Non Climate Controlled Garage

[Joe C.]

I am looking for some points about keeping rarely driven Corvettes (i.e.: shows, cruise nights, Sunday drives, etc.)in the best possible environment. They live in an unheated, uninsulated garage, which is attached to my house. I am mostly concerned with moisture, which usually appears as condensation if I open the garage doors with a cool garage, and a warm, humid outdoors. I live about 3 miles inland, in southern N.J., and so humidity is a fact of life here.
I went through an experience with my freshly restored 1965 last year, where some paint blistering occurred, and many steel parts began rusting because of moisture. I had covered the car with a breathable, water resistant WOLF "block-it" material cover. The car is now repainted, and I will not be using the cover anymore for the midyear. My 1985 lives in the adjoining bay. It is also covered with a water resistant, breathable cover, exposed to the same conditions, but shows no damage after 20 years. Two specific questions:

1. What can anyone tell me about the sealed "car bags"?
2. Will a flannel, indoor only cover still trap moisture.
3. Am I better off keeping the midyear uncovered.
4. Should I hire a meteorologist every time I want to open the garage door?

Thanks in advance.

[Louis F.]

Re: Non Climate Controlled Garage

Joe, I live in southern nj as well.I rent a garage that is 100 yards from the water(BARNEGAT BAY) amd is unheated, uninsulated. I share the same misery as you do during the driving season.I've had my power brake booster replated twice.

I have no answer for the months of usage, but during the winter i put my car in "THE BUBBLE" available from vendors in some corvette magazines.If I didn't see it I wouldn't believe it.Under all weather conditions, there is no moisture,no dust, no rust! It also protects the car against all the hazards of keeping a car in a garage(dropping things,kids,and wives).By far the best system I've ever used.Hope this helps, if you need more information let me know.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Non Climate Controlled Garage

Joe,

The cover you used likely has no significant effect on what occurred and unless you use a plastic cover instead of a breathable one it likely never will.

On the days you desribe, the floor and car stay cold, the air warm and relatively moist, and condensation occurs both on the floor of the garage as well as on the cold metal parts of the car. I have seen a puddle literally as large as my car form underneath it. Now, if your car sits in a puddle, that will cause the rust you notice. You likely don't notice it so much on the C4 as it has a significant amount of aluminum rather than steel.

If you are going to use the car a lot, consider laying a heavy tarp on the floor, then having a fan blow constantly under the car to keep the air moving and prevent condensation. I have done this and had the water form under the tarp rather than on it, at least keeping it from the bottom of the car. If you are not going to use the car much, then consider the Car Jacket or the Bubble with the fan. I use the CarJacket in the winter, have two fans running in the barn, and now keep it in an enclosed heated 50 degree barn with good insulation. Of course, even the car that stays in the open remains in excellent shape in the new facility.

Better yet, heat and insulate your garage. Insulation is cheap, and I installed a gas heater in my garage for a couple hundred dollars last winter by watching sales. Nice and toasty warm for the daily drivers. Far cheaper to do this than keep fixing the car each spring.

Good luck!

Patrick

[Richard W.]

Re: Non Climate Controlled Garage

Joe,

Good thread. Althought I am not an expert, I have had some luck here in Northwest Indiana, by keeping a ceiling fan going since 1996 when I added on to my garage (now 25' X 40'). In addition, I have just started using a small low-speed fan under my 1993 to, hopefully, help with the dreaded opti condensation that used to occur whenever the car sat more than 3 week. So far, so good. My theory is to keep the air moving.

As an aside, I would not think that a car cover would cause the paint to blister. Seems like paint is already a moisture barrier. I have never had a problem with the '63, the '75 or the '93 paint.

Just my 2 cents.

Dick

[Joe C.]

Louis, Patrick, Richard

Firstly, thanks all three for the responses. I like the idea about the fan(s), because it can never hurt to keep the air moving to enhance evaporation. Second, I said that I had 2 questions, and then asked four. Well, 2 plus 2 equals four, right? Finally, the problem only happens when I open the overhead door. If temp/humidity differential is right, then moisture appears on all surfaces of everything in the garage.....floors, walls, tools, beer cans, horse, dead grandmother, and cars. It usually evaporates after an hour or so. No pools form, and no dripping occurs. It never happens if I keep the door closed. I will also look into "the bubble".

[Patrick H.]

Re: Louis, Patrick, Richard

You can still the avoid the problem by heating the garage. Then the air will be warm, but the objects INSIDE the garage will be warm too. The temp differential will be much less and you'll avoid the problem.

Imagine a cold beer can. Take it outside on a hot day, and you get "sweat" on the outside. This is analogous to what is happening in your garage. Now take a warm beer can (yuck!) outside on a warm day. No "sweat" (condensation) at all.

The only other thing to do is leave it with the door closed on days such as you describe.

Patrick

[Mike M.]

Car Jacket

Patrick, Can you tell me where you bought your car jacket or tje brand name of it.
Thanks Mike

[Ian S.]

Re: Non Climate Controlled Garage

I keep my '66 in a car bag over the winter in an unheated building and when it comes out in the spring it is exactly like the day it went in. I had my doubts at first but it really works. The following is a link to the type of bag. http://www.hvaa.com/carbag_concept.htm

Thanks,

Ian

[Les Jacobs]

Re: Non Climate Controlled Garage

Mike This is sorta off the wall, but if you can keep your car warmer than the outside, the condensation should be minimized. One thig I would try, is to place a soft cover on the baby, then put an electric blanket followed by another blanket on the top. You could try a test with one part of the car pampered, and another uncovered to see what happens when you open the door. (I think the tarp on the floor is a great idea too). FYI My parents lived in Wildwood, and after a couple years most of my father's tools in the garage were rusting, even though many were protected in drawers. Good Luck Les

[Chuck S.]

Re: Louis, Patrick, Richard

The windows fog up inside a warm car when the AC/vent system brings in cold moist air from a sudden temperature change with cold rain. If your windows fog up when its raining, you don't turn on the heater...you turn on the AIR CONDITIONER by setting the controls to de-fog.

It seems to me that the key is not the garage TEMPERATURE, but the relative humidity in the garage...de-humidify and don't open the door. BWDIK, I live in a climate where the relative humidity is commonly at 20 percent and the temperature approaches freezing about twice a year. Parts left in the bead blast cabinet remain "white metal" for years if the door is kept closed.

[Mike McKown]

Re: Non Climate Controlled Garage

Cover the entire floor with with heavy plastic and run a dehumidifier Spring, Summer and Fall.

The bag is a great idea. Don't know how they fare with mice.

[Michael S.]

Re: Non Climate Controlled Garage

A concrete floor is about the WORST floor you can have in a garage as the concrete will wick water through the surface. Coating the concrete will help and plastic is a great idea. I think you find that a lot of the humidity/water in an unheated/cooled garage comes the concrete floor.

The "BAG" is the best solution for a non temperature controlled environment. I know a guy who uses on on a carport. He haas had WONDERFUL results for 3+ years now. His car has continued to look marvelous!

[Patrick H.]

Re: Louis, Patrick, Richard

Chuck,

The relative humidity increases when he opens the door on a warm, moist day after a cold spell.
Come up to MI some time and I'll show you. He'd have to de-humidify the outdoors to solve his problem. Somewhat cost prohibitive.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: Car Jacket

Mike,

see below.

I buy them either with a group of people for a discount, or at Carlisle.

Patrick




Car jacket

[Chuck S.]

Re: Louis, Patrick, Richard

You're saying that the garage is slow in adjusting to the ambient change? Just can't keep from opening the door? Easy to fix that...just leave the door open all the time. Chain a big mean pit bull to the door frame to keep out curious strangers. Of course the neighborhood home owner's association might frown, and you'll need insulation in the garage ceiling so your furnace will get some rest.

I lived close to Michigan for a few years; don't have to go back...already served my time.