Hi guys,
I live in Florida and would like to ask members who live here for advise. I am planning on putting my first layout in the garage. This state being so humid, is there anything that I should know? Is it ok to have a layout in the garage. Thanks guys
Glen
Unless you seal and dehumidify or air-condition the garage, or use brass or nickel-silver rail, I would not be optimistic.
Bob Nelson
We actually had a similar question some time ago. It'll be ok to put a layout in the garage. I've had a tubular layout in my bedroom with my windows constantly open and have had no problems.
Some things you can do to help if you want, is to insulate as much as possible, run a dehumidifier and or the AC.
BTW, what track are you planning on running?
Heat may be as big a problem as humidity. I've never lived in Florida, but I have lived in Mississippi. And I know that daytime summer temperatures in an enclosed space like a garage can easily be hazardous to the health of toy trains.
I left some O-27 track in the garage for several years and it became totally rusty and useless. The humidity and heat in Florida will destroy trains. The die cast zinc does not like heat and moisture. The steel parts of the rolling stock will rust along with the track. If you want to make a layout in the garage, make sure the garage is air conditioned.
Bruce Baker
I was thinking of Atlas or Gargraves. Thanks
I was thinking of Atlas or Gargraves.
Thanks
Atlas is nickel silver as mentioned above, so that'll be ok. I think Gargraves makes a line of stainless steel track, so that'll work. Along with insulation, make sure the space above your garage is ventilated. That will help reduce the load on the AC.
Three things come to mind:
1) Lizards & lizard pooh
2) Cockroaches & cockroach pooh
3) Humidity & well, humidity
and
Hurricanes.
Okay, that was four things.
Regards,
Timboy, The Busted Guy
Well, to deal with the cockroaches, you got lizards. Now to deal with the lizards, you got cats and/or small dogs.
As for hurricanes, a cat 1, you sleep in. A cat 2 or 3 you go surfing, a cat 4, party time, a cat 5, you blame HAARP.
Timboy Three things come to mind: 1) Lizards & lizard pooh 2) Cockroaches & cockroach pooh 3) Humidity & well, humidity and Hurricanes. Okay, that was four things. Regards, Timboy, The Busted Guy
I jest; yet I have a strong basis for what I wrote last night. When we moved into our current house, the large basement was wide open and I built a large Flyer layout. We also had three indoor cats. They wreaked havoc on that layout! It was disgusting! I had to build a 20 foot wall with a door to keep them out. The serendipity was that it made a beautiful train room! I have a sister-in-law who lives in Tampa. You can't leave anything out on her patio between dusk and dawn. When you go out there at that time, the lizards look like a scene from "Gremlins". We brought a huge cockroach home with us that had smuggled it'self into our luggage. Lucky it hadn't laid any eggs that hatched! I shudder to think what those and other creatures would do on a layout in a garage and what would happen if one found it's way into a loco or transformer (admittedly unlikely, but possible). Also, trains and water don't mix. Humidity = water, therefore trains and humidity don't mix. Hurricanes have both wind and water; other storms do as well. Garage roofs sometimes leak. Wind carries dust. Dust is a terrible nuisance on a layout; getting on the rails and wheels and well, everywhere. Unless that garage is about as well-built as a house and dehumidified, I see no upside to having a layout in a garage in Florida or anywhere else for that matter. A neighbor of mine once had bat doo-doo to deal with landing on her car. More frustration that joy having a railroad in a typical garage, IMHO. But there are shining examples of splendid layouts in garages! So all garages are not created equal; or maybe they are but some are more equal than others.
I think I pretty much said it much more succinctly last night. lololololol
Timboy, The American Flyer Nerd
I think I will insulate first. Anyway i don't have any intentions of leaving my trains there. I just want a layout that I can use on the weekends.
Question about the A/C. Do I still need it if its just the tracks and maybe a few accessories?
Thanks for all the advise guys.
First Timer I think I will insulate first. Anyway i don't have any intentions of leaving my trains there. I just want a layout that I can use on the weekends. Question about the A/C. Do I still need it if its just the tracks and maybe a few accessories?
Glen -
Wait until August, see how long you can stay in the garage, and then ask yourself the same question. In humid FL you will at least need a dehumidifier.
We moved from deep South Texas to South Central Texas a few years back. It gets humid here in summer but not like it did down South. The garage ceiling and walls are insulated and finished, as if the garage was at one time going to be made into a room. I'm putting my layout in the garage, mainly so I can make a guilt-free mess, but in the summer it's awfully warm out there. Nights it's not so terrible, but days...
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Hi, Texas Pete,
I know, it can be like hell in there. I will try to get it insulated and put an a/c in there.
Before you spend a lot of money, keep in mind that every time the garage door opens all that climate controlled air is going to whoosh out!
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Penny Trains Before you spend a lot of money, keep in mind that every time the garage door opens all that climate controlled air is going to whoosh out! Becky
That is why you lock and or bolt the garage door shut.
Now for to get more serious, If you use Gargraves stainless steel track buy it with wood ties, as plastic can warp due to the heat factor.
BTW, it is almost 80 degrees here in south Florida this afternoon, West Palm Beach.
Lee F.
#2 84 degrees here in Orlando
And loving it!!!
phillyreading BTW, it is almost 80 degrees here in south Florida this afternoon, West Palm Beach. Lee F.
If you're a recent arrival from "Up North" and get over heated on an 80 degree day, don't build in the garage. In fact don't leave the house.
Last year, I decided to move my small layout inside from the garage in Florida, tear the layout down and build a new one. The garage concept was great in the winter, but horrible from May - November.
I'd definitely build the layout inside, even if it means downsizing the layout a bit. (Have you already settled on a track plan?) You'll be much happier in the long run and may actually spend more time "working" on your railroad empire as a result.
Let us know what you decide.
This is my fourth year for my medium size 5x16 American Flyer cabinet-top layout inside my garage in Arizona. The garage concept worked out great for me. I needed more storage space for my wife’s Christmas decorations along with my train layout and collection. I went ahead and replace the singe large door with two insulated doors, which gave my house more curb appeal. I already had cabinets built into the full length of the garage on the far side. So I just added free standing walk around cabinets four feet high, sixteen feet long, and five feet wide. This way it gave my wife 320 sq. feet of more storage space, and me a place to build my S Gauge AF layout.
Being in Arizona we have four season like everyone else, spring, summer, fall, and dry heat! Dry heat, is the time of year when it gets above 110 degrees, with humidity of (12%) We get a little dust that time of year which adds to the weathering look on train layout. This winter was a little on cool side, like everyone else around the country, but by midday you can open the garage door and let the sun shine in. Spring is now, March-June. Dry Heat time is July thru September, that is when you get up early an open the garage door till it gets to 85-90 degrees. Then shut door and turn on the air conditioning in the garage. Air conditioning will last till around noon, then its a loosing battle. Its now time to jump in the pool and have some lunch, ice tea and sit down read a good model train magazine.
Az-Flyer
“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”
AZ-Flyer@American Flyer Cabinet-top Layout (5'x16'): http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/
After 18 years in Florida, I moved back to New Jersey.
I had a layout in the garage and fairly big, 16 X 8. Early Spring, Summer and early Fall were horrible, way too hot. And if I ever opened the garage door, mosquitos....late December to early March was was too cold.
I really didn't care for the climate, so I moved back. At least in the spring to fall the weather is more tolerable. I'm in the process of finding a new place to live and will have the layout inside.
Good luck
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
I live in central Florida. I have a phobia about roaches and can't stand the heat. That said, I decided to put my layout outside in a shed. (Handi-House wooden frame,aluminum siding.) I sealed the shed myself and i mean SEALED. Then I used an old trick i learned when I rented in New Jersey. Heavy sprinkling of Comet cleanser all around inside joices.(This won't kill roaches but they don't like to cross it.)Then I insulated and put in walls. I installed a 5000 BTU window unit and keep it set a 77 all year round. Its not the heat or the cold that promotes rust ,but the changes in-between that make for condensation. That promotes rust.So far so good, I have had it now for ten years with no rust or any bug problems. I spray the doorway once a month with bug juice as that is the only openning left.
Ed
AZFlyer - You mentioned about your winters and this year being a little on the cool side, just curious as to how cool is cool? BTW, I've visited your blog often and it's great! Keep on updating, please!
ANJDevil2 - I hear ya! As we Jersians go, I believe anywhere in the basement or a spare room in the house is the only way to go here!
A Flyer Fan,
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
Ray,
It got down into the 20's across the valley a month ago. We had a real hard frost. I lost a big tree along with some shrubs. I just hope it comes back when we get some rainthis week end. I did a link to a picture of Four Peaks right out my front door, so you can see we sometimes get snow here. It's a great place to live in the valley of the sun.A lot of houses for sale, like every where else....great time to buy, but not to sell. I’m going out into the garage and run some trains before it gets to cold out there.
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc34334.php
Have a good weekend,
AZ-Flyer:
Good for you! You are waving and carrying the banner for all American Flyer enthusiasts in Arizona. From Pennsyltucky, I salute you, AZ-Flyer in Arizona. Keep up the great work! Our hobby needs you! May your Flyers always run often & well and smoke clouds!
I am located in Riverview Fl. I still have not started my layout. I have decided on enclosing my lanai where I can easily install an ac or leave it as it is since I have central ac. How is your layout coming?
Having lived in Fla. for over 30 years I must say that the garage was not a great place for a model RR in the summer. It stayed at 90+ in the garage even if it was 80s outside.
I had built the attached 1200+ sq. ft. garage to house my race car originally. After I sold the car I did put a small 8x16' setup in there but it was unusable in the warmer months.
Nice, i am having my lanai enclosed so i can at least put an 8 x 16 layout at the most. I had my garage insulated and everything but because i live in a deed restricted community, my option of installing an A/C is not going to work. I can't even put a small vent for a portable unit.
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