Garage requirements considering my climate (Updated garage build w/pics)

[WB T]

Hello people. New to the forum and have been reading and getting as much info as I can before purchasing my first Cobra.

My main concern will be my garage and my local weather. I live in South Louisiana and we generally just have miserable weather. Summer months will be 90-100 degrees and 90%+ humidity all the time. My garage isnt built yet. Its currently just a carport and will be closed in. I will be putting in some very good insulation but do I need air conditioning in the garage?

The contractor that has done a lot of work on the house said I should only need a good dehumidifier and some fans to keep the air circulating. He said that should be plenty to store a car and keep the car from becoming a victim of the elements. I will probably have a window unit regardless so I can turn it on if I am working in the garage. Do yall think his advice is sufficient with the dehumidifier and fans on the ceiling? Or should I go to more lengths?

Thank You

ETA: Here are the pics of the garage progress. The original carport was open on both sides so we added two walls in which both are insulated. The contractor was telling me that framing in a window, putting in a window unit, and adding everything to put a dehumidifier and draining it outside was going to be the more expensive route and to just put a mini split in and have actual air conditioning and heating for the winter.

We are currently waiting on just the garage door to be delivered. It will also be insulated and it will be a roll up door. We chose roll up because the ceiling is high enough that I can put car lifts in there and double up the amount of cars. I will probably only do 1 lift.

https://i.imgur.com/qVj089E.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/gxRC53n.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/8zX5Svc.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/ATwn3KW.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/9G8Zi5e.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/xcO0gH1.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/uj2tb02.jpeg


Now I just need to work on getting a cobra in there

[runamuk]

I live in Fort Lauderdale, so my weather is similar. Rain, humidity and 90 degree temps. Air conditioning isn't necessary but a fan is a must, it will move air and keeps the flying insects to a minimum.

[skidd]

I'm in San Antonio. I put a Mini split AC into my garage. It's a game changer!! I'll never own a garage without AC ever again. In fact, it's on as we speak, pre-cooling off the garage before I go start working on my latest project. '69 Bronco Restoration.

Can't really comment on long term storage though. I only run my AC to work in there.

[Blitzboy54]

There is a difference between making the garage inhabitable for the car and being able to work in it. Even if it’s just a window unit I would put in AC. I have the opposite problem. If I don’t put in heat I can pretty much write off Dec through mid March.

[toadster]

if I had the exterior space I would have definitely put in a split system,in NorCal, while everyone thinks it's palm trees and blonde surfers, we're in a valley that can get over 110F (although a dry heat)

however I did end up getting a portable A/C unit (https://amzn.to/45zQGtd) on sale, and vented it out of one of my garage vents

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Agree on getting A/C for the human doing the work. Car is a car & will survive anything your daily driver will. Built my car without an air condition garage. Work in the NC summer months was not very pleasant even with large fans.

Currently doing some upgrades & bring as many of the subassemblies as I can into the house to work on. The car has lived in the no A/C, no heat garage since 2014 with no ill effects.

[weendoggy]

Just put in a 24x24 garage at our other home in high desert NV. 2x6 framing and two cinder block walls, insulated and drywalled. Summers are hot (dry) but the garage will vent easily with walk-in door and main door open. Fan would be a must if I lived there full time. In winter it's 10-20° and can be 55° inside with no heater. I'd adjust for your climate, but definitely insulate!

[gbranham]

Mini split for sure. Heat, AC, and dehumidifier all in one. Love mine in my 30x30 insulated shop. I bought it on Amazon for $2600 and installed it myself. It cones with pre-charged lines, so no AC technician required.

[WB T]

I live in Fort Lauderdale, so my weather is similar. Rain, humidity and 90 degree temps. Air conditioning isn't necessary but a fan is a must, it will move air and keeps the flying insects to a minimum.

Thank you everyone for all of the replies.

My buddy did emphasize that getting the air moving is the primary concern for the car. Im not much of a wrench turner so my 'work' in there will be very limited in regards to that.

[rich grsc]

Thank you everyone for all of the replies.

My buddy did emphasize that getting the air moving is the primary concern for the car. Im not much of a wrench turner so my 'work' in there will be very limited in regards to that.
The car doesn't care or need moving air. :rolleyes:

[Andrew Davis]

All I can add is, the best 4K I've ever spent was on a four post lift.

[egchewy79]

I have a mini split and have rarely used the AC function, even on the hottest days.
The heater however is imperative here in the midwest if you plan on doing work in the garage. Also if you're in a hard freeze zone, check your antifreeze concentration to make sure you don't crack a block, but doesn't sound like that'll affect you.

[CraigS]

Yes. I don't have the conditions you have but a window AC unit and a pedestal fan make a world of difference. You AC doesn't need to be sized to make the garage as cool as you would your living room. If it gets it down to 80F, it will also drop the humidity by a bunch. That and a fan will be a game changer.

[Mat1asBEV&ICE]

I live in the Boston suburbs and I am working on my car in a detached garage that has lots of shade and no AC. Like others have said, you should definitely get AC. I get quite hot and sweat a lot when working on the car. A fan will be nice too. We had a heat wave in the mid 90s last week. I tried working on the car but quit after 1.5 hours.

[Al_C]

My 2 cents: get as much humidity out of the air as you can. A/C is obviously the best choice, but I understand the complexities. If nothing, else, a dehumidifier and a fan will be a huge improvement.

[OB6]

My 2 cents: get as much humidity out of the air as you can. A/C is obviously the best choice, but I understand the complexities. If nothing, else, a dehumidifier and a fan will be a huge improvement.

+1. Although a dehumidifier produces heat, the reduction in humidity more than offsets it. I have one in our garage and it makes a noticeable difference.

[42Bfast]

I’m in Pensacola, near the water so we have a similar climate. I echo and amplify what Al_C said. Humidity is a far greater issue than heat for the car. Besides the obvious issues with surface rust on tools and other metal items, mold will be an issue at humidities over 65% or so. This is especially a concern in a closed fairly airtight structure. With our humidity levels often being in the 90+% it can become unhealthy for the car and for you.

In my experience, a dehumidifier is a must, even if you have A/C. Why? It’s correct that an AC unit will remove humidity when it is running. However , there are many days where the temperature is in the 70’s and low 80’s but the humidity is in the 90’s. With a well insulated building the AC may only kick on a time or two in a day, if that. Thus, it may not run enough to pull the moisture out of the air. A dehumidifier senses the humidity and runs based on the moisture level regardless of temperature. Thus, unless you have an AC/Mini Split that actually runs based on humidity, you will need both to do a good job for car and person.

[CaptB]

Memphis here. Mini-split was the way to go. Both for the heat and the cold.

[WB T]

I’m in Pensacola, near the water so we have a similar climate. I echo and amplify what Al_C said. Humidity is a far greater issue than heat for the car. Besides the obvious issues with surface rust on tools and other metal items, mold will be an issue at humidities over 65% or so. This is especially a concern in a closed fairly airtight structure. With our humidity levels often being in the 90+% it can become unhealthy for the car and for you.

In my experience, a dehumidifier is a must, even if you have A/C. Why? It’s correct that an AC unit will remove humidity when it is running. However , there are many days where the temperature is in the 70’s and low 80’s but the humidity is in the 90’s. With a well insulated building the AC may only kick on a time or two in a day, if that. Thus, it may not run enough to pull the moisture out of the air. A dehumidifier senses the humidity and runs based on the moisture level regardless of temperature. Thus, unless you have an AC/Mini Split that actually runs based on humidity, you will need both to do a good job for car and person.


Very good point regarding the a/c maybe running just a few times a day. I will have very good insulation. I guess I will definitely invest in a large dehumidifier

[mejhaha]

I did one summer in my new garage with ceiling/box fans and the humidity was definitely the killer.

I was also concerned about how much the AC would have to cycle just to get the humidity down, my garage also has a “tall” section for the lift as well as a “low” ceiling for the rest. For me even DIY mini-split was going to be >2k, so I got a decent dehumidifier and 2 squirrel cage fans. I know I don’t have $500 in the whole setup.

Very comfortable now.

[Bob Brandle]

I just bought and am now installing a portable A/C system in my garage to help combat the Phoenix, Arizona summer (5 months) extreme heat.
The summer heat has been here for a month now and with daily high temps over 100 outside, the garage temp has risen from a "work-in-able" 80 to a pretty consistent 90+ and rising. And that's with trying to not drive my daily driver in and out of the garage with a fully hot engine. I've recently parked it outside until well into the evening and only then bring it into the garage. The general heat-sink setting into everything outside and now to most of the garage internal, makes that futile.

The new 12,000 BTU Black & Decker Portable A/C Unit is being set up. With no windows in the garage or ability to cut a hole in the walls or garage door for the A/C unit exhaust I'll set up the exhaust hose to be routed to and thru the close by clothes dryer vent in the laundry room. I will have an inline blower installed (Vivosun Z4 4 in. Inline duct fan from Amazon), needed to assist the A/C unit's exhaust fan and also a "flapper door anti-backflow" hose plates unit (Cinch Wall Plate Adapter at Amazon) installed so the dryer air doesn't go thru the A/C blower or ducting to and into the A/C unit. Likewise, I've installed a similar "flapper door anti-backflow" hose plate at the outlet of the dryer so that the A/C unit's hot air exhaust doesn't go into the dryer. Both systems can't be running at the same time.

I'm hoping I can get a 10-degree garage air temp drop. The 12,000 BTU unit is way too small to cool the entire 2-car garage as if it was an inside the house room, it's just to help. Otherwise, it'll be a long 5 months of little ability to work much in the garage. Guess that's the penalty of then having 7 months of gorgeous weather in Arizona from October thru April.

In case you're wondering, I built my FFR Type-65 Coupe in another two homes that had full A/C in the garage. One 3-car garage had a window mounted A/C unit and the other 4-car garage had central air, even in the garage.

[WB T]

Quick update here. Went ahead with the garage build. Its getting pretty close to done. I updated the OP with pics of the current progress. Thanks for the suggestions in here

[GoDadGo]

Where in South Louisiana do you live?

We've got a few folk over here on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in Slidell, Mandeville & Covington.

[Nickjj]

Something else to consider with your garage is storage when building your roadster. I have a 12x24 foot garage built as high as I could within bylaw regulations in my neighborhood. The height allowed me store the body of the cobra on a body buck up high above the chassis which it gets built first. I also have storage above the roll up garage door where are the boxes of parts for the build are stored. It's tight but works fine. Here is a pic of my garage setup.
207852

[WB T]

Where in South Louisiana do you live?

We've got a few folk over here on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in Slidell, Mandeville & Covington.

baton rouge

[Wingman06]

I live on the KY TN boarder near MO. In the summer it gets to 100 at times with humidity and we get some snow in the winter. I have about the same space but no other cars. I use a widow AC unit in the summer and a propane heater in the winter and it works just fine. Check out these videos. The first one is actually about 100 hours into the build but it's a review of what I learned and the second one is my delivery day. Hopefully they help.

https://youtu.be/S5Do6FtEvUU
https://youtu.be/rmjjZcr5RJ8

Jim

[MB750]

I don't know if you pulled the trigger on AC for the garage yet but I can tell you from my experience, it's a must. I'm in Tampa and between Memorial Day and early October my garage is insufferable to do anything in. Mine's a 2+1 car (3 car with divider wall) and I put a large window unit towards the back of that wall. It cools the 2-car side and heats up the 1-car side. I just had to put a small cat box under it to collect condensate. If I need to do anything during that timeframe I fire up the window unit a good hour before I even start working out there. It does a great job pulling moisture, but in the summer it never cycles off even when set at 82F, and I have an insulated garage door.

If I were to do it again, I'd get a mini-split but I'd make sure to oversize it a little. That way it would do a better job of pulling humidity out of the air. Yes, it would short-cycle if it ever reached setpoint, but considering the application of removing moisture rather than long term space conditioning, bigger is better (to an extent, of course).

[GoDadGo]

baton rouge

That will make your registration process a lot easier.

..Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

[rich grsc]

A mini-split is money well spent, unlike a window unit. It's like comparing a Cobra to a Prius

[WB T]

I don't know if you pulled the trigger on AC for the garage yet but I can tell you from my experience, it's a must. I'm in Tampa and between Memorial Day and early October my garage is insufferable to do anything in. Mine's a 2+1 car (3 car with divider wall) and I put a large window unit towards the back of that wall. It cools the 2-car side and heats up the 1-car side. I just had to put a small cat box under it to collect condensate. If I need to do anything during that timeframe I fire up the window unit a good hour before I even start working out there. It does a great job pulling moisture, but in the summer it never cycles off even when set at 82F, and I have an insulated garage door.

If I were to do it again, I'd get a mini-split but I'd make sure to oversize it a little. That way it would do a better job of pulling humidity out of the air. Yes, it would short-cycle if it ever reached setpoint, but considering the application of removing moisture rather than long term space conditioning, bigger is better (to an extent, of course).

I already bought the mini split. 1.5 tons. We are just waiting until the garage door is delivered before we hook it up. I am a big fan of mini splits. I have 2 already and theyre very efficient

[MB750]

I already bought the mini split. 1.5 tons. We are just waiting until the garage door is delivered before we hook it up. I am a big fan of mini splits. I have 2 already and theyre very efficient

Cool, I'm sure it'll do a fine job. I've put a few of them in myself. I was an HVAC tech for the USAF, but I kept that skill going the rest of my life by doing HVAC work for myself and friends/family as needed. Mini splits have gotten pretty easy to install. The last one I put in was for a house I was renting in San Diego. It didn't have AC and I was willing to install it for my own comfort. The Landlord ended up paying me dollar for dollar on the expense when I left too, mostly because I just made his home more valuable.

Just make sure you pull a good vacuum and leak check before opening the condenser to charge the line set.