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Using your attic for storage is a great way to maximize the amount of space in your home. Attics have played a big role in multigenerational housing over the years, yet if you don’t need the extra living space, why not take advantage of the extra room and use it for storage?
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at how you can take advantage of your attic and make the most of this vast space below your home’s roof!
Are you ready to find out more and get started with this great solution for storage? Then read on and learn more!
Check for Roof Leaks
Before you start dreaming up attic storage ideas, you need to make sure that your attic is a suitable place to store stuff. First off, you need to take a look and see whether there is any damp in your attic.
So, what are the tell-tale signs of a damp attic? Here are the most important ones you need to know about:
- Stains on the ceiling below your attic floor: it can be tough to spot stains on the attic flooring, so check the ceilings of the rooms below.
- Do the vents from your bathroom end in your attic? If they do, there’s going to be a lot of moist, wet air being drawn from your bathroom into your attic, which makes it ideal for mold growth.
- Is there rot in the wood underneath your roof?
- Condensation on the frame of your roof
If you have any of these problems, you’ll need to solve them. Consider reinsulating your roof or rerouting your bathroom fan’s vents so that they don’t end up in your attic.
Make Sure the Floor Can Bear Enough Weight
Wandering around your attic is one thing: storing multiple heavy boxes and other stuff up there is quite another. If you want to use your attic for storage, you need to make sure that the floor can take the weight.
Take a look at the joists that make up your attic’s floor. If you want to store heavy items, you should look for joists that are at least 2×8. If you have any doubts about the suitability of your attic’s floor (and, therefore, the ceilings of the rooms below), we would recommend that you call in a contractor who can bolster its strength.
Check for Pests
No one wants to pull some old clothes out of the attic and find a wasp that has made its home in your old dress. Attics are ideal homes for all kinds of pests, from wasps and bees to ants and moths. All of these can play havoc with your stored items.
Take a look around your attic for signs of common pests and call out an exterminator if you find any. It’ll save you a lot of trouble in the long run and keep your stored items safe.
Make Sure There Is Enough Ventilation
Ventilation is key to reducing humidity and keeping temperatures in the attic consistent. High and low temperatures can play havoc with any number of items that you might store, so ventilation is key.
There are a couple of different ways you can make your attic well-ventilated. You can add vents in the attic’s eaves, which will then draw air in and out naturally. Another way is to add vents and a fan that is triggered when the temperature in the attic gets too high: this will add to your electricity bill but will ensure that your attic stays well-ventilated without fail.
Make Attic Access Easier
How do you get into your attic? Lugging heavy items up a ladder is a serious issue, and we don’t recommend that you do it.
If you want to make attic access easier, adding a pull-down staircase is the best option available. We’d recommend taking a look at the options available on instaloft.co.uk for inspiration.
Using an Attic for Storage: Tips and Hacks
Now that we’ve got the fundamentals sorted out, it’s time to take a look at how you can make the most out of your attic as a storage space. Let’s take a look at some great tips and tricks that can help you.
Add Transparent Bins
Adding transparent bins to your attic can help make your storage far more accessible. Instead of rooting through cardboard boxes, wondering what’s at the bottom, you can just take a look through the side of the box. Couple these plastic bins with some lightweight plastic shelves, and you’ve got a great storage solution for knickknacks.
Label All Your Stored Bits and Bobs
A label maker can make your life so much easier. If you’re averse to the idea of plastic bins or want to use up some old cardboard boxes, stick a label on the side, detailing everything that’s in it.
Install a Rod and Hang Loose Items
Do you have lightweight stuff that you could hang? Then why not install a rod into your roof? This is a perfect storage solution for clothes and other lightweight items.
Using an Attic for Storage Means More Space in Your Home
There are many advantages to using an attic for storage. One of the biggest advantages is that you’ll end up with more floor space in your home with all the junk tidied away.
Follow the tips we’ve given you, and you’ll have a world-class bit of storage in no time.
For more informative articles like this one, check out the rest of our blog!
