Attic storage in designer homes

[coffeebean]

My sister and BIL will start their house search in TV in a couple of days. They are looking at designer homes, specifically the Lantana model. Storage space is extremely valuable to them. The attic will certainly be a space for storage. Just wondering how much storage space is available in the attic of the Lantana and where is the attic access? What is the largest access door that can be installed in the Lantana???

Thanks in advance to all those who reply.

[784caroline]

The typical drop down stairs is in the garage just in front of the garage door entrance into the laundry room. The typical opening is approx 20" x48". You will have a fair amount of storage space in the attic but BE AWARE you cannot store everything in an attic due to the extreme summer heat, so you have to be selective. For example Cardboard boxes wil last no more than 1-2 years because they will absorb moisture from the heat. Candles or even thin plastics will melt. This is also not a place to put clothes..potential insects. NOt good for luggage storage due to the high humidity. You also cannot fill this space to its maximum for you need to allow the roof vents to provide air circulation.

WE basically use it primarily for Xmas decorations....and things you can put in plastic storage boxes. BEST ADVISE ......clear out and weed out before you move.

ALSO for the Lantana. depending upon the type of roof, you will get more attic height with certain roof designs than others. Ask your sales person.

When we first moved in we changed the master bedroom and provided for 3 racks of storage..the top rack being for suitcases. WE added stoarge in the laundry room and built custom shelves and cabinets in the area off the laundry room. We also added storage racks from Sams in the gargae and a built work bench in the garage.

[elevatorman]

You can also bump out the garage to its max.

[Canabarrybarb]

When we bought our Lantana, the attic storage area had a floor width of 8 feet. I added more flooring on each side to get an additional 8 foot width. Of course, it has less height since it is at the sides and it is less accessible because of the roof truss braces. But it does help.

[coffeebean]

The typical drop down stairs is in the garage just in front of the garage door entrance into the laundry room. The typical opening is approx 20" x48". You will have a fair amount of storage space in the attic but BE AWARE you cannot store everything in an attic due to the extreme summer heat, so you have to be selective. For example Cardboard boxes wil last no more than 1-2 years because they will absorb moisture from the heat. Candles or even thin plastics will melt. This is also not a place to put clothes..potential insects. NOt good for luggage storage due to the high humidity. You also cannot fill this space to its maximum for you need to allow the roof vents to provide air circulation.

WE basically use it primarily for Xmas decorations....and things you can put in plastic storage boxes. BEST ADVISE ......clear out and weed out before you move.

ALSO for the Lantana. depending upon the type of roof, you will get more attic height with certain roof designs than others. Ask your sales person.

When we first moved in we changed the master bedroom and provided for 3 racks of storage..the top rack being for suitcases. WE added stoarge in the laundry room and built custom shelves and cabinets in the area off the laundry room. We also added storage racks from Sams in the gargae and a built work bench in the garage.

DH and I lived in south Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area) for 25 years and we stored our Christmas decorations and other stuff in cardboard boxes. We never had a problem with the cardboard absorbing moisture and it is extremely humid in south Florida. Just wondering why is would be different here in central Florida.

[784caroline]

I cannot explain the differences except state what hapened to us. There are however diferent types of cardboard boxes...Shipping boxes are the heaviest guage, followed by moving boxes. I did not mean to imply the boxes fall apart in 1-2 years, but you can certainly feel the moisture (dampness) they retain from the heat and most likely would eventually attract insects,mold or whatever else comes along. IMO, better to avoid this situation simply by using heavy guage storage containers that you can close.

[BobKat1]

I'd always use heavier guage plastic bins, with snap-on lids for a wide variety of reasons.

[zcaveman]

I have been using different grades of cardboard boxes for the past eight years and do not see any degradation.

I also use plastic crates and have some stuff in plastic bags from Wal-mart. Not a problem.

Just no candles or other items that will melt under high temperatures.

The heat has affected some of the ornaments that use glue as a part of the ornament (halo, etc). We have repaired them and moved them to a shelf in the garage.

Before you store things in the attic, think - will these items be adverse to high heat.

[coffeebean]

Thanks for the advise about the intense heat and humidity in the attic. I've stored my Christmas decorations in the attic in south Florida for 25 years and none of them have been harmed. I did learn not to store candles in the attic after the first year, however, so they are always in the climate controlled part of the house.

I'm happy to hear that a good portion over the garage can be used for storage. My main concern is the placement of the rafters. Do they make it difficult to move around up there??? Thanks.

[allairenjadea]

During our last termite inspection the Massey guy made a comment to me about storing things in the attic. He said that the glue used in cardboard boxes is a favorite food of a couple of local insects so he recomended plastic storage boxes. Just some extra info he threw in,since we don't have anything stored up there yet.