I think that most modern families have a common problem - not enough storage. We certainly do.
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| Just a tiny selection of some of our books! |
Our little girl is growing up so quick and getting through clothes at a rate of knots, but as we want more children we don't want to throw any of these clothes away. I have been taking some to my mothers in plastic boxes as well as some of the toys she's grown out of. The trouble is I can see mothers patience running thin as I try to hide another box in her house.
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| Tiny little loft hatch - not good for much! |
I'd like to keep this stuff here if I could, but there's a big problem - or rather a small one. We've got a tiny little loft hatch.
It takes some squeezing through, so large boxes of baby clothes and car seats have got no chance. I finally decided to do something about it when I was putting the decorations away and having to "launch" them through the hole!
I bought a complete loft hatch with its own ladder, sprung loaded and insulated hatch. they're good qualitity and I fitted five of these in the same house i was working at last year so I knew what I was doing. With today's near blizzard conditions I decided to get it fitted.
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| The new, all singing, all dancing loft hatch! |
Now I've got the hatch fitted I'm going to board out the middle section of the loft (I'll raise the floor up so it won't squash the insulation) and fit a couple of lights (this will be another weekend not this one!). That way it will make it much easier to store all our baby stuff for future use and maybe things like camping gear and sewing stuff can go up there to, just coming down when we want to use it. By having the loft easily accessible it means it's not such a chore to go into it.
And before anyone says it - don't worry I'm not going to overload my loft. All the weight will be spread (there's plenty of load bearing walls that finish in there as well) and nothing of any real weight will be stored in there. Also our roof isn't a modern truss roof designed to the minimum requirements, ours was built at the end of the forties, things were always over engineered then and the ceiling joists seem substantial for the spans (trust me I'm a carpenter...).
Anyone else got any storage solutions? We still need more - books mainly but we don't believe in hiding them away!
There is much pleasure to be had in finding solutions to storage problems.
ReplyDeleteThere is! I always like it when I've added some shelves or hooks for more storage. Trouble is in our house it gets used up too quick!
DeleteI don't use our in-home attic storage for that very same reason. Our access is worse as you have to go through my daughter's closet ceiling (which means emptying and removing shelves). However, previous owners put large sturdy storage areas up in the garage. There's nothing built over the garage so it's open in a peak. It's still not EASY to get to (requiring ladder moving, car backing out, etc.) but it's way better than the in-house attic.
ReplyDeleteThis should make things easier and safer. Just the thought of getting the decorations down before christmas was enough to make me shudder - the effort of going into the loft! We've no garage yet (maybe one for the future) so this is all we've got at the moment
DeleteOur attic access is through the laundry room ceiling so Chris has to wedge ladders over the top of the washing machine and tumble dryer (after first moving out everything else). I have a fear that one day he will remove the access cover and a flipping great raccoon will fall down.We store nothing up there.
ReplyDeleteJane x
That sounds dangeous! At least we've got no racoons to fall out on us over here (although in our last house we had some tap dancing mice...)
DeleteI understand the desire to keep all the clothes but you may need to become a bit more ruthless. Can you take a container or sack full at a time and sort to you absolutely cannot not part with to it will be ok to let it go? Trying to hang on to all items is not feasible unless you have a storage unit and are confident in every item you save. Time to let go.
ReplyDeleteWe're not trying to hold on to everything, but if we've used it with the first baby then when/if we have a second then I'm sure we'll need it again. We can't afford to buy it all again!
DeleteYou are right though - I'm sure we do need to be a bit more rufhless!
When I am looking for storage solutions and confined space living I go to the Swedes for ideas.
ReplyDeleteSwedes for ideas maybe but I've never been very impressed with what I've brought from there. We prefer second hand shops!
DeleteYes, trussed roofs, I've lost count of the number of jobs I've been to see where people want a loft conversion, find out it's trusses, explain to them that these things are designed right down and can't be altered, and been asked "Can't you just cut the braces out?"
ReplyDeleteA colleauge told me he once went to one and found the owner had cut most of them away himself and was using it as storage; he still doesn't know what's holding it up except stud walls.
Yeah I've heard the same horror stories! I've converted a couple of trussed roofs in the past and it's no small job, we had to add steels and extra supports before we could even start to take out what was in the way.
Delete"And before anyone says it - don't worry I'm not going to overload my loft"
ReplyDeleteParkinson's Law says you will!
I really hope not! It would be a sad day to see my ceiling come down on me! Shouldn't be much thats very heavy up there, not like the weight of bodies or anything...
DeleteThats a great solution, can you tell us where you bought the hatch and ladder kit.
ReplyDeleteIf I paid someone to fit one how many hours should it take we are planning to top up our insulation and board over a few square metres and this would make access easier
I brought the hatch and ladder kit from Travis but only got a good-sh price because I know them in there. I paid £138 including VAT, its a youngmans one. I think that for someone fitting one it could take anywhere between half a day to a full day, depending on your loft and access to where the hatch is being fitted. more if you want it boarded out as well.
DeleteIt probably is the most common problem for families. We have the same issue but are having a huge clear out to give us a bit more room. I know its temporary fix but we are planning on convert the loft space over the next couple of years, so will power through till then.
ReplyDeleteI also have to say Bravo on making use of not being able to go outside xx
We did have a clear out before we moved house last year - but that was before the baby and the huge amount of stuff she needs!
DeleteIt was a good use of not going outside but now I need some more jobs!
We did the same thing! The original entrance to the attic was a tiny hole in the ceiling of my tiny closest. It took us weeks to figure out where it was! The fold-down ladder is now on the back porch. Much more convenient.
ReplyDeleteSounds a better job. I worked on a place two years ago where it took us ages to find the loft hatch and then I could only just fit through it! Mad where they used to put them, I guess they didn't have so much stuff to store in day gone by.
DeleteYikes, Kev...you've just reminded me that we've got 3 or 4 boxes stored at mum-in-law's...sent there 'temporarily' while we had some building work done here -- in 2004!! Mostly 'non essentials' like ornaments and decorative pieces so we haven't really missed them much...hmm, what am I thinking about this stuff now?
ReplyDeleteEnjoying the blog, by the way!
Wendy.
Hi, just found your blog and like it very much. I used to live in the country and was trying to be as self sufficient as I could. I've been 'forced' to come back to civilisation now, unfortuntely, but am working and saving hard to get back to the country.
ReplyDeleteI have a blog which you are welcome to visit.
kind regards
what a great solution! We don't have any under-roof space as we have a raked ceiling. I tend to put things in boxes and stack them higher and higher on top or wardrobes and bookcases, slid under beds and under bureaus. Its quite crazy and sometimes I forget where I put things as they are all tucked away in their own little space. The new house is going to have some serious storage cupboards!
ReplyDelete