I am planning to build a switching layout in my garage in Fort Myers, Fla. I am concerned with the heat and humidity during the summer months in a Non air conditioned garage. Will scenery and builings be affected? I know that the track expands in the heat but what other conditios should I be concerned with?
Your biggest concern would be wood expanding and contracting with humidity changes. This is much worse than the rails which are metal. In fact some folks have experimented and found that rail expansion is really not a concern.
Personally, if I couldn’t A/C the garage, I would build inside even though it would be much smaller…
Good luck,
Paul
All plant materials that you use will need to be sprayed with Lysol or other bacteria-mold-fungus killer. The high humidity will make it almost certain that things will start “growing” on your layout. You will only need to treat plant parts. Ground foam and plaster are apparently not good growing mediums.
For one person’s experience with “growing” trees, see “Super Detail in N Scale” on Art Fahie’s N scale layout in the 2012 issue of Great Model Railroads. The relevant section in on pages 22-23, “Scenic features and surprises.”
You really should consider air conditioning that garage, even if it is an in-window air conditioner. They also make outside-inside units for single rooms that just require a couple small holes in the wall. An un-air conditioned garage in summer, in Florida, is going to be a very uncomfortable work space.
S&S
If you do decide to attempt climate control, I strongly advise adding insulation as well. Some 1-1/2 inch beadboard applied to the east-facing metal door of my otherwise un-climate-controlled garage has made the difference between uncomfortable and unliveable.
OTOH, since the Dessicated Desert seldom sees anything resembling humidity (10% is considered high) I don’t have problems with mold. I DO have problems with wood that dries into unuseable shapes, which is why my benchwork is steel and I don’t have anything that even resembles a tabletop.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
UNCOMFORTABLE??? Even with garage door open and two windows and back door open,fan blowing, its an OVEN …I’m mid state in Eustis .
Flip
Thanks guys, good thoughts. BOB
I belong to a modular club in Minnesota. There are times when we bring the layout in from a below zero trailer to a 70 degree mall. The wood is still moving two days later. Consistent is the main thing to control this.
If the heat and humidity is as bad as has been described, I think that scenery, buildings, and track would be the least of my concerns. I think I’d be more concerned that I wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) be out there in the first place. I’m in Pennsylvania and it has been in the mid-80s for about a week, and I have no interest in doing anything out in my non-air conditioned garage.
Under those conditions, anything you build that is wood (benchwork, structures, etc.) will warp, and, as previously mentioned, mold is also a problem. I would think that the comfort level would be a bit unbearable most of the year, as summer there starts in about mid February and lasts through November.
The chart below explains why you just don’t want to do it … in Florida or Georgia (where I am) in an non airconditioned space.
Besides the toll it would take on the layout, as explained by others, it just wouldn’t be a lot of fun.
That’s kinda where I was heading…but was waiting for someone else to raise the issue. My greatest concern would be my health.
Verdonck,
As you know garages without A/C in Florida can feel “sticky” during the July thru September period. As suggested it may not be a bad idea to invest in a simple 110V window A/C unit as this would help with the humidity levels and cut down on the expansion/contraction headaches. Is your garage equipped with a window? If so, piece of cake. If not and have to resort to cutting out a hole in your concrete or wooden wall, you may have to obtain a permit.
A very well known modeler and member of a railroad historical society has a nice garage layout. I visit him quite a bit. It’s cooled by his home’s central air system. I think he just had one overhead duct extended into the garage and it did not cost him a pile of money to do it.
Lighting: I would respectfully suggest avoiding incandescent lighting as it can only make things warmer. Traditional fluorescents are common but can make some of your models’ colors appear strange. Daylight corrected energy efficent bulbs and now, LEDs, are coming down in price and give off pleasant, realistic light without raising temperature levels.
Not mentioned on this thread: Insects.
Nothing to panic about, but keep in mind that it helps to keep your garage as “bug free” as possible. Doesn’t have to be an expensive venture.
- Laying a line of Boric Acid next to the walls is very helpful. Roaches, palmetto bugs (flying roaches), and other insects eat the boric acid off of
Have you considered building your benchwork out of steel framing studs? A bit of a real headache to cut and screw together but at least warping and shrinking issues would be forever eliminated. Most Home Depots now carry steel studs, and a basic powered miter saw with a metal cutting blade would easily cut them and a power drill using self drilling metal screws or bolts and appropriate steel connector angles would give you one heckova solid yet light frame to build on top of. Just suggesting…
And what about alligators and piranhas?
I’ve read this thread a few times and some idea’s sound okay,but what is left out,is the most. (in my opinion) important thing that should be done,insulate your garage roof,with a couple of vents in the roof to let the heat out,remember heat rise’s and even if you put A/C in it ,it will still be hot,cold air stays low…
Cheers,
Frank
Hi,
My layout is in a spare room within the climate controlled house. However, as I live north of Houston and we have similar climate issues as does Florida, I can relate.
My garage is attached to the house. When the house was built, I had them insulate and sheetrock the garage - walls and ceiling. Recently I epoxied the floor (highly recommended).
The garage is otherwise not climate controlled, but the finishing of the walls, floor, ceiling goes a long way in keeping the effects of our weather at bay. Said another way, stuff just doesn’t rust or otherwise suffer as they would in an unfinished structure.
Note, you can even get insulated garage doors. I don’t have one, but if I had a layout it the garage I would have.
IMO, the most important thing is to seal off the area with the layout. The amount of dust and “stuff” floating around an open area like an unfinished garage is significant. BTW, finishing the floor was a major help in this area!
You would have to special-order it, but a base of 2-inch pink foam would be a good material, as it does not absorb moisture and will not swell with humidity. If you use plywood, you will have serious problems keeping your track in place as the plywood expands and contracts. Combined with the steel studs shown above, foam would give you a layout base, at least, that will not be a problem with moisture.
Have you considered building the layout in a modular fashion, so that you could work on it and perhaps even set it up indoors where it’s cooler, and only use the garage for storage or for running the layout in the winter? Once again, a steel-studs-and-foam construction would be ideal, as the sections could be very light weight and easy to transport.
Hi, I can tell you I have the same issues since I too live in FL, Miami to be exacte. Scenery so far is been no problems just make sure you seal the garage for pest. I had issues with Palmetto bugs (big roach) and the river on layout made from sculptamold. They love it !!! kept eating it up but leaving the clump foliage LOL. Fogged the garage and seal as best I could and have not had the issue for several months, but with summer here will have to see what happens.