Don't Let Condensation Ruin Your Garage!

One of the biggest threats to a garage is moisture. Garages typically are not climate-controlled, which means they see a lot of variation in both temperature and humidity levels. This makes it extremely easy for moisture in the local atmosphere to turn into condensation whenever it gets cold, coating everything in the garage and damaging anything vulnerable to water.

In worst-case situations, a garage that is constantly damp can easily pick up a mold or mildew infestation. Mold isn't just smelly; many types can be toxic or trigger allergies, making your garage very unpleasant to be in.

Fortunately, there are options for reducing or eliminating condensation in your garage. In this guide, we'll be looking at why and how condensation occurs, and various solutions for reducing condensation problems, such as installing better garage flooring.

I. The Causes of Garage Condensation

In general, condensation occurs whenever there's a relatively high amount of moisture in the atmosphere - humidity - which is then rapidly cooled. Cooler temperatures cause airborne moisture to form into droplets and precipitate onto nearby objects. So, you get a thin layer of water on exposed objects.

This can particularly be an issue in garages because there are a lot of naturally cold objects in a garage. Metal garage cabinetry, for example, doesn't hold onto heat. That's one of the reasons it's one of the first things to develop condensation when the temperature drops.

The same is true of your flooring, particularly if you have a bare concrete floor. Concrete is going to tend to be cold and attract moisture. Also, unfinished concrete is porous, meaning that it's easy for moisture to penetrate the concrete, or even be drawn up from the ground underneath.

This can cause a multitude of problems. For one thing, if the moisture carries any dissolved minerals in it, condensation will deposit those minerals on the concrete, potentially discoloring it or changing its chemical makeup. Also, if the concrete is full of moisture and temperatures drop below freezing, that can lead to cracks as the ice expands and breaks the floor.

There are also a few other more specific ways that moisture can end up in your garage, leading to condensation.

1. Water leaks

If your garage includes working plumbing, be sure to keep an eye out for leaks. They're often easy to overlook, especially since garages typically have a lot of different liquids in use. We recommend checking under your sinks, behind a fridge, etc, around once a month. If you see any water that shouldn't be there, start looking into whether any of your fixtures are leaking. 

If you garage is not heated, it might be a good idea to winterize any water spigots as they could freeze and develop cracks that will cause water leaks.

2. Property grading and drainage

If your property is flat, this isn't an issue. However, even minor elevation differences will cause water runoff to occur - and if your garage is at the bottom of the grade, it's going to receive a lot of that runoff. Aside from garage upgrades, you may want to consider adding features to your property to divert runoff, if it's heading for your garage.

3. High outdoor humidity levels

Unfortunately, if the Cleveland area is prone to high humidity, that's likely to make its way into your garage. It's difficult to overcome (although not impossible) and more something to be aware of since you'll be inherently prone to condensation.

4. Spring thaws

Probably the worst time for moisture in a garage is in the spring, as nearby ice and snow thaw. The sudden influx of water can easily make its way into a garage or its foundation. This, of course, will be worse if you have a runoff issue already since that means even more water flowing towards and into the garage.

II. Methods for Reducing Moisture and Condensation in Your Garage

1. Install better flooring

The best garage flooring systems can do a lot to reduce the moisture inside your garage. The most common solution is to take the existing concrete and coat it with a resinous material such as epoxy, urethane, or polyaspartic materials.

These coatings are super strong and stain-resistant, so they're a great overall upgrade to your floor in any case. More specifically on the topic, they will also eliminate any moisture making its way into your garage via the floor. When properly installed, these resinous coatings are completely water-tight, so no moisture gets in and out of the floor. It can also reduce the chances of cracking when the temperatures are freezing.

2. Install vapor barriers

Vapor barriers are simply sheets of plastic (typically polyethylene) that are applied to the interior face of stud frame walls and other areas where moisture could make its way in from the outdoors. These sheets are water-tight, so they prevent moisture from getting inside. Vapor barriers are inexpensive and easy to install, making them a good guard against unwanted moisture that can cause condensation.

However, the usefulness of vapor barriers largely depends on your local atmosphere. If you're in a hot dry area, like a desert region, they won't do any good because there isn't enough humidity for them to be needed. On the other hand, garages in rainy areas can benefit greatly from installing them.

3. Install better water barriers around the outside of the garage

If water runoff is an issue, the best solution is to prevent it from getting into your garage in the first place. Reworking your lawn/property grading with natural features that will act as barriers. Small, raised hills around the garage, for example, can redirect the water in less harmful directions.

4. Don't store wet cars or other items in the garage

Who wants to store a car outside when it’s raining or snowing? But we had to mention that if your garage floor is bare concreate, if it's raining or snowing out you're prone to humidity problems in your garage. Storing wet cars or cars full of snow inside your garage is only going to make that problem worse. The rain or snow on the car seep right into the bare concreate if your garage floor is not properly coated.

The same goes for any other soaked items. If it's wet and goes into the garage, the moisture is probably going to stay in the garage.

5. Have better ventilation or a Heater

A full climate control system is expensive, but there are cheaper ventilation options that can do an adequate job of moving moisture out of your garage. For example, simply installing a ventilation fan and exit vent can do a lot to pull air out of the garage and send it back outside. You'll also enjoy fresher air inside, thanks to the extra air circulation.

For larger garages, you may want to look into installing some ductwork, with fans pulling in air from multiple locations, keeping it moving around. Moving air is less prone to leaving condensation than still air. A garage heater is usually easily installed and can help reduce moisture.

6. Use a dehumidifier

For smaller garages, a portable dehumidifier can also do a lot of good. This is another option that can work well as an inexpensive alternative to full climate control. The nice thing about dehumidifiers is that you can choose the level of humidity you want, so they won't make the air bone dry.

As a rule of thumb, humidity up to 40% in a garage is OK and won't cause significant condensation. 30-40% humidity provides a pleasant atmosphere and still keeps your garage safe.

7. Use garage-friendly appliances

If you have or intend to have, a refrigerator or freezer stored in your garage, don't just use a random model from the store. There are appliances made specifically for garages, designed to limit moisture loss. Some include more advanced climate control functions as well, such as limiting the amount of heat generated by the fridge or freezer.

This isn't as necessary if you just have a little mini fridge for sodas or beers, but it's a must-have for larger units.

Garage Finisher Can Solve Your Condensation Problems in Cleveland

We're Ohio's most experienced choice for garage upgrades and improvements. From better moisture-resistant custom cabinetry to one of the best proprietary polyaspartic flooring systems on the market, we can take a good garage and make it great! We have years of experience and a long history of successful upgrades. Plus we stand behind our products with a Lifetime Unconditional Warranty.

If you have moisture issues in your garage, don't let the water keep eating away at your floor and causing moisture problems. Contact Garage Finisher to discuss your upgrade and renovation options!