Attic
Storage A home's style and vintage often dictate to what extent an attic can be used for storage. Victorians and pre-1970's Colonials offer the best third-story space due to the steeper pitch of their roofs. Newer two-story homes, ranches, and raised ranches, have the least amount of attic storage space, mostly because the engineered roof trusses used in new construction greatly compromise roof pitch. In fact, newer homes often allow for little more than crawlspace storage. Even without
traditional attic space, Cape Cods and bungalow-style homes offer creative
opportunities for second-story storage. Shed dormers are found or created
where the roof extends beyond the dominant roofline. These spaces can
provide storage units the size of a large closet or small room. Storage
alleys are commonly found in homes of this style. Known as knee-walls,
they run along the exterior wall, beneath the dormer or perpendicular
to it, and can be accessed by doors cut into the wall. Because of the
angled ceiling, however, these alleys offer little or no headroom. These
spaces are ideal, however, for shelves and stacking storage. Shed dormers
can also be constructed to lessen the slope of a ceiling and extend the
storage capabilities of a spare room or third-floor attic.
While goods unaffected by temperature can be stored in an uninsulated attic, all attics should be properly ventilated. Ventilation prevents excessive heat and humidity build-up. It can take place naturally, provided the necessary vents are present. In this case cooler air enters the attic by way of vents located near the eaves. Warm-air convection then causes the hotter air to escape through vents in or around the roof. Mechanical ventilation uses an electric fan to draw in fresh air and suck out the old. The fan operates automatically any time the heat in an attic reaches 100 degrees. Before you have an attic fan installed, make sure that it has a firestat or automatic shutoff feature. Since the increased air currents caused by attic fans can fuel house fires, they need a shutoff sensor that kicks in should temperatures increase dramatically. Some attic fans are even equipped with a humidistat that will activate anytime the humidity level climbs above 70 percent. Insulation Of course, no attic is fully functional as storage space if the ceiling joists above your second-story can't sustain a weight-bearing floor. A floor can be installed, but not without first beefing up the joists. If the only means of access is through a hatch in a bedroom closet, you may also want to construct a fixed staircase or install a fold-down ladder. Efficient
Use of Space When organizing an attic, resist the temptation to stack heavy boxes on top of furniture so as not to weaken the furniture joints. Stacked boxes make it more difficult to check for pests, or hidden damage to your structure or wiring. Whether your storage space is attic, dormer, crawlspace, or alley, take the time to create an inventory map. Along with it keep a schedule for regular checks of furnishings, boxes, and infrastructure, so that your prized possessions stay in prime condition. |
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Copyright Sudprasert Engineering (C)2002
10 February, 2003