I've now got a loft - Yeah !!!!!

goodmorningsunshine

Now I have a loft, I was wondering if there is anything that I shouldn't store up there as it will be pretty cold come winter.

Any suggestions on;

Clothes (on a clothes rail) ?
Tins of paint and spray paint ?
electrical tools, drill,saw etc ?
spare curtains and bedding ?

Any other tips for storing in the loft? Thanks

loracan1

I wouldn't store anything I value in the loft - but it's got 140 year old dust in it, anything in there for any length of time stinks to high heaven. Is yours boarded out and has it got any sort of finish on the walls?

cyclonebri1

We all have a "loft".

As indicated by the previous poster they can be mucky places, especially in older homes with no underfelt to the roof.

But in never properties they make perfectly acceptable storage areas, depends on the level of finish and isolation and above all, ventilation/water tightness.

Basically;

Nothing liquid that can freeze or leak out
Store everything in vac bags or simply bin bags
Don't store paper or books up there
Nothing stupidly heavy unless the floor has been strengthened
Nothing that can attract vermin such as mice, I'm thinking food stuffs, seeds etc
Dead bodies.;);)

goodmorningsunshine

loracan1 wrote: »

I wouldn't store anything I value in the loft - but it's got 140 year old dust in it, anything in there for any length of time stinks to high heaven. Is yours boarded out and has it got any sort of finish on the walls?

It has just been cleared out, cleaned, floored in the middle where you can walk, brick one end wall and roof the rest, watertight, re-insulated and has two/three strip lights and a couple of plug points. No smell either before or after being cleared out.

Just wondered how damp/cold may damage any items up there in winter, and if you get condensation.

goodmorningsunshine

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

We all have a "loft".

How do you make that out ? - I lived in a flat for years, nothing above the ceiling except the flat above.

As indicated by the previous poster they can be mucky places, especially in older homes with no underfelt to the roof.

Just had it cleared and cleaned out - Yeah !!!!!

But in never properties they make perfectly acceptable storage areas, depends on the level of finish and isolation and above all, ventilation/water tightness.

Never properties? whats that? I could possibly use it as a workroom as I do some sewing but wondered about fabric being left over the winter months, and if my sewing machine would "rust"?

Basically;

Nothing liquid that can freeze or leak out OK
Store everything in vac bags or simply bin bags Good idea
Don't store paper or books up there Never
Nothing stupidly heavy unless the floor has been strengthened Just Me:p
Nothing that can attract vermin such as mice, I'm thinking food stuffs, seeds etc Only my lunch
Dead bodies.;);) Hmmmmmm - that's a thought:D

Thanks for the advice.

jellie

Are the joists strong enough for you to use the loft as an extra room?

cyclonebri1

goodmorningsunshine wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

Sorry, never thought about flats, I was trying to prompt you for a little more info;)

For never read newer, as per my signature below:D:D

tanith

It will depend on the loft of course they are all different but ours is damp and dust free, I keep Winter/Summer clothes up there on a rail depending on the season, books and some CD/DVD's of my sons, skiing equipment, Christmas decs, cases and lots of other bits and pieces . The loft actually stores more than the cupboards in the house as the house is small but the loft seems huge..lol

cyclonebri1

I forgot to add, don't put any unprotected steel tools etc up there, not at least until you know it's dry.

Don't load in between joists and don't compress or put polythene directly on the insulation. That will make the loft sweat and create damp.
Lofts must breath to keep dry.

Jonesya

It shouldn't be damp as that wouldn't be good for the timber structure or the plaster ceiling below. It will swing between freezing cold in the winter and very hot in the summer so wouldn't put anything up there sensitive to temperature or delicate.

Personally I'd never store anything like paint, spray paints or anything flammable or pressurized due to the fire risk and the high risk of it rupturing and leaking when it gets hot in the summer.

Gloomendoom

goodmorningsunshine wrote: »

Just wondered how damp/cold may damage any items up there in winter, and if you get condensation.

It's not just winter you have to worry about, the loft tends to see extremes of temperature. Ours varies from -12°C to +40°C.