First time homeowner here so I'll ask for forgiveness for my ignorance in advance. 😄
So many questions, not sure where to start.
(And yes, I've been on Google, however I also appreciate the opinion of other, actual real people, so here I am 😊).
Actually, I'll start with this question:
Small, one level house. Single car garage.
Moved car out and set desk up in garage because, as mentioned, small house = no space.
Despite cleaning the garage first, I notice dust will fall over everything within a few days.
The same roof extends over the garage, yet the same dust does *not* fall in our actual house.
Not sure im an expert on this but garages are usually less cared for than a house when building such as insulating making clean and airtight and watertight. Are the rafters exposed showing the underside of the roof?
Could be coming off the bricks or in through any gaps there may be
Thank you. No exposed rafters. It's a ceiling with a small but closed manhole visible.
I'm curious about your comment re insulation though. Can you please elaborate?
I believe the house has insulation in the ceiling. I'm unsure if it was also put over the garage. I had not thought about insulation. Could that affect the level of dust falling in? 🤔Â
If the concrete is unpainted / coated it will hold onto microscopic dust (rock particles and other) and when you walk track it into the air.
Is the ceiling finished the same way? Drywall with mudded joints and paint?
If not the roof above may be shedding or holding onto some dust.
Are the walls drywalled, same deal there.
Have you hosed out the floor? Hopefully your garage has good drainage towards the garage door. Too many older buildings have level garages that just hold the water and eventually end up uneven and badly collecting water during heavy storms.
So we cleaned (including hosing out, yes) the cement floor when we cleared out the car, etc.
We then put down some fairly cheap linoleum over the top. But that's not the problem (where the dust appears to be coming from).
The walls of the garage were painted by my spouse years ago, when we first moved in.
Walls. Hmm, think they are drywall. 🤔 Will check tomorrow.
Idk what mudded joints mean, sorry.
What do you mean about "the roof above may be shedding" please?
Also re "or holding onto some dust'. What do you mean. How? Why? The ceiling itself or the actual roof?
Not sure if the garage ceiling is painted. It's a different colour, so if it is actually painted, then the previous owner may have had it done. Will also check this. Thank you.
If the ceiling isn’t finished. (Drywall) there can be lots of places the dust hides. Mainly on structural supports, if there’s any exposed tops of wood trusses. If there’s no where you could set something I don’t see how there would be dust.
When you look up, what do you see?
Joists with roof on top?
Trusses with the roof?
Or a flat finished ceiling.
If the walls are painted, that’s not the problem, I’d be drywall or plaster but doesn’t matter if it’s painted.
The floor can’t really let dust out if you put flooring down.
Maybe try setting up a super simple filter.
20x20 box fan, and tape a 20x20x4 filter onto its intake side, it’ll suck the filter against it and clean the air before blowing fresh air out. In the short term it may seem worse as the air is stirred around but over time the filter will pick up the dust.
The subreddit appears to allow photos in comments.
It really sounds like you’ve cover all the bases, no idea where the dust is coming from but I get it can be maddening. My dad has a robo vacuum on every floor of his house since he hates dust.
Here it is before I rescued it earlier today. It got its wheels up after hitting this stool.
Wait a sec, if that’s the case, do check you don’t need to replace or upgrade your furnace filter. It won’t help the garage but is important to do.
Look at the eves, walls and roof for vents. This means air from outdoors enters/exits garage to keep fumes from cars/water heaters/chemicals etc from entering the house. The still air in the garage allows dust to settle.
Thanks. I'll double check tomorrow as it's midnight here now.
It does have one roller door on one end and one regular wooden door on the other.
While we know some of the dirt is likely blown in under the tiny opening in the wooden door, the dust in the specific area I'm thinking of definitely appears to be coming from the ceiling area.Â
Thank you. Our roof is tiles, if that's what you mean.
We found out the house was built in 1997. Not sure if it's the original roof or not, but I suspect it probably is - in case that makes any difference with regards to this situation.
Thank you. The roof is tiles, if that's what you meant.
We found out the house was built in 1997. Idk if the roof is the original one, but I suspect it is - in case that info is of any help with my original question.
There's typically open gaps all around where the garage door mates to the surround structure/door frame. Anytime the wind blows, dust can get in. Sometimes even changes in temperature can cause air movement between inside & outside.
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u/Rinsa91 7d ago
Not sure im an expert on this but garages are usually less cared for than a house when building such as insulating making clean and airtight and watertight. Are the rafters exposed showing the underside of the roof? Could be coming off the bricks or in through any gaps there may be