During the quarantine, many folks have been taking the opportunity to clean up and clean out a lot of junk that they’ve accumulated over the years. Even with all that stuff gone, most people are still left with more than they have the space for. Smart use of attic storage can help. Follow these four tips for the most effective and efficient use of attic storage space.
Prepare the Attic Space
Without some sort of flooring in your attic, using it for storage can quickly become a risky business. You don’t want boxes or items crashing through the ceiling into the rooms below. If some isn’t there already, put down plywood thick enough to bear the weight of the material that you plan to store. The plywood should also support the weight of anyone taking the items in and out of attic storage.
You might also want some simple shelving. Lightweight wire shelving will help to maximize the storage area and will prevent over-stacking. Too many things piled up will make getting to the bottom of the pile that much more difficult.
Ventilate
As we’ve seen here, proper ventilation is essential for any attic space. If you’re going to use it for attic storage, ventilation becomes even more important. Without adequate ventilation, moisture can build up quickly. That moisture can ruin just about anything you store. Add heat to that moisture and you can get massive damage, not just to the materials that you’re storing. Proper ventilation will help to regulate both the heat and humidity, both crucial factors in Orlando area attics.
Insulate
Coupled with ventilation, good insulation can benefit your home in many ways. An insulated attic space will be kinder to the stored items and will reduce your monthly power bills. Whether or not you’re going to use attic storage, you should use good insulation. Read more about that topic here.
Prepare the Storage Items
Once you’ve prepared the attic by laying down flooring, adding shelves, and addressing the ventilation and insulation, you’re ready to begin moving items into storage. Cover and/or contain anything you store in your attic. Clothing should be bagged or otherwise sealed to prevent the possibility of pest damage. Using uniform size boxes will make stacking and sorting easier. Label everything clearly; you don’t want to forget what is in what box. Group items by the likelihood that you will access them.
Contact Us
If you notice any issues with your roof while you’re preparing your attic storage, contact us at JA Edwards of America.