[Reefer]

Do most units have storage areas above the garage with a pull down ladder?

[skyc6]

I think most have some storage areas above the garage. You will need to hire someone to add the pull down stairs and there are many recommendations on this site for that.

[chuckinca]

The installed stairs cost us $250 in 2007.

Also need to install plywood sheets spanning the rafters for access and flooring.

Home Depot (and probably Lowe's) will sell you a inexpensive composite 4' x 8' board for around $10/Ea and cut them to 2' x 4' pieces (at no cost) to get thru the added stair opening. We used 4 ea 4' x 8' boards (128 SF). Screw (or nail) them down to the rafters and you're in business. They are marked showing which side face towards the occupied space below.

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[John_W]

We use Tim "the toolman" Miller. If you search handyman on this site you'll see he has a lot of recommendations. In 2011 he charged us $290 for the aluminum attic stairs installed plus installing plywood flooring in the attic. If you want wooden steps he's about $200 or so, I don't remember exactly. I figured with all that heat in the attic, for the long term aluminum would be a better choice. I also found that if we leave the access door pulled down about a foot when combined with a garage door screen, we've raised our thermostat in the house a degree or two.

[CarGuys]

Originally Posted by John_W

We use Tim "the toolman" Miller. If you search handyman on this site you'll see he has a lot of recommendations. In 2011 he charged us $290 for the aluminum attic stairs installed plus installing plywood flooring in the attic. If you want wooden steps he's about $200 or so, I don't remember exactly. I figured with all that heat in the attic, for the long term aluminum would be a better choice. I also found that if we leave the access door pulled down about a foot when combined with a garage door screen, we've raised our thermostat in the house a degree or two.

Attic Storage is a very HOT TOPIC

[golf4me]

Only put stuff in attic you don't use, don't really want and don't mind if you don't see again. It is too hot to mess with in the summer.

Someone posted on here that their neighbor fell from ladder and died as a result of injuries.

Renting a storage unit is cheap and sometimes a better option.

[hdh1470]

Look at ezattic.com

[Reefer]

Originally Posted by golf4me

Renting a storage unit is cheap and sometimes a better option.

Sounds like a good idea too. Do know what the storage units run a month and where are they located?

[Deerfly]

Even with a pull down ladder you can't get much up there if you have a hip roof. With a gable roof there is lots of storage space if you put down some plywood.

[jimbo2012]

To bump out 2' to the front is well worth the money,
when you go out 4' or more to the side thereby requiring a larger premium lot it gets pricy.

The attic will offer space but

The space can be maxed out better with cabinets up high both on and off the floor like 4' from the ceiling, put on 3 walls that can be a ton of storage.

There are storage places nearby for less than $50 a month.

[Dellie]

So what Can be stored safely up in attic? Won't the heat damage just about everything? We just bought a lot and am from the north.

[jimbo2012]

It gets about 120-135 degrees I think I read, no candy or candles

Really anything that will not be affected by that heat in summer, you can for little money add foil barriers under the roof to reflect that heat about 20 degrees cost under $200 if you staple it up your self.

It will also lower your a/c costs

Also since you're building try and find a light color roof that's also a big help

[chuckinca]

Our garage attic space vents very well. It has eave and ridge vents. I wouldn't be surprised if the attic was cooler than the unvented garage in the summer; I'll have to check that out before we leave for the summer next June.


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