Condensation can be an issue in storage sheds. If it happens too frequently, it may cause tools to rust, dampen cardboard boxes and ruin their contents or cause other issues. Luckily, with the right strategies, you can reduce condensation and its effects in your shed.

Here are four things that can help.

1. Tiles and Tar 

If rain water is leaking through holes in the roof of your storage shed, that water will seep into the items in your shed as well as the walls and floor of your shed if they are made of porous materials such as wood, cement or fabric. On a dry day, that moisture will condense, form water droplets and moisten everything in the shed again.

To stop this cycle, you need to patch any holes in your shed roof. Spread some roofing tar over the holes and press a roofing tile over the tar. Paint some more tar over the top of the tile to create a waterproof layer.

If you have a metal roof on your shed, you need to use a piece of thin scrap metal, and attach it to the roof with a bit of sealant designed for metal roofs.

2. Moisture Barrier

If your shed floor is porous, it will harbour any moisture that gets in, and the moisture, as explained above, will lead to more condensation. To stop that effect, install a moisture barrier over your floor.

If you have a cement slab, paint it with a waterproof sealant. If you have a dirt floor, consider placing a sealed timber floor over it or at least lay several water-resistant tarps over the ground.

3. A Drill

As condensation occurs, the water vapor travels upward on waves of hot air. When it reaches a solid point like the roof of your shed, it stops and turns into water droplets. These, in turn, fall back on your shed floor or your stored items.

To reduce this effect, let the rising water vapors escape. To give them a path outward, add ventilation to your shed. Use a drill to put small holes along the very top of the shed walls. These holes should be shielded by the overhang of the roof so they won't allow rainwater into your shed. They will just let water vapor out.

4. Insulation

Changes in temperature are necessary for condensation, and to keep your storage shed at a more consistent temperature, consider insulating it. You can glue batting insulation of the walls or line them with old cardboard.

For more tips on reducing the condensation in your shed, contact a storage shed expert.

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