[78MBA]

Need some advice on how to keep my investment warm, dry, and most importantly rust free. I live in the ever changing midwest climate where the temperatures can dip into the single digits and soar into the triple digits. I live in a typical post war housing boom ranch home with a two car garage attached to my leaky basement. My garage stays pretty dry but because of the lack of insulation and the small leaks in the foundation I do have some moisture. It's not enough that condensation is running down my walls but enough to cause concern with a 40 year old car. Last year I shop coated the garage floor and the garage is heated and really doesn't leak with the new door seal. Any suggestions on how to keep out the moisture and humidity. Do I use a de-humidifier, go all out and purchase one of the many car capsule options, just put a tarp under the car or what? I still want to have full access to the car so that I can admire and work on it when I choose. Any advice that you guys have would be greatly appreciated!

[Pro-Street69Camaro468]

The fact that it is climate controled should be the factor or am I wrong....I am cooling mine as well not real cool or real hot just controlled.

[78MBA]

Well it is climate controlled but it's the moisture that I am more worried about. Do I need to run a de-humidifier or am I okay with just the heat and AC?

[buenymayor]

If you've got the floor sealed, adding insulation should about do it. When they built my garage (before we bought the place), they must not have put plastic down under the concrete. If we get the right weather conditions (like yesterday), the floor in my garage looks like you took a garden hose to it. My garage is detached and I don't have heat in it yet, but it is insulated and drywalled. Next purchase for me is a dehumidifier. One of these days I want to epoxy the floor, but I'll have to check into whether or not that will work if there is moisture that can come up through the floor.

[67pat]

Originally Posted by buenymayor

If you've got the floor sealed, adding insulation should about do it. When they built my garage (before we bought the place), they must not have put plastic down under the concrete. If we get the right weather conditions (like yesterday), the floor in my garage looks like you took a garden hose to it. My garage is detached and I don't have heat in it yet, but it is insulated and drywalled. Next purchase for me is a dehumidifier. One of these days I want to epoxy the floor, but I'll have to check into whether or not that will work if there is moisture that can come up through the floor.

I agree...sometimes no matter what you do its gonna get moisture and sweating. Case in point...the monday and tuesday before Christmas in was 15*-20* for a high here (Nashville),on Christmas day it was 55* and has warmed rapidly over the next few days until yesterday it hit 73*. Being effected by the gulf of mexico we have these wild temp extremes around the change from fall to winter every year,same thing happens at the winter-spring change over we just get tornado's to boot! so I know what your saying. Point is, my garage is insulated but I have shop heaters and A/C that I use as needed because it stays pretty consistent in there anyway.But do to the wild temps we have been having I went in there Fridat and every stinking thing in there was sweating,windows fogged up on my camaro and impala....the sides of my boat which is fiberglass was even sweating and its covered and has a dehumidifier in it,so sometimes theres not a lot you can do.I dont think it will hurt anything,the point with my car is to minimalize its contact with water. My car is a driver, not on rainy days ,but I wash it quit a bit too so it has contact with water anyway and I believe rain is the killer anyway because I have no control over how much water it gets or where it goes and how long its there if that makes sense,so if it were me I would add the dehumidifier and live with it.

[78MBA]

Thanks guys! It sounds like you guys are getting even more moisture than what I am getting in my garage so my problem is probably very minimal.