Safe storage in the attic

[KatyMac]

My attic is the pits; there are cardboard boxes and crap up there

I intend to get some plastic boxes with lids and to sort & list everything up there; I thought to put a label on the box and have 2 copies of a list of what's inside one to go in my office and one in the box (so when I lift the lid I can see what is in there.

Do you think it's worth asking DH to hoover the roof space so I can have a nice clean space or am I being a bit sad?

Also I'm thinking of getting one of these to store DD's competition dresses in; do you think it will keep them clean & safe? Is there anything else I could to to help keep them nice? (I thought I might put my wedding dress up there too & maybe the winter coats in the summer - or is that daft too?)

What do you think?

I have my loft organised the way you're aiming for. Luckily my DH is as anal as me about storage so he doesn't think I'm sad.
And due to a recurring cluster fly infestation and bats, we Hoover the loft a couple of times a year anyway.

Because my loft is well organised an easy to get into, I use it as 'active storage' so wrapping paper, CDs, DVD's etc are kept up there plus we rotate our clothes for the season.
Keeps the rest of the house really uncluttered which I love.

OK, reading that back, it's clear I am sad! But my mum is a hoarder and my parents house is full of crap so it's my rebellion!!

What's cluster fly?

I don't think hope we have bats.....but spiders

It is a bit sad isn't it?

with translucent plastic crates, you can put a label inside the end (big felt tip so easy to read)

if any clothes or other organics, put a moth-killing ball, hanger, or other Transfluthrin-containing thing in each crate, it will kill any eggs or larvae while the crate is sealed shut. They give off a tiny amount of vapour so only enough to work in a closed container.

Clean stuff before you put it away.

If it is a loft (not an attic) then the timbers will have been designed to be strong enough to hold up the plaster ceilings below, so any heavy crates of books etc will bend them and make the ceilings bow or crack. Put them directly above a load-bearing wall and never in the middle of a span.

It is a loft & we have boarded it out (many years ago after we over filled it with insulation)

It has 2 really nice beams in it (I'm sure they aren't called beams - but you know what I mean) about 8 inches by about 4 inches - running down the length of it supported on the walls downstairs; so we tend to use them for the heavy stuff (not that there is much heavy stuff)

Will B&Q sell moth stuff?

I'm very envious of people with organised loft space! My best friend uses hers for active storage too and it doesn't half make a difference to how her house stays organised. Unfortunately I'm terrified of lofts and won't go in mine fell through a loft hatch and ripped my arms open from shoulder to elbow and DP doesn't fit so it can't be used.

My friend used those sealed vacuum pack bags, I find them hit and miss but she swears by them and they make the stuff easier to get in and out and also stop them from smelling musty. That might be an idea for your DD's dresses as I imagine you can't just bung them in the washer to freshen them up.

moth killers

All the modern ones that work contain Transfluthrin.

Cedar and lavender just make moths smell nicer.

I'm just working all this out, though it's a little more complicated as ours in only partially boarded and I have this fear that makes it too dusty to be good for active storage. But yes to hoovering if at all possible!

Translucent crates are what I'm aiming for, but until then its nappy boxes wrapped in binbags!

I wonder if we could get some kind of cover for the insulation in the unboarded part of the loft?

if you cover over the insulation, people and things are much more likely to fall through the ceiling.

you can get loft flooring panels at DIY sheds, though it is an expensive way to do it. I can just manage to manhandle an 8' x 2' (or 2440x600mm) board through the loft hatch on my own, which is cheaper and, having fewer joins, stronger and more rigid than the little panels.

if the roof is unfelted (i.e. you can see the underside of the tiles or slates) it will always be filthy, however often you clean it.

I think mine are 4 by 2 - does that mean they are no good?

There is definitely felt under my tiles (but it looks like a sort of very course weave balck sticky stuff rather than a nice felty felt - but I'm assuming it's probably some building stuff called felt)

Your attic sounds like it will be lovely when it is finished!

We had our loft boarded couple of months back and I am in the process of boxing stuff up everythingweown and storing things sensibly. We have a hanging rail (covered) for all the winter coats, all my precious things like baby cards etc are all boxed up, suitcases are up there, christmas decs (obv), bagged up soft toys thekidswon'tletmethrowaway, cookery books, spare glassware and crockery that I don't use much etc. IT IS FABULOUS. Easy to use loft ladder, proper lighting etc.

That has reminded me - I need a better light

i have a lovely light with a switch but I feel some fluorescent tubes may arrive soon(ish) are they cheap

KatyMac

4" x 2" is typical of an older house. Modern houses have W-shaped Trussed rafters that are calculated to be just strong enough, and are made of thinner sections. 4x2 is strong enough to walk about on and to board, but not as strong as the joists of the floor of a room that is designed for numbers of people and heavy furniture. It is always best to board over the timbers to help spread the weight, and to put heavy items where they will be centred above a supporting wall, or at the edges where the ends of the timbers go into a wall.

Sorry I meant my boards were 4ft by 2ft (at least I think they are)

Well I have sorted out:
2 large boxes of videos (DH won't get rid of)
an enormous box of LPs (ditto)
a large box of spare material I am putting on eBay (but not this week)
an empty suitcase
an empty plastic box with a lid (to fill with stuff from up there)

I am collecting the wardrobe this afternoon & I have a friend coming to help me hoover the attic 'ceiling'

Gulp

But the lounge looks better

My fantasy loft would have a proper staircase, be plasterboarded and have a velux window and lino on the floor, with the walls lined with deep shelving. Basically be a proper room, for storage.

In the meantime we have boarded the usable part of our loft and have adopted the labelled plastic crates approach to store the Christmas decorations (and anything else to do with Christmas), luggage, out-of-season clothes, spare bedding, and the tidal wave of baby stuff, although the latter is ALL going on eBay in the coming months as DC2 is going to be 1yo soon.

I cannot recommend a good quality fixed folding wooden ladder highly enough, if you are going to need regular access.

And yes, I've hoovered my loft before .

FWIW, having learned our lesson in our previous house, the loft was the FIRST thing we sorted out (light, boarding, proper ladder) on moving into this one.

I wonder is there a limit to how many lights you can run off one light switch?

I could have Blackpool up there......

my advice when you're in the loft...... MIND YOUR HEAD

When you go up the ladder the only thing you should be thinking is MIND YOUR HEAD.

ok? :)

Have we had a little problem with this KBear?

My attic ceiling is nice & high, I promise - It's my feet I will be worrying about

If someone has their attic laid out for active storage can you please please post a photo ? Love this idea and doing some renovation soon so definitely want to do this at the same time !!

KatyMac

For all sensible use, in a domestic house, you can have any reasonable number of lights (that does not include floodlights or huge chandeliers). The circuit will be "fused" at 6amps, and the switch will be rated to at least that.

6A will run up to 14 100W lamps, or 24 60W lamps, but nobody uses them any more. If you use Energy Saving lamps, you can have about 100 of them, depending on rating.

How exciting!

Gosh I am easily pleased

My attic lid now open without a ladder & a DH

The man who is coming to hoover starts tomorrow

The Wardrobe is bought - but I won't assemble it until we hve it up there

I have ordered some wood for covering the flooring

We are discussing lights

I am officially excited