Storage advice

[Tournesol]

Good afternoon all,

Thinking of moving home and one I have eyes on don't have a garage as such but I could get an allocated underground parking slot. I'll need to check my insurance would still cover the car against theft and there is of course the danger of other users rubbing their doors against mine but that already happened once last year in Italy on a restaurant's car park... Do you think it would be fine to keep the car clear of osmosis etc? I've read somewhere that covers aren't good for our cars, anyone has an update on this? My paint is not premium but ok.

Many thanks.
Bruno

[S3FHC]

Hello Bruno,

could you use a Carcoon in the underground parking area?
(not sure if you have space, power supply or the security to use one?)

Mark

[stugilmour]

Bruno, if it is dry and out of the weather I think using a light breathable cover should be OK. I have used them inside the garage or storage locker without issue.

Where I have had problems is a breathable cover becoming wet in the rain, and then causing small blisters as it dried out. In my case, I removed the cover immediately, the car dried, and blisters cleared themselves up. Never used it outside again. We have a pretty dry climate here, but it gets very cold over the winter.

Stu

[elansprint]

Bruno I would never cover my cars most of which are fibreglass seen too many micro blister even steel cars a friend had a concours mg midget in a dry garage with a breathable cover micro blisters all over the car
Ian

[alan.barker]

+1 imho never ever use covers but that's just my opinion. I'm sure others will come along and say the opposite.
Alan

[rgh0]

A light weight cotton cover used in a garage that is dry should not cause any problems ... at least it has not in my experience where I use them to keep dust off. The climate here is dry. Micro blisters start when moisture is trapped by a cover against the paint so you need a cover that breathes,and a relatively low humidity to prevent this

cheers
Rohan

[richardcox_lotus]

I wouldn't use a cover if there's any risk of damp or big humidity changes. You can always wash the dust off.

[elanfan1]

Short answer is don't move there! where will you be able to do those small jobs you don't want to pay ?100 an hour for, where will you keep your tools, where will you plug in an inspection lamp or a battery charger? How secure is the entrance if not at all thieves just get the privacy to do what they like undercover.

I know property prices are ridiculous in London and South East but is it worth moving out a little further for a property with a nice garage?

A friend restored a DHC S4 to a lovely standard. Left it in his attached garage in a modernish dry house and covered with a thin breathable cotton cover - car now covered in micro blisters. Don't do it!

The endeth the sermon for today....

[tcsoar]

Finished my car about five years ago and it is stored in a dry unheated garage when not in use. It is covered with one of the breathable covers bought via Club Lotus, I think the company was Hamilton, and has been in use pretty much as soon as it was finshed. If the car goes in the garage wet I will dry it straight away and then leave a few days before covering.

Not yet had a problem with paint blisters.

Chris.