When you have extra furniture cramming your space and you have sentimental value attached to it which might prevent you from selling it off then you might be wondering if it is a good idea to store it in your attic.
Before doing so always ensure to know more about it so that you can prevent damaging your furniture.
Can you store furniture in the attic?
Never store your family heirlooms or valuable furniture in your attic. Even if your attic is spacious, avoid putting those valuable items there because over time the humidity and low light levels can start cracking and expanding your furniture. At one point mold might even start growing.
Always avoid putting furniture in your attic because many things can go wrong. The attic is one place in the house where you might visit the least.
If there are any water leaks, mice infestation, or any other issues that might damage your furniture you will never be able to find it out in time to salvage those items. It will always be late and your furniture will already be damaged by then.
Most of all always avoid wood furniture because they are the most prone to getting damaged in an attic. Not only that, but they are also the perfect breeding ground for any mold to grow on your furniture and permanently damage it.
Other than that, there are also a handful of other reasons that should stop you from storing your expensive furniture in your attic.
Moisture:
Furniture, especially wooden ones, is very susceptible to moisture and humidity levels. Your attic will contain high levels of moisture and humidity and over time your furniture will start to get affected.
It will start to expand and eventually crack and lose its color as well as its shine and this will cause irreversible damage.
Mice damage:
Attic is a very common space for mice to infest and breed in since no one ever visits it properly. If your attic ever gets infested by mice there is a high chance it will start eating off and damaging your furniture permanently.
Water damage:
Another thing that might go unnoticed are water leaks from blowing up pipes. If your furniture is constantly in contact with water for a period of time it is bound to get damaged beyond repair.
Growth of mushroom mold:
The high moisture and humidity as well as the low light levels make it the perfect breeding ground for mold on your furniture.
This can trigger the growth of mushrooms or molds as it is a great breeding ground for them with perfect conditions. The mushrooms might not do too much damage but the molds might cause a lot of permanent damage to your furniture.
How hot is too hot for attic storage?
The attic can get hot as it is one of the most closed-off spaces in your house. It can also get very humid. You must never store your items where the temperature is beyond a maximal temperature because over time the quality of your items will eventually start to deteriorate.
Never store anything in your attic if the temperature goes beyond a hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit. That can be a very rough temperature and your storage items will never survive at such a temperature.
Other than that, also ensure that you never store anything sensitive to temperature in your attic.
Your attic will always be the hottest room in your house and if you store anything sensitive to temperature and moisture then it is highly likely that those items will start to get damaged beyond repair.
How much weight can you put in an attic?
Alongside the temperature, there is one other factor that you must consider when you are storing items in your attic. This is how much weight you can store in your attic altogether.
Attics, especially ones from older houses are not always that strong, and keeping too much load on it will almost always cause it to fall apart.
It is always suggested that you get your attic checked out by a professional to determine how much weight you can put on it so that the floors are not too distressed or have a chance of breaking off.
However, on a general note, you should never put any more than twenty pounds of storage per square foot in your attic. You must also keep in mind that this applies to a certain amount of storage as well so do not go overboard as it can get risky.
How long can you keep furniture in the attic storage?
If you have no other options then keep in mind that storing your furniture in the attic is a better option than storing it in the basement. You can store them for a few weeks in the attic, but any more than that can start being risky.
This especially applies to expensive, valuable, or heirloom furniture. However, if you have no other option then you can wrap them up nicely and store them for a longer period to minimize any plausible damage.
How to store furniture in the attic?
If you have run out of options then following a few tips can allow you to store any type of furniture especially wood furniture in your attic without it causing any permanent damage.
Avoid attics with high temperatures:
If your attic has zero climate control then you should consider avoiding it as it can be detrimental to the longevity of your furniture, especially wooden ones.
Dismantle your furniture:
The very first step would be to dismantle or take apart your wooden furniture bits by bits. This will minimize any chances of damage.
Take off the screws and keep it in a plastic bag with proper labels so that when you put it back together again it will be swift and easy. Take the drawers out and store them separately.
Cleaning:
Clean all wood furniture thoroughly and then dry it effectively this will not only reduce the moisture levels, but it will also have a greater chance of preventing mushrooms or mold from damaging your valuable furniture.
Also, use some antiseptic to further clean the surfaces.
Wrapping them:
Keep old clothing items inside your drawers so that it is not exposed to any dirt or dust. For further protection, carefully wrap your furniture with plastic. Add two layers of plastic if needed and secure it with tape.
This will give your furniture maximum protection from any outside elements such as mold, insects, or mice.
Moisture control:
If your attic is prone to a lot of moisture and your furniture is very valuable then consider using a moisture barrier or covering all your furniture with old and thick clothes.
Also, store your furniture away from any pipes and away from the door to avoid any contact with unexpected water.
How to get furniture into the attic?
Getting furniture inside the attic might seem difficult, but keeping some guidelines in mind will help you better.
Disassemble your furniture:
Your best bet would simply be to dismantle your furniture from the start.
If you keep the drawers, tabletops, furniture handles, furniture legs, etc separated by taking them off then it will be easier for you to carry all of them one by one inside the attic.
Use blankets:
Cover your furniture thoroughly with thick blankets during the move. Not only will it prevent any unexpected scratches, but it will also protect your furniture from dents during the move.
Take out your attic door:
Another good way to give you maximum space when taking in furniture inside your attic will be to have plenty of space.
This can be simply achieved by taking off the door to the attic and having someone else standing on the opposite end to help you take it inside.
Call for professional help:
If you have any valuable items or heirlooms and your attic is too risky to easily move furniture inside then your best call would be to take professional help so that any plausible damage to the furniture is avoided.
What are the alternatives to attic storage for furniture?
Giving your excess furniture a space without having to compromise the living space in your house might seem like a big deal. However, there are alternatives you can consider instead of shoving them inside your attic where it is likely to get damaged.
The best way to store them is to opt for climate-controlled storage units near you where the temperature and humidity are controlled so that your furniture will not get damaged.
Final thoughts:
It is not impossible to store furniture in an attic but dismantling them and having to join them back together might seem like a hassle. There are a lot of external storage facilities also available which can be great at storing your furniture without the risk of permanently damaging them.