering. I had expected some condensation but am really quite amazed at how much is produced and how it drips on the car.
I rigged a tarpaulin in the ceiling of the garage and it keeps the worst of the condensation off the car, although the water pools in the tarp and runs off the edges.
Does anyone use a dehumidifier or fan heater in a portable garage? If so, which brands do you recommend and how often/when are they switched on? Are there any other fixes people have tried, or is this just something to accept, especially in winter?
Many thanks
Unfortunately, the laws of physics apply & without insulation there will always be condensation on the roof.
A heater won't stop that unless you leave it on at all times which will be expensive to run, a dehumidifier may well help if it is reasonably air tight, alas if it isn't even that won't help.
If it is going to be permanent you need to find a way to either attach insulation or a means of a second inner roof/ceiling to effectively trap a barrier of air immediately under the actual roof skin, which will also stop it from forming.
A heater won't stop that unless you leave it on at all times which will be expensive to run, a dehumidifier may well help if it is reasonably air tight, alas if it isn't even that won't help.
If it is going to be permanent you need to find a way to either attach insulation or a means of a second inner roof/ceiling to effectively trap a barrier of air immediately under the actual roof skin, which will also stop it from forming.
Thanks for that. It's only for a couple of years, and the car should get used quite frequently. I don't want to go down the route of a car cocoon as I want to be able to get it out quickly to go for a drive, plus it is aluminium and grp so corrosion isn't too big a worry.
I'll try a dehumidifier, Clarke do one with a drain tube so I don't need to worry about emptying it. We will see how the costs/performance goes. The garage is quite air tight with no vents (probably why the condensation is bad).
I'll also rig a 4m x 3m tarp taut as a suspended ceiling. Whilst not insulated it will at least add an air gap between the volume of the garage and the roof.
Cheers
I'll try a dehumidifier, Clarke do one with a drain tube so I don't need to worry about emptying it. We will see how the costs/performance goes. The garage is quite air tight with no vents (probably why the condensation is bad).
I'll also rig a 4m x 3m tarp taut as a suspended ceiling. Whilst not insulated it will at least add an air gap between the volume of the garage and the roof.
Cheers
TVRBRZ said:
I'll also rig a 4m x 3m tarp taut as a suspended ceiling. Whilst not insulated it will at least add an air gap between the volume of the garage and the roof.
That will definitely help, especially if you can fit it such that there is a static air gap between both layers as that trapped air will then work as an excellent insulator.I won't be able to seal the edges between the tarp and the garage roof but I can probably get a consistent 5cm air gap between the surfaces. Just pondering whether it is worth getting a 4,5 or 6m tarp in width so that I can effectively "double glaze" the sides too.
It would have been simpler to build a wood or brick garage but as the house is rented I couldn't!
It would have been simpler to build a wood or brick garage but as the house is rented I couldn't!
I think with garages you have two options.
One is to make it reasonably air tight so that no new moisture comes in and you don't get condensation inside.
The other is to maximise air flow and just aim to keep the rain out. This is the approach car ports use. Although the car will get some condensation when the environment warms up, it will evaporate quickly - just like the morning dew.
You describe it building up large amounts of condensation, which makes me think the fabric must be slightly porus. In that case it's pointless trying to seal it and you would be better off thinking of it as a rain deflector and try to increase the ventilation inside.
One is to make it reasonably air tight so that no new moisture comes in and you don't get condensation inside.
The other is to maximise air flow and just aim to keep the rain out. This is the approach car ports use. Although the car will get some condensation when the environment warms up, it will evaporate quickly - just like the morning dew.
You describe it building up large amounts of condensation, which makes me think the fabric must be slightly porus. In that case it's pointless trying to seal it and you would be better off thinking of it as a rain deflector and try to increase the ventilation inside.
If there is a big air gap, instead of trying to dry the air to stop the drips, a possible idea might be a desk fan blowing across the ceiling, evaporate any drips before they grow enough to drop?
Walked past a florists shop a while ago, small fan aimed at the window kept that part condensation free, no drying and no heating so the flowers were happy as well.
Walked past a florists shop a while ago, small fan aimed at the window kept that part condensation free, no drying and no heating so the flowers were happy as well.
Fan idea and keeping the airflow suggest the dehumidifier route.
Photos from just now after two dry windy days after very wet weather where rainwater spread along the floor. The worst moisture is on the ground and I think I'm going to get some of the long, thin sand bags and ensure that rainwater doesn't flow down the outside and then onto the concrete slab.
Tarp is only a 2x3m temporary idea which works on the rear 2/3rds of the car and you can see condensation drops on the nose and windscreen.
Last photo by the zip door shows how dry the outside was and how damp the slab inside was
Photos from just now after two dry windy days after very wet weather where rainwater spread along the floor. The worst moisture is on the ground and I think I'm going to get some of the long, thin sand bags and ensure that rainwater doesn't flow down the outside and then onto the concrete slab.
Tarp is only a 2x3m temporary idea which works on the rear 2/3rds of the car and you can see condensation drops on the nose and windscreen.
Last photo by the zip door shows how dry the outside was and how damp the slab inside was
Edited by TVRBRZ on Thursday 16th January 16:33
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