Garage ventilation in Exeter
Professional garage ventilation services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£160
Typical Duration
1.5-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Garage ventilation installed properly - air bricks, wall vents, roof vents fitted. Solve condensation, damp, and fume problems. Get fresh air circulating.
Sort The Damp Problem
Your garage smells musty, tools go rusty, everything feels damp. Or you work on the car and fumes just hang there. Classic signs of poor ventilation.
Proper vents = air circulation, condensation gone, garage stays drier, tools last longer.
💡 Pro tip: Attached garages legally need ventilation for safety (fuel/exhaust fumes). But even detached garages benefit massively - stops that damp, musty smell.
Why Ventilation Matters
Not just about smell:
| ✅ Well Ventilated | ❌ Sealed Up |
|---|---|
| Dry, no condensation | Wet walls, condensation dripping |
| Tools don't rust | Rust on everything metal |
| No musty smell | Reeks of damp |
| Paint fumes clear | Headache-inducing fumes linger |
Reality: Garages generate moisture (from cars, concrete, temperature changes). Needs somewhere to go or you get damp and condensation.
Pricing Guide
| Ventilation Work | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single air brick fitted | 1-1.5 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Two air bricks (cross ventilation) | 1.5-2 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Multiple vents/complex install | 2-3 hrs | £135-£185 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes cutting holes, fitting vents. You supply vents or I can pick them up.
Types of Ventilation
🔧 Air bricks (most common):
- Brick-sized vents through wall
- Allows permanent air flow
- Standard solution for most garages
📦 Hit-and-miss vents:
- Adjustable opening
- Can close partially in winter
- Good for heated garages
⚠️ Roof/soffit vents:
- High-level ventilation
- Lets hot air/fumes escape
- Often combined with low-level vents
Why Choose Us for Garage ventilation in Exeter?
Proper air flow established
Condensation reduced
Damp prevented
Fumes vented safely
What to Expect
Step 1: Plan Positioning
Work out where vents should go for best cross-ventilation, check for obstacles behind walls.
Step 2: Cut & Install
Cut holes through wall (brick drill or angle grinder), fit vents securely, point around if needed.
Step 3: Check Air Flow
Make sure air is flowing, vents aren't blocked, everything's weathertight.
🔧 DIY Tips
Installing air bricks yourself is possible but messy:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Brick cutting disc and angle grinder OR SDS drill with brick cutter
- Safety glasses and dust mask (essential - very dusty)
- Spirit level
- Pointing trowel and mortar
- The air bricks themselves
📐 Positioning
- Low level - near floor for intake
- High level - opposite wall, near roof for exhaust
- Cross ventilation - air flows through, not just in and out same spot
- Avoid obstacles - check what's behind wall before cutting
🔩 Installation
- Mark air brick position (use spirit level)
- Cut/drill hole through wall (size of air brick)
- Clean hole, remove debris
- Fit air brick from outside
- Point around edges with mortar
- Fit internal grille if you want
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not checking behind wall (hitting cables/pipes)
- Cutting wonky holes (air brick doesn't fit)
- Not sealing edges (water gets in)
- Too few vents (doesn't solve problem)
- Vents too high (don't get cross-flow)
💡 Pro trick: Position one vent low on door-side wall, another high on opposite wall. Creates natural air flow - cold air in low, warm air out high. Much more effective than two vents at same height.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Building regs: Attached garages need minimum 1/150th floor area in permanent ventilation. That's usually 2-4 air bricks. Inspectors do check this on conversions/new builds.
Condensation science: Warm car enters cold garage, temperature difference creates condensation on walls and stored items. Ventilation lets moisture escape rather than soaking in.
Cavity walls: If you've got cavity walls, air bricks need telescopic sleeves through the cavity. Standard air bricks only work on single-skin walls.
Mesh/grilles: Get vents with integral mesh to keep mice and insects out. They will try to nest in there otherwise.
Winter closing: Hit-and-miss vents can be partially closed in winter, but never fully closed. You always need some air flow to prevent damp.
Garage conversions: Converting garage to room? Ventilation requirements change completely - needs proper building control approval for habitable room ventilation.
Painted walls: If walls are rendered/painted externally, cutting air brick holes damages finish. Factor in touching up paint/render around new vents.
Old garages: Single-skin brick garages in Exeter often have zero ventilation. Adding even one air brick makes massive difference to damp problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my garage need ventilation?
Prevents condensation and damp (major problem in garages), lets fumes from cars/fuel/paint escape, stops musty smell building up. Building regs actually require it for attached garages - needs minimum ventilation for safety.
What type of vents do you install?
Air bricks through walls (most common), roof vents, hit-and-miss vents, or passive vents. Depends on your garage construction and what problem you're solving. I'll advise what works best for your situation.
Will vents make my garage cold in winter?
They let some cold air in, yeah, but that's the point - air flow prevents damp. You want a bit of air circulation. If you're heating the garage, position vents away from work area. Modern hit-and-miss vents can be closed partially in winter.
How many vents does a garage need?
Building regs say 1/150th of floor area for attached garages. In practice, that's usually 2-4 air bricks for a single garage. I'll work out what's needed based on your garage size and layout.
Can you install vents in any wall?
Most walls yes - single skin brick, cavity walls, block walls all fine. Really thin sheet walls or asbestos panels might need different approach. I'll assess and advise honestly when I see it.
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