How To Protect Your Garage From Moisture Damage

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Moisture inside your garage is never a good thing because it can cause a whole lot of damages. It can cause a wide range of problems that affect the garage’s structure, functionality, and even the contents stored within it.

First of all moisture causes structural damage to your garage. Water can sip into the concrete floor or foundation, causing cracks, spalling (flaking), or erosion over time.
If you’re a woodworker with wood stored in your garage, moisture can get to the wood and damage them, making them unusable for your projects until they’re dry.

Even if you’re not a woodworker, there are so many other reasons why you don’t want moisture in your garage. If you work with metal, it will corrode the metal.

Moisture promotes mold and mildew growth, which can result in unpleasant odors in the garage, and potential result in health risks from these growing molds and mildew which thrives in such environment.

A damp, wet or moist garage also encourages the growth of pests such as termites, rodents, and insects. These can cause further damage to the garage structure and stored belongings.

So, you want to try by all means to prevent moisture from getting into your garage, and the following are important solutions to help you do so.

1. Make sure you have no drainage issues

You have to make sure you have no drainage issues in your garage. To do that, you have to make sure that if water ever comes into the garage by any means, it flows out straight away.

So, you have to make sure you have a good structure right of the bat. So, you have to make sure to install gutters and good drainage in the garage that directs water and any moisture away from inside the garage, and also ensure the ground slopes away into the gutters so that no water is trapped in the garage floor by any means, but instead flows directly into the gutters and drainage.

2. Seal the Garage Floor

Your choice of flooring is also very important when it comes to keeping moisture out of your garage.

Moisture sipping into your floor gradually will cause cracks, mold and mildew growth.

So to ensure your floor does not let moisture sip into it, you need to apply sealant to it. There are different types of floor sealants you can use. Epoxy is a very good option you can go for.

If you’re building a new floor, consider a vapor barrier underneath the new floor to prevent any moisture from sipping through from the bottom.

3. Insulate the Garage

Insulation of the walls and ceilings will also help control the amount of moisture in the garage. Temperature, if not regulated properly can lead to condensation. So, you need good insulation to keep it in check.

4. Use exhaust fans to improve ventilation

Good air ventilation is very important to keep the air in the garage in the right humidity range.

If the air is too humid, and the temperature is not right, it will condense and cause a whole lot of havoc and destruction in your garage.

Get your humidity right by making sure your garage is well ventilated.

Install exhaust fans to take humid air out and replace it with fresh one.

If the exhaust fans alone are not doing the job during damp seasons, then install a dehumidifier if you can.

That will ensure you have just the right amount of moisture in the air and in your workshop.

4. Use waterproof paint to seal garage walls and seal doors and windows.

Another way moisture can find it’s way into your garage is through the walls and natural openings like doors and windows in your garage.

During the damp seasons, these openings are areas where moisture can find its way into your garage.

So, make sure your doors and windows and properly sealed.

And you can paint your garage walls with a waterproof paint to prevent moisture from getting in from the inside.

For external walls, apply masonry waterproof or use cladding materials that resist moisture.

5. Fix any cracks or openings in the foundation

A cracked floor or opening in your garage floor is just you giving direct access for water and other contaminants to get into your garage.

So, if you have a moisture problem in your garage, and you notice the floors are cracked, then maybe it’s time to fix the cracks or redo the entire floor altogether.

Because if the floor is cracked, maybe there’s moisture sipping in from underneath. Hence, redoing the whole floor, applying a vapor barrier and seal may just be your best bet.

6. Store damp items outside the garage

Sometimes, it’s possible that you’re the one introducing the moisture by yourself into your garage.

When you store wet materials like wood, fabric and cardboard in your garage, you’re introducing the moisture by yourself.

So, if you really want a dry garage. Make sure you have a separate area to dry off all the materials you use inside, before bringing them in.

If you work with wood, don’t bring damp or wet wood inside. Don’t dry off wet fabric inside.

Find somewhere separate to dry them off.

By combining the above measures, you can effectively control the amount of moisture in your garage and prevent it from damaging the garage and its contents, ensuring it remains a safe, functional, and a suitable space for storage or other activities you engage in.