HELP: Moving all my retro gear to garage. Need it to last!

[treepop]

Hey guys/gals,

Just like the title says. I am being evicted from my "Man Room". My wife is pregnant and we need my "Man Room" to become the Nursery.

The only real option is my garage. My concern is the humidity ruining all of my gear. I still need a functioning garage, so I can just use temporary sheet-rock and insulation to block off the garage doors.

Are their doors that exist that will block out the humidity? Are their ways to easily/cheaply maintain a decent room temperature?

Thanks for any input you may have.

[Luke]

This could either be a great or stupid idea:

How about those sealed storage bags that you vacuum the air out of, and then place them in plastic storage?

[fastbilly1]

This could either be a great or stupid idea:

How about those sealed storage bags that you vacuum the air out of, and then place them in plastic storage?

Id just put them in plastic storage and if it is something I wont be playing for a while, tape the box.

[Hobie-wan]

You're in Houston as I recall, other than sealed bags or containers, humidity is going to get in the garage.

[CRTGAMER]

I wonder if even a sealed bag which still has air inside would get humidity since it is still exposed to cold temperatures. Even if the bags were vacuumed out to a point of "Saran Wrap", there is still air trapped inside the console, controllers and game carts or cases. Maybe some desiccant bags inside the sealed bags might help. Even this is a risk of moist air corrosion damage if left too long in the garage.

If the Garage is the only option and keeping the consoles hooked up, it will need some kind of climate control. Just sealing with sheet rock and insulated doors may not be enough if there is no heater for the cold nights.

[ninjainspandex]

Have you considered a divorce yet?

[Ziggy]

Not sure how humid your garage will get, so it might be a losing battle, but try using a dehumidifier. My man cave is in the basement, and it gets humid down there (it gets really humid on Long Island). I try and let the dehumidifier run full blast all the time, the only trick is remembering to empty the water. By comparison, my garage never gets as humid as the basement, so I think it would be worth it. Just try to keep the boxes/totes/whatever lower rather than higher. On a 80 degree day it's easily 120 degrees in the peak of my garage (I have a little loft up there).

[GirlGamer55]

Ok very odd idea...and might be to much of a hassle...have you thought about building a single room shed like thing in your yard (if you have one)? I'v seen some nice ones made up to become the new "man cave" after a collection of whatever became to much for the wife to handle.

Theres even some really pricy ones that have heating and cooling systems installed in them, so it's like a very tiny house or aparment.

Also maybe if you have money look into renting a storage locker. Usually those are tempature controlled (at least here), but with all these storage auction shows popping up thiefs are breaking into them more often then they used to be.

If nothing else inlist the help of a fellow gamer you trust with your life...I mean collection and ask them if they have some storage room for a bit until you can figure out a good way to keep your collection safe from everything (encase it all in lead?).

[01toubib]

Are their doors that exist that will block out the humidity? Are their ways to easily/cheaply maintain a decent room temperature?

Thanks for any input you may have.

You can get a pretty well insulated garage, I built one to work on my vehicles during the rough Michigan winters. That said it was not cheap. A good dehumidifier to cover enough area in a two car garage will set you back nearly $1000 and insulation costs are even higher (even if you do it yourself).

My suggestion is find another room to be honest. Are you able to have storage space in the basement? I think you might need to reconsider the garage as the humidity will damage your collection.

[Hobie-wan]

Are you able to have storage space in the basement?

This is Houston. There are no basements, only underground pools that someone foolishly thought they might try making a basement.