It’s springtime for the Mile High City and that means plenty of hiking, celebrations at Civic Center Park and the best craft beer fests in the country. It also means plenty of rain which could spell trouble for your garage. During the rainy spring months, you may begin to notice water or dampness collecting on your garage floors. Standing water can create a host of problems like cracked concrete that no homeowner wants to deal with. If you find yourself wondering, “Why is my garage floor wet when it rains?” then you’re not alone.
Below, you’ll discover why your garage floor is wet when it rains and what steps to take to prevent it.
Your Garage/Garage Door May Need Insulation
One major cause of damp garage floors is condensation, commonly referred to as concrete sweating. Though it may not seem like it, concrete is a porous material that absorbs and releases water. Condensation on your garage floors happens when warm air and cold air collide, creating water vapor like you’d find on the side of a cold glass of water.
Concrete sweating indicates that you have a temperature control problem in your garage. Proper insulation in the walls of your garage can help keep your floors dry. It would be best if you also considered insulated garage doors. Insulated garage doors help to regulate not only the temperature in your garage but also your home.
Other things that may help are installing a vaporing barrier and having your concrete floors sealed. Having pools of standing water could indicate a more severe problem with the vapor barrier beneath your garage floor.
Your Garage Door May Be Damaged
Next, you could be experiencing wet garage floors because your garage door is damaged. A damaged garage door is a safety hazard and incapable of keeping out the elements completely.
Make sure your garage door is opening and closing correctly without any visible damage. Not sure if this is the case? Read more about the signs it’s time to replace your garage door for a list of red flags to look for.
Your door should close flush with the garage floor. If it does not, and there are no signs anything else is wrong, consider installing a new garage door shield. A garage door shield is a weather strip that prevents weather and pests from sneaking under the garage door.
A well-maintained garage door can last you upwards of 20 years. Yearly waxing can help prevent fading and add a protective coating to the door’s finish for steel, fiberglass, and aluminum garage doors. Wooden doors generally need a bit more maintenance with potential refinishing and sealing every few years.
You May Have Improper Ventilation
Appliances like propane heaters, clothing dryers, and freezers create heat that, if not properly vented, causes humidity and condensation. There are a few ways to combat this issue that vary in expense. First, you may want to avoid these appliances altogether or install a dehumidifier that is an appropriate size for the room.
Next, try decluttering your garage. A garage with damp floors may indicate you have an airflow problem. Jampacked garages don’t allow air to move freely in a way that prevents moisture buildup.
If these methods don’t solve the problem, you may need to visit a more costly option: installing proper ventilation systems. This can range from HVAC to new garage roof installation.
Things to Remember When Your Garage Door is Wet After Rain
Garage floors are not considered living dwellings so they don’t necessarily need to be insulated like your home. However, vapor barriers are necessary to prevent damage to the concrete, mold growth, and other headaches. If you have wet floors in your garage, consider the following potential solutions:
Insulate your garage or upgrade to an insulated garage door
Check your garage door for damage; you may need a replacement
Declutter and ventilate to allow proper airflow
Keep your garage door and weather stripping well-maintained
Not sure what next steps to take? We can help. Contact us today.
At American Garage Door, we pride ourselves on the quality service we’ve provided to Metro Denver for more than 30 years. Sign up today for a yearly maintenance plan to ensure your garage door stays intact for years.
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