I bought a home built in the early 1960s i asumming the flat work in the garage is original but i am not sure. The floor always seems to be wet. Really wet when ever there is any rain, moister or humdity of any sort. I dont park any vehichles in it. water is not coming up through any cracks it just seems like its sweating really badly. I have been involved in new construction my whole life and have never seem any thing like it. any ideas why and how to diminish it? It is an un-insulated and un- heated garage. thanks kb
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If it's happening right now its probably the runoff from all that snow that melted in a day. The frozen ground can't suck up all this melted snow so saturates the surface.
60 degrees today in January. Been foggy/hazy all day here.
Cold ground and warm ir make this happen at my place. At least I was told that.
Woods favorite carpenter
Edited 1/7/2008 5:57 pm ET by MattSwanger
thaks Matt but it happens all the time, in the spring, summer. its the sweatiest concrete i have ever seen? could it be rom what its compacted on and wicking up through?
Could be, certain sub bases will wick water better than others.
Whatever it might be I've got it too. I'm thinking sand and not gravel.
Does your garage have a complete frostwall surrounding it? THey used to pour solid footings and not stack block where the overhead door opening was.
If not then that may be the problem.
Woods favorite carpenter
there is a foundation wall about 4" above the floor and a brick ledge on the out side but i guess i dont know if it goes down 42" lets say is only a 36" wall frost. the footings would heave but why would that make the concrete sweat?
Edited 1/7/2008 6:43 pm ET by kb62
It would give access to water that is not draining. More or less sitting beneath the surface.
Woods favorite carpenter
Edited 1/7/2008 6:50 pm ET by MattSwanger
Makes sence, any sugestios for drying it out. i thought just putting an electric heater in for an hour or two. Any ideas? tanks for youre help.
Not alot you can do whith the ground being as saturated as it is, the concrete is sucking up the moisture in the ground and will continue to do so until the ground dries out.
Welcome to BT man, what part of MI you from?
Woods favorite carpenter
Another idea, how is you properties grade?
Is it graded away from the frost walls/foundtion? Woods favorite carpenter
I was thinking i could dig down to the footing and instll a drain tile w/ p stone to get some of the water to dain away but i could only do one wall, and well.. thats a lot of hand digging
I'm not sure how to fix it. I'm not a concrete guy by any means. If it was built in the 60's more than likely it doesn't have a sock tile like we use today.
Maybe someone much smarter than myself will point you in the right direction. Woods favorite carpenter
Tape about a 4-foot-square piece of clear plastic over it and see if condensation forms on the plastic. If it does, see if it's on the bottom or the top. Bottom == soil moisture rising, top == condensation from the air, neither == you're just crazy.
I'm guessing it's a little of both Dan.
Up til yesterday we had almost 12" of snow on the ground. This morning its all gone.
6 degrees last friday morning. 60 this morning.
Woods favorite carpenter
Matt i live in Marshall, work mostly in east lansing,okemos area. how about you?
I live in Battle Creek, work mostly in town here.
Sometimes get jobs in Gull Lake area, Hastings.
Woods favorite carpenter
man Stiletto it's really getting crowded around this Lake...:).
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., wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?
Edited 1/8/2008 11:03 am by maddog3
>>it's really getting crowded around this Lake<<
I bet it is, new casino in your area probably isn't helping much.
Mostly Illinois people? Woods favorite carpenter
####.... I think that's who is populating SW Michigan...
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., wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?
My uncle just moved from Marshall. He reitired and moved to Hawaii.
Lived on old 27 south of town between the Moonraker and a gas station by I-94
Last name Hulce ring a bell?
Woods favorite carpenter
Edited 1/7/2008 7:23 pm ET by MattSwanger
Hey Matt i want to speak with you. drop me a line
[email protected]
Similar climate here, but the slab's hardly ever wet.You could have high groundwater, could have a water leak under the slab, could have high humidity in the garage for some reason. You need to approach it systematically and isolate the cause.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I have no idea how to fix it,
I have two slabs on my property, detached garage and a attached back porch.
Porch is wet much like the OP's.
Garage slab is bone dry. Woods favorite carpenter
It is quite possible you have condensation happening.
Cold slab and sudden change in temps with higher humidity and the water condenses on the cold slab.
I have seen it quite a bit here in Oregon.
Given your location and the chances that the slab isn't insulated at the perimeter I would guess that is the problem.
I think you're right. Is it worth putting a dehumidifier or space hater in an un heated or un insulated garage. ?
KB send me your full phone number, you left off the last number.
Woods favorite carpenter
Where is the clothes dryer vent?
Does the garage area open to the house attic space, crawlspace,basement?
Are the bathroom & kitchen fans vented to the outside?
What type of heat/fuel do you have?
Do you have a ventless fireplace-heater?
Is the house on slab, or crawlspace, or basement?
Do your downspout/gutters function properly and the yard drains carry the water away for at least 10 ft?
Do you have "lots of potted plants" or large aquarium/water feature?
I'm wondering where the water vapor is coming from that condenses on the cool garage slab...other than the freak warm front of the last few days.
...............Iron Helix
No to almost all. its an attached garage there is no venting into it .and water does drain away, but it does have a pull down stairs to the attic. its on a slab no crawl space. kb
What energy source is your heating system? How old is the heating system?
Electric or gas water heater?
Are you using a humidifier...freestanding or incorporated into the HVAC?
I then assume your clothes dryer vents through an exterior wall??
Have you taken a look in the attic to check on possible breaches in any vents?
From inside the attic are there any signs of condensation/water stains on the roof decking?
What is the relative humidity in your living space and the garage?
What is the temperature of the garage floor?
...More Questions...........................Iron Helix
Also, have you done the plastic sheet test yet?
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader