Loft boarding

[Josie1968]

Hi there… I’m wanting to get my loft boarded out, it’s absolutely rammed up there - utter chaos really. The loft is very big and we have been putting stuff up there the past 20 years. I want to sort it out and get some proper storage up there so I can find things easily. The only problem is me and my husband can’t agree on how to go about emptying and sorting the stuff in the loft. As it’s always me that arranges any work to the house I decided I would hire a storage container for a few weeks and just get everything out of the loft while it’s boarded, then sort through everything/get rid of stuff no longer needed then put it back in an orderly way. However my husband is against this… he says we should sort the loft out gradually by taking a few boxes down at a time on a weekend then store the contents of the loft in our bedrooms whilst the loft is boarded. This in my opinion is a completely impractical idea as the bedrooms are already full of stuff … we don’t have a garage and our shed is too small/already full of stuff. Also we both work full time so doing it this way would take us weeks. The loft has always been a bone of contention, we have always ended arguing whenever anything to do with the loft comes up. He’s always complained about the state of the loft and clutter in the house so I thought he’d be happy with my idea 🤷‍♀️ I’d appreciate any suggestions. Thank you 😊

Could you empty half of the loft into your bedroom/other rooms in the house, and board the half that was emptied? Then before returning the stuff that was moved out of the loft, sort through it and only put back what you want to keep. Repeat with the other side.

it will be a pain for a short while, but might focus you to sort through it quicker.

storage containers will of course cost money, and it is easy to let things drift and keep things in there indefinitely!

this suggestion would work well if you’re planning on boarding it yourselves but may not be so practical if you’re going to pay someone to do it as it would mean getting someone in twice: one time for each half of the loft.

@Wigtopia thanks for the suggestion, I am getting someone in to do it so wouldn’t be practical really. Apparently it’s not difficult to do but neither of us has the time or motivation to do it! My husband likes to go hiking on a weekend so not often around x

As you are getting someone in I would hire a container for a fixed period which means that after a specific date, everything is coming back whether he likes it or not.😆
Sort some stuff out as you take it to the container (no point storing stuff you will obviously be getting rid of) and go through the rest when you bring it back and before it goes back into the loft.

Around here, a storage container is £115/month but I am sure cost will vary depending on location, popularity, length of contract etc.

You are probably better off getting a skip instead of a storage unit. That way things you don’t need don’t go back in the loft

Get everything out into time dependent storage, then be brutal sorting it out.

I put everything into storage and had a loft company in to board it it took six hours and is so well done.

Thanks everyone, he’s away for a fortnight but I’ll talk to him about it again when he’s home. It’s so frustrating I did think he would be happy about the idea of getting the stuff out of the house as he’s the one always complaining about all of the clutter!

Perhaps you could get a gazebo to put up in the garden so the boxes you want to keep can be kept in there?

I don't think the 'gradual method' works.
I've tried it with books and after a couple of hours of reviewing the contents of a large bookcase, reading bits and pieces, showing books to others. I only got part way through, having put just three books to one side to take to a charity shop, and then thought 'Oh sod it, I'm not having much effect here and so put them back on the shelves and went and did something else.'

I lean a bit more towards your husband's plan, purely because moving large amounts of clutter to a storage unit - and then getting some of it back and back up to the loft - is going to add massively to the work load. I think getting some of the loft boarded first so you can work up there and only take the stuff out that is leaving the house permanently is a more doable plan.

Lots of sympathy, because I, too, have so much stuff!
It's a good thing that you and your husband both want to sort out the loft, even though you have different opinions about how.
I think your approach/plan with the storage container can be a good one. Just be careful that it doesn't become a permanent solution - I know people who have hired a storage container/storage unit to put stuff in "for a short while", and then they never get around to sort through the stuff, and it stays there for a much longer time than planned. For some it people it's such a relief to get the things out of the house, and then the "sorting through the storage container" never happens.
But that won't be a problem as long as you have a firm finishing date, and are determined and rigorous about the sorting.

The good thing about your husband's plan is that it's something you can start right away, just grab a box and start sorting now! No need to hire storage and move everything. Hiring storage also cost money.
Perhaps you can start with your husband's approach, start sorting and see what you have to work with, and then decide if you need to hire storage.

My experience is that as soon as you get started with the sorting, you get into a flow, and it's easier than expected.

Good luck!

I'd move this into relationships as its more about a deadlock on you both having too much stuff. Is it your stuff/his/both?

If the house if full, then get a skip and properly declutter. Don't leave it for someone else to do in the future.

I'm going to sort our garage out over the BH weekend, there is still stuff in there from when we moved in 4 years ago. I haven't needed it in four years so it's going.

Husband has no interest in this, just likes to whinge that he can't get into the garage, so instead of waiting for him to be interested I'm going to do it on my own.