I'm planning to put up some walls but need a bit of input. This is a partition wall in a cold garage in a row. The studs you see are damp every winter because the snowy car is driven in, and it turns into meltwater the day after. The water collects in puddles that more or less come in contact with the studs. I think the neighbor on the other side of the wall has it worse, as they are diligent in scraping away all the water when they drive the car out.
As I said, I want to put up walls to build some consoles and tool holders. I'm not entirely sure how to proceed in this situation. The studs have been damp every winter for as long as I can remember, and they haven't rotted, but the drywall is a bit brittle due to meltwater seeping upwards along the studs. What you see in the picture is both dry and wet, as well as a lot of salts. It dries out there in the summer but remains damp almost all spring. Once it dries, it looks normal, i.e., no mold or anything else suspicious. What are the consequences if you put up an OSB/plywood board with a plastic vapor barrier? What materials can be used instead, or are there other methods for it?
BTW, the drywall in the corner was repaired earlier due to this problem.
Since you have concrete underneath, it will continually absorb some of the water from the cars and release it to the wall.
The simplest solution might be to install mounting rails on the studs and use some OSB as a tool board.
Otherwise, you need to, for example, use plastic under the entire wall and on both sides so that water cannot rise into the wall. It's probably enough to use plastic a couple of centimeters up the wall to prevent larger amounts. If you do not own the garage yourself, it may involve a lot of money and work on someone else's property.
Since you have concrete underneath, it will constantly absorb some of the water from the cars and release it to the wall.
Roev08 said:
The simplest would be to attach battens to the studs and use some OSB as a tool board.
Absolutely, thought about that too, but I will install battens that are placed on rails and then you want the possibility to adjust as needed. I don't want to rely solely on the studs. Additionally, it looks a bit nicer with white walls.
Roev08 said:
Otherwise, you must, for example, plastic under the entire wall and on both sides so that water cannot rise into the wall. It might be enough to plastic a couple of centimeters up the wall so there are no larger amounts. If you don't own the garage yourself, it might be a lot of money and work on someone else's property.
Exactly, that's how I reasoned, a little plastic between the studs and the board. What I am a bit concerned about is whether the moisture stays in the stud because the moisture barrier prevents it from drying from my side. The other side of the wall has the neighbor insulated their side. The moisture has nowhere to go, so to speak... maybe I should drill a bit large hole in the wall for ventilation...
Absolutely, I thought about that too, but I will install sparrignskenor that are placed on rails and then you want the ability to adjust as needed. I don't want to be dependent on the studs only, besides, it looks a bit nicer with white walls.
Exactly, that was my reasoning, a bit of plastic between the studs and the board. What I'm a bit concerned about, however, is whether the moisture remains in the stud since the moisture barrier prevents it from drying from my side. The other side of the wall has been insulated by the neighbor. The moisture has nowhere to go, so to speak... maybe I should drill some large holes in the wall for ventilation...
You should absolutely not close off that wall at all, it absorbs moisture today but survives slightly thanks to being able to dry out; when you've closed it off, you will have ruined those possibilities and will cause mold and rot for which you will be responsible.
Drilling a couple of ventilation holes does not replace the airing possibilities that exist today.
Even if the floor beam hasn't started to rot yet, it's only a matter of time.
If you don't want to tear down the wall and build a new water-secured one, it's not worth the effort. Instead, go with console rails on the studs as previously suggested.
As mentioned, the wall needs to be redone sooner or later, it looks pretty shabby. One would probably need to cast a small ledge under the wall and then place the bottom plate on it with sill insulation in between.
I would do something simple that is easy to dismantle and doesn't build against the wall.
You should absolutely not cover that wall at all; it absorbs moisture today but manages mildly thanks to the fact that it can dry out. Once you cover it, you will have destroyed those possibilities and will cause mold and rot for which you will be responsible.
Drilling a few ventilation holes does not replace the airing possibilities that exist today.
MMmmm... tell that to some of my neighbors who have done so... however, it looks terrible now. When the moisture has traveled upwards... hence the moisture barrier. I guess I'll have to come up with some solution. Either put walls as far down as possible and then leave everything open at the lower part... *sigh*... I don't understand what they were thinking when it was built...
At least I can try to mitigate so that water from my side doesn't and make a small arch upwards, what type of sealant is used for that?
