I'm looking at getting a portable garage to store stuff in semi temporarily. As of now, time frame is probably a year before a permanent solution is done. Probably a Harbor Freight 12x20. Question is about moisture: I'm in South Carolina, so very high humidity year round and I don't want this to become a sauna inside. I'm debating on a tarp floor- But I'm not sure if I'll stop ground moisture from coming in, or if I'll end up trapping condensation inside by not letting it escape back to the ground. Thoughts? Thanks
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Portable garage floor? HF 12x20
- Thread starter Yeager
- Start date
Notgrownup
Well-known member
If using a tarp, lay down some thick plastic sheeting like moisture barrier at a minimum.
WisJim
Well-known member
I had an old pole shed, not at all tight, that I stored cars and miscellaneous stuff in for years. I laid 4 mil visqueen plastic on the ground and covered it with old carpeting that we tore out of an old storefront downtown. It seemed to help keep the undersides of cars in better condition and the carpet protected the plastic sheets. I would do it again in a similar situation.
Edit to add: my pole shed had a dirt floor and a few leaks in the roof where nails were loose in the tin roofing.
Edit to add: my pole shed had a dirt floor and a few leaks in the roof where nails were loose in the tin roofing.
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rust in the eye
Well-known member
If sealed up you'll trap moistuer with or without a covering on the ground. Ventilation is what you need.
Perhaps you could scrounge some pallets to keep things elevated a bit too.
Perhaps you could scrounge some pallets to keep things elevated a bit too.
coe
Well-known member
Just as an FYI, my attached garage is 2x6 construction, well insulated, vapor barrier under the concrete, but not climate controlled and my tools and weight equipment are a bit rusty after two years.
Notgrownup
Well-known member
Pallets, vapor barrier ventilation.
Crabman
Well-known member
Not sure what you are keeping in there. Can you run an extension cord to a small portable fan and run it when you need to?
Or a battery, solar charger and 12V fan?
Moving air will be better than ambient ventilation I think.
Or a battery, solar charger and 12V fan?
Moving air will be better than ambient ventilation I think.
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LopezBart
Well-known member
I have one of these. Keep it open at least on one side, preferably both, to keep moisture down.
Colin Len
Well-known member
Ah, I see you are about to embark on the same thing I am! I recently bought a 10x17 (iirc) from HF which I will use to store my car and some other stuff while I gut my garage for a remodel.
I too was planning to put down a tarp floor. I think this is a no-brainer. It will keep way more moisture out than it locks in - at least in my situation where this will be on top of a non-permeable surface. But, I'm still worried about moisture from the cool, damp evenings causing issues when it warms up outside.
I've got some wifi hygrometers that I'm going to put in there to start with so I can monitor the humidity over time. If it ends up being a problem then my tentative plan is to rig up some sort of fan to allow for ventilation. For my climate, I think I'd want to trigger the fan in the morning and have it run during the day to flush out the humid air that I expect to build up overnight.
Still all a plan at this point so not sure how these assumptions will end up working out.
I too was planning to put down a tarp floor. I think this is a no-brainer. It will keep way more moisture out than it locks in - at least in my situation where this will be on top of a non-permeable surface. But, I'm still worried about moisture from the cool, damp evenings causing issues when it warms up outside.
I've got some wifi hygrometers that I'm going to put in there to start with so I can monitor the humidity over time. If it ends up being a problem then my tentative plan is to rig up some sort of fan to allow for ventilation. For my climate, I think I'd want to trigger the fan in the morning and have it run during the day to flush out the humid air that I expect to build up overnight.
Still all a plan at this point so not sure how these assumptions will end up working out.
nadogail
Well-known member
If you can keep the rain off and still allow ventilation then maybe your stuff will survive storage.
An awful lot will depend on what it is you are planning on putting into your “temporary” storage.
Consider how Tobacco Barns are built.
An awful lot will depend on what it is you are planning on putting into your “temporary” storage.
Consider how Tobacco Barns are built.
Jazz1
Well-known member
My wigwam i have a commercial transport truck tarp on the floor to keep ground moisture out..works excellent as ive seen the damage to vehicles stored in these buildings without Vapor barrier on the ground. They become a sauna in the dead of winter when the sun comes out
I store a old truck in my wigwam during the winter
I store a old truck in my wigwam during the winter
I doubt it would be feasible to seal one of those tents up well enough for a dehumidifier to achieve much besides increasing the electric bill, at least if the stuff inside needs to be readily accessible. But I could be wrong...With high humidity, sealing up tight might create some headaches. depending on what you storing and how much rust is OK, maybe running a dehumidifier would be reasonable?