It’s easy simply to dump boxes of old clothes and other random items in your attic. But by turning an underused space into a finished storage area or living space, you instantly increase its usability and unlock value in your home.
Thereof Are attics good for storage? Attics have good potential for storage and are less creepier than basements, though not by much. Yet before you start hauling everything but the kitchen sink up that ladder, you should find out if your attic is up for the task. Assessing your attic for any damages will require a bit of detective work.
How do I turn my attic into a storage area?
Similarly, Can I floor my attic for storage?
That begs the question; can my attic support a floor? The answer, in most cases, is a definite yes. Even though it wasn’t put there, the joists supporting your ceiling are quite strong. Putting down flooring won’t stress them any more than the floors in your bedroom, kitchen, or bath.
What should not be stored in an attic?
7 Things You Should Never Store in Your Basement or Attic
- Delicate fabrics. …
- Furniture and décor made from natural materials. …
- Important papers. …
- Food (unless you store it carefully) …
- Electronics. …
- Candles. …
- Anything flammable (near heat sources)
Can I put plywood over insulation in attic? Once the insulation is down, you can turn your attic into valuable storage space by covering the floor with plywood. It will also make the attic a safer place in which to walk.
Is the attic too hot for storage?
You never want to store temperature-sensitive possessions like photo albums in your attic. The high heat and humidity will ruin the photos and similar items such as posters and paintings.
Is it safe to put cardboard boxes in the attic? Cardboard Boxes
Those cardboard boxes stacked up in your attic could become a veritable buffet for mice and bugs if you’re not careful. “Pests are attracted to the cardboard and to the glue used in construction of the box,” says Santoro. “Boxes also break down and disintegrate, which will attract pests even more.”
Can a hot attic cause a fire?
Heating Elements
As heat rises, attics are already hot places, especially in the summer when the temperature outside skyrockets. Your heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) may become overheated and catch fire because of the excessive heat.
Can you put too much insulation in your attic? It’s possible to over-insulate an attic as too much will cause moisture buildup and eventually result in mold. Eventually, adding more insulation leads to diminishing returns in trapping heat as well.
How much weight can attic joists support? Attic Joists for Live Loads
In many cases, ceiling joists for dead loads are designed to carry 10 pounds per square foot (psf), as opposed to the 40 or greater psf that live-load joists must carry. Span length is different for every room.
How many inches of insulation should be in an attic? Insulation levels are specified by R-Value. R-Value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.
What is the average attic temperature?
Ideally, your attic should not exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Problems related to attics hotter than 130 degrees: It will make it harder to cool your home in the summer.
Is it OK to store Christmas lights in the attic?
Also, never store your lights in an attic space. The plastic components of all Christmas lights and installation hardware is susceptible to aging and degrading in extreme attic temperatures – whether you live in sunny Texas or up North!
How much weight can you put in your loft? Typically the joists in a loft will support about 40kg/m2 of weight so providing you’re storing less than this you won’t need to do any additional work to strengthen the joists.
Will plastic melt in attic? Heat also can melt cheap or old plastics, even in a well-ventilated attic. … Even a little bit of water that gets into the attic can rot wood, leather, and create mold and mildew. Unless you’re sure the space is sealed up tight, keep those products out of the attic.
Is it safe to store a TV in the attic?
VCRs, TVs, smartphones, laptops and games consoles – any delicate electronics – shouldn’t be kept where there are big fluctuations in temperature and high humidity levels such as an attic. Moisture can easily collect inside and damage them.
Is it safe to walk in an attic?
Why do fires start in attics?
When it comes to residential attic fires, the most common cause of the fire is an issue related to an electrical malfunction. … In addition to electrical malfunctions, other common causes of attic fires include issues related to the heating system, as well as natural sources such as lightning or fallen trees.
What temp should attic be in summer? Ideally, your attic should not exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Problems related to attics hotter than 130 degrees: It will make it harder to cool your home in the summer.
Should attic be cold in winter?
Even if your attic is too cold in the winter, it’s likely that the temperature inside your attic will still be higher than the temperature outside during summer months. … In fact, in order to keep upstairs rooms sufficiently cool, it’s often necessary to make downstairs rooms uncomfortably cold.
Should I remove old attic insulation before adding new? Your insulation needs to be removed along with the droppings, as it’ll carry some of its toxicity if left in your attic. Removing old insulation and replacing it with new ones will not only rid your home from any rodent infestation and mold, but also improve its energy efficiency and overall air quality.
Is rolled or blown insulation better?
Rolled fiberglass insulation scores an R-value of 3.7. So overall, rolled fiberglass insulation is slightly more effective at blocking in and out heat than its blown counterpart.
How often should attic insulation be replaced? How often should attic insulation be changed? Even though attic insulation is said to last anywhere from 80 years to 100 years, it does lose effectiveness as its ages. Insulation experts recommend replacing after 15 years to assure it is doing the job you need it to.
Is it safe to walk on attic?
How do I know how much weight my attic can hold? Ways To Determine How Much Weight Your Attic Can Hold
- Research Your Attic’s Building Material. When it comes to the amount of weight a certain area of floor can accommodate, you’ll need to understand the capabilities of its materials. …
- Analyze the Floor’s Structure. …
- Inspect for Framework Damage.
How can I run my attic without flooring? If there is nothing but insulation in the attic and it is good, there no need to go inside. If you want to be able to use part of the attic for storage, or have work you need to do in the attic, especially if it will be periodic, you can put down something like plywood as flooring in areas you will need to access.
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