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Hi All,
I'm looking at turning this garage into a studio but I'm first trying to treat it as best as I can before laying laminate floor, insulating the walls and then placing plaster board over them.
After cleaning the floor, I've noticed that the space still has a very musty odour. As the place is only 15 years old, and judging by the looks, I don't think it's mildew or mould, but rather coming from the bricks themselves. this is backed up by the fact that the smell is emanating from the bricks and is evenly distributed amongst them.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with this: paint, seal or vanish the bricks? Or do you think the smell won't be a problem after the insulation and plaster board is laid? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Hi @fadetoblack,
Garages are typically not constructed to the same stringent standards as habitable rooms, particularly when it comes to moisture management. The musty smell you’re experiencing is likely due to dampness in the bricks, which can be a common issue in garages. This dampness could be coming from the ground, with the slab or lower course of bricks wicking water up, especially if there's insufficient waterproofing or drainage in place. If the smell is most noticeable near the lower sections of the walls or bricks, this is a strong indicator that the issue is confined to the area below the dampcourse line (the barrier that prevents moisture rising from the ground into the walls).
Before you proceed with insulation and plasterboard, I’d strongly recommend sealing both the inside and outside lower courses of the bricks. You can use a good quality brick sealer or waterproofing paint to help prevent moisture from entering. Additionally, sealing the concrete slab is essential to stop moisture from rising through the floor. This can be done with a concrete sealer. You might also want to inspect the garage for any potential drainage issues, such as poor ground slope or blocked gutters, which could be contributing to the moisture problem.
Once the sealing is done, the insulation and plasterboard should help control the temperature and humidity inside, but it’s important to address the source of the moisture first. If the problem is left untreated, the musty smell might persist or even worsen over time.
Please let me know iff you have any questions.
Mitchell
You might like to pick up one of these Crommelin Moisture Meters @fadetoblack. They could help point towards an area where moisture is entering. I'd seal the outside of the wall first and then check to see if the moisture levels inside drop. You can then consider heaters or just aerating the area to help dry out the wall. I'd make sure the inside is sufficiently dry before sealing as you don't want to trap moisture in the wall.
Mitchell
Thanks Mitchel,
I'll look to seal the outside first and then give it a week or so and see how it goes.
To be on the safe side, would you recommend sealing the entirety of the outer brick wall?
I guess it might also be worth sealing the inside the neighbour's garage wall that directly boarders mine as well.
Also, there are some sizeable cracks between the concrete and brick wall that appear to lead to raw earth. Do you have any tips on sealing these as well?
I would seal the lower three of four courses of bricks on the outside and pull back any soil that might be touching them @fadetoblack.
That looks like a very suspicious gap, which also looks quite moist. A highly suspect area, as you can see where moisture has penetrated and stained the concrete. Does water enter here in heavy rains? If so, I suspect you might need to add a drainage pipe between the two walls or check that it was installed when building. If rain is falling between your wall and the neighbours, it most likely has nowhere to go and sits there before being absorbed into the slab and walls.
I'd fill the depth with a filler rod and then Sikaflex over the gap to bridge between the slab and wall.
Mitchell
Thanks Michelle,
I’m not sure if water meters when it rains as we only just got the place. But there were considerable rains this here in Melbourne this morning and no water appeared in the garage.
would u suggest digging all the gravel and dirt around the garage until I get to the concrete slab?
Yes, I would @fadetoblack. Soil should never be up against the bricks like that. It's a great way for water to enter the brickwork. It is then wicked up through the mortar joints into the whole wall and even the roof.
Mitchell
Thanks Mitchell, I’ll be sure to dig away all the soil around until I get to the concrete slab.
one last question, I’ve just finished cleaning the garage floor with chemicals and a pressure hose and was now going to let it dry then apply concrete sealer.
would this be ok to do at this stage?
