Update: I moved my Civic from a tarp carport to a sealed storage unit and the rust is finally slowing down

Jesse Thompson · 2026-10-08T16:20:04.496833+00:00

I want to push back on the common advice here that a breathable carport is always kinder to a stored car than a sealed unit. For two winters in Rochester I kept my 1998 Civic under a fabric carport with a cheap tarp floor, and every March I found new bubbling on the rear quarter panels. The carport trapped damp air under the roof, and the concrete slab underneath sweated right through. Last October I rented a 10x20 sealed unit at a place off Ridge Road for $95 a month and put a $60 dehumidifier in the corner set to 45 percent. Six months later the underside looks the same as when I parked it, no new rust spots and the brake rotors never got that hairy orange coat. The sealed unit keeps outside moisture out, and the fan on the dehumidifier moves enough air that I do not get that musty smell in the trunk anymore. I know people worry about paint breathing but I open the doors for an hour once a month and that seems to handle it. Anyone else switched from a carport to a sealed space, and did you notice the same thing or did I just get lucky with this unit?

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Update: I moved my Civic from a tarp carport to a sealed storage unit and the rust is finally slowing down | Car Storage - HW Forums