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What to Consider Before Storing Your Belongings: Attic Storage Tips

Whether you’ve lived in your home for decades or just moved in, it’s inevitable that you’ll accumulate a large quantity of items throughout the years. And the bigger your home, the more belongings you tend to have. If you live in a home with plenty of attic space, it can seem like the perfect place to keep all of your additional or seasonal items. However, you might be wondering, “What can you store in an attic?” and the answer to that depends on a few different factors including whether the attic is sealed and if it safe.

The experts at Self Storage Plus have developed questions to determine whether your attic storage space is a suitable option.

Is It Safe to Store Your Belongings in the Attic?

Before you start moving your items into your attic storage space, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are your belongings susceptible to heat? Sensitive items like photographs, electronics, art, and collectibles can be damaged from exposure to heat. Older plastic items and paint or varnish do poorly when exposed to heat, as well. If your attic space isn’t conditioned, keep heat-sensitive items elsewhere such as a closet in your home or a climate-controlled storage unit.
• Are your belongings susceptible to the cold? Areas in the northeast frequently dip below freezing every winter, and that means a very cold attic. Because summers there are also typically hot and humid, this results in hot-and-cold cycles that can cause products to discolor, delaminate, harden or become brittle. Items that could be vulnerable to this hot-and-cold cycle should be stored in a climate-controlled space.
• Is your attic sealed? Even the smallest amount of water can rot items made from wood or leather and develop mold and mildew. Unless you’re sure that your attic is completely waterproof, don’t store items like leather-upholstered or wooden furniture in the space.
• Are the belongings vulnerable to critters? Bugs, mice and even birds have the tendency to find their way into attics — usually through small openings in the roof or chimney. Once they find their way in, they’ll shred or chew up any items they can reach. If you’re fearful of an item being destroyed by critters, avoid storing it in the attic.
• Do you have enough sturdy bins? Cardboard boxes are great for temporary storage and moving, but if you’re storing something in your attic, chances are you’re planning to keep it there for a while. Opt for durable, plastic bins with lids that fit tightly. If an item is too large to fit in a bin, wrap it in a tarp that can cover the entire item.
• Is your attic safe? Attics tend to be areas where the construction is fully finished off like in the main areas of the home. Exposed nails and other sharp edges will puncture items if you pile belongings on top of it. Try to keep the items you want to store away from these hazards. Even if you only spend a short amount of time in this space yourself, attic safety is important to consider so you don’t place items in an area that can cause damage to either them or you home.
• Does your attic have a supported floor or shelving space? Most attics rely on the ceiling of the house to create a “floor.” This means the unsupported attic floor cannot hold much weight. Anything too heavy in one spot can push through the ceiling and leave you with a giant hole to repair. Avoid placing anything heavy on the attic floor and instead use support beams or built-in shelving.

If your space allows it, putting together attic built in storage options will ensure that your space is equipped to store your belongings now and for years to come. Remodeling your attic can both boost the resale value of your home and create a functional space for you now.

Self Storage Plus is Your Storage Solution

If you’ve answered the questions above and concluded that your attic isn’t a suitable storage space, you still have options! When you have more items than you have space for, look to Self Storage Plus for the storage solutions you need. We have storage units available in a variety of sizes with amenities that were developed with your needs in mind including drive-up storage, month-to-month leases, vehicle storage, and more. If you’re storing temperature-sensitive belongings, our climate controlled storage units are the perfect solution. These spaces maintain a steady range of temperatures year round to provide protection against melting, warping, and cracking.

When you’re ready to reclaim your space, browse availability at our facilities in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, or Florida to find a unit that will work for you and then rent online today. Have questions? Find answers to FAQs or contact the team at a facility near you for assistance at any point along the way.