Tag: attic storage

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Attic Elevators: Cost, Safety & Convenience

attic lift or attic elevators carrying tall Christmas decorations

Updated August 19, 2021

Attic elevators, also called attic lifts, come in a wide variety of styles and capacities. This article covers the most popular type. These attic elevators are smaller units meant to carry freight only. No people allowed on board. Instead, these motorized platforms carry storage items and other cargo between floors. Most are installed for home and garage attic storage. Even so, they work equally well for basements. Plus, you’ll find them in commercial settings too. Lifts act like mini freight elevators. They’re dumbwaiters for your stuff. Typical carrying capacity ranges from 200 to 500 pounds per trip.

Attic elevators carry storage items from living spaces and garages into,
and out of, attic storage. (Shown is a SpaceLift™ attic lift. Note attic ladder in foreground.)

1. Cost

Popular attic elevators designed to carry storage items cost from $1,895 to $3,797 (2021 pricing).

On the lower end of the price range is the SpaceLift attic lift. The SpaceLift™ attic lift Model 5222-SC costs $1,895. That includes free shipping and a two-year warranty. The unit is 22 inches wide by 57.5 inches long and 7 inches high.  Capacity is 200 pounds and 24 cubic feet per trip. It comes with two controls, one mounted on the unit and another for wall mounting. (SpaceLift Products offers a second model 28 inches wide with the same length and height for $100 more.)

VersaLift Systems lifts start at $2,597 for the smallest model. That unit is 20 3/4 inches wide by 44 inches long. It carries 15 cubic feet per trip and up to 200 pounds. Its largest model goes for $3,597 for 28.75 inches wide by 69 inches long and 60 inches high. Capacity is 250 pounds and 35 cubic feet per trip.

Also allow for Installation costs. Professional attic elevators or attic lifts installation starts around $500. Moreover, some models like the SpaceLift are often installed as do-it-yourself, DIY, projects. The SpaceLift is designed to fit between floor joists in the attic. Installation requires basic carpentry and electrical skills.

As a side note, there are full-size home elevators that can carry people and freight. But the average cost of this type of home elevator is $10,000 — $40,000. Add $20,000 or more to install it, according to Retirement Living.

2. Safety

2a. Personal Safety

There are many good reasons to install an attic elevator. Firstly, safety is a big concern. Carrying storage items up and down an ladder or stairs is dangerous and difficult. Most storage is bulky: boxes, containers, bins, clothing, furniture and such. Instead, attic elevators carry all those items in and out of storage. The only thing going up and down the attic ladder is the homeowner. Above all, protect yourself.

Moreover, as described in a SpaceLift Products blog on Ladder Safety at Home, half a million people fall from ladders annually. About 400 of those accidents are fatal.

The National Safety Council stresses always maintaining three points of contact with the ladder or stairs at all time. Think of two feet and one hand. Or two hands and one foot. Carrying anything makes it impossible to have hands free for stability and climbing.

Plus, it’s not just falling. Also consider weight and bulk. Ever tried to carry an artificial Christmas tree up the ladder? As Lisa Winkler from Alabama, said, “SpaceLift saved my back.”

Then, there are some items impossible to carry on the ladder. For example, more and more homes include utilities in the attic. Imagine lugging a hot water heater up the attic ladder. Other people use attic storage for heavy tools. For example, Bill T. uses his attic lift to store a portable, but heavy, table saw in his attic. Bill lives in The Villages retirement community in Florida. Safe attic storage helps him “age-in-place.”

2b. Safe Operation

Secondly, safe operation is critical. Some attic elevators like the SpaceLift attic lift have built-in, computer-controlled, safety features. SpaceLift smart attic lifts detect any obstruction to movement and stop. They also detect if there’s too much weight on the platform and will not operate. This way they protect you and your appliance.

To clarify, not all attic elevators stop automatically if something – or worse yet someone – is in the way. One company’s user manual warns of broken bones and amputation danger.

In the same vein, not all attic elevators detect load weights beyond motor capacity. Overloads can damage or burn out the lift motor.

The essential challenge: moving items in and out of attic storage safely and conveniently. Carrying on those rickety attic stairs is not the safest choice.

3. Convenience

While function of all attic elevators is similar, designs vary a lot. Some lifts have high loading platforms. You must lift storage items up onto, and again out of, the lift. All but the SpaceLift have framing or straps protruding into the attic space. In turn, this limits your attic lift location choices. Attic roof pitch affects available height above the attic floor.

3a. Overhead Bar

VersaLift uses a platform topped by a four-post upper frame. That is then connected to a center overhead bar.  Two cables on either end of the center bar pull it into the attic. Plus, in the attic is a larger receiving frame protruding into the attic space. It houses the motor. You need attic ceiling height of 49 to 60 inches above the unit, depending upon model.

Above all, that overhead bar restricts how high a load the user can stack on the lift. Something tall like an artificial Christmas tree or clothes rack will not fit. Load height limitation on the most popular model is 39 inches. Yet at just 29 inches the four sidebars begin to bend toward the center overhead bar. That encroaches on the available cargo space. It also uses a chain around three sides of the frame to contain items. Working around the fixed frame restricts loading and unloading the unit. Access is from one side only. By comparison, you can load a SpaceLift from any side.

3b. Four Corner Pull

By comparison, SpaceLift attic lift offers an elegant, concealed design. Its compact housing fits between attic floor joists. It rests flush with the attic floor. Poly-web straps rated at 500 pounds pull from all four corners. The microprocessor-controlled motor balances the load. It comes in two sizes, 18 and 22 inches wide, both 57 ½ inches long. Unlike others, the box housing motor and computer controls is just 7 inches high. Its low profile means there are many placement options in your attic.

The SpaceLift attic lift has no vertical height restriction for loading storage items. Stack items as high as your ceiling clearance allows. As noted before, its low profile loading platform can be easily accessed from all four sides.

SpaceLift attic elevator drawing showing entire mechanism. Motor and controller fit between attic floor joists.

Other Attic Elevators:

Aladdin Storage Lift has a very large raised deck with a metal box frame around the bottom. The attic opening required is 82 by 46 ½ inches. It pulls from all four corners with cables. In the attic space, one must install ceiling support straps. The motor box sits above the attic floor. It has a high deck and side railing. Loading and unloading items requires extra lifting. Aladdin even sells a loading ramp as an accessory.

The Attic Lift Company makes semi-custom lifts. Most are larger sizes and capacities. Models use either steel frames or posts that protrude into the attic space. They have only one side open for loading a high deck platform. In fact, some come with a built-in loading ramp.

References:

SpaceLift Pricing
https://www.spaceliftproducts.com/shop/

VersaLift Pricing
https://versaliftsystems.com/pages/pricing

Retirement Living Home Elevators Guide:
https://www.retirementliving.com/home-elevators

SpaceLift Blog Ladder Safety
https://www.spaceliftproducts.com/ladder-safety/

Aladdin Storage Lift
https://www.aladdinstoragelift.com/shop/

The Attic Lift Company
https://theatticlift.com

Posted on by spacelift

When it comes to choosing a storage container for attic use, there are literally hundreds of containers, totes, footlockers, bins, boxes, baskets and bags. How do you know which ones are best for attic storage? Just as importantly, how do you get them up into your attic?

Attic storage has unique characteristics. You will want to first consider some of the following before you head off to Home Depot, Lowes, Target or Wal-Mart or start clicking on Amazon to buy storage containers.

First, head up the attic stairs or ladder and take a fresh look at your attic space with storage bins in mind. Bring along a tape measure and notepad. Your goal is to make a plan of what you want to store where and then match your needs to the panoply of storage containers on the market. Remember this is all about convenience, your convenience. Some of the following considerations affect the types and sizes of containers you’ll want to buy for each of the different storage spots in your attic.

Attic Flooring

Do you have an attic flooring system over part or all of the attic space? Sturdy bins can span between the attic floor joists, but if you slip as you’re moving them around, even a moderately heavy bin could crack or even break through the garage or home ceiling on the other side of that unprotected space between the floor joists. If you are going to span the floor joists you’ll need a storage container long enough with some overhang. So measure and note the distance between joists.

Moving bins by carrying or sliding them around your attic is easier if you have at least some flooring space for staging. More flooring makes moving the bins easier. If you have sturdy attic flooring, many of the bigger bins and footlockers have wheels and handles built into them. You can load these heavy and roll them into place. If you have only partial or minimal attic flooring, think about the weight of your loaded storage containers. How will you need to carry them to their resting place? Are you sliding them or carrying them, perhaps hunched over? Sometimes using more and smaller containers makes storage easier than fewer and larger containers. Will you need totes with handles built in to make them easier to carry?

Attic Ceilings

Now that you considered the floor, take a look at your attic ceiling or the house roof. Height is an important limiter of your available storage space. In most attics the roof angles upwards from the sides. Planning ahead lets you maximize the available vertical space.

For example, you can maximize storage space with bins of different heights; lower ones tuck in closer to the eaves while taller ones or stackable containers fit better toward the center. Measure the different heights from floor to ceiling. Later you’ll divide these measurements by the heights of the storage containers you purchase. Some containers are made for stacking. But the problem with stacking bins is that you have to pull out the whole stack to access items. An alternative is to build some inexpensive shelving.

Another height consideration is how much space you have between the container top and attic ceiling. Some containers have lids on hinges and you’ll need extra space so the hinged lid can open upwards if you want to access or view the storage items. Otherwise you’ll find yourself constantly pulling out containers to open and examine the contents, then pushing them back into place. For containers kept tight to the attic ceiling, consider types with flat lids that snap off.

Do you have rafters, an attic truss system, or some combination? You’ll want to measure the space between trusses. Then purchase storage containers that easily move around the trusses. Maximize available storage space by purchasing bins that fit neatly into the space between trusses.

plastic storage containers stored between attic trusses

Attic Storage Items

Make a list of the items you want to store in your attic. Your list will come in handy when you make your storage plan and catalog. With your list of items or types of items you can then match your needs to the types of bins available. There is a type of storage container for most every item. You’ll end up with a list of bins of varying sizes and types. These can then be mapped to your attic measurements for an efficient system.

Some items you may want to store in small, six-quart sized boxes while other items may be better suited to a 169-quart tote. Combinations work too. You may want to store a variety of shoes or holiday decorations in smaller containers to keep them organized, but then put all these small containers of like items into a big tote.

Plastic storage containers are available in a wide range of prices and quality. You can save money by purchasing lower cost bins for storage items that will not be accessed very often. Purchase higher quality bins when you expect to handle or move them around a lot. Generally it is in the handling where quality issues like the strength of the bin, the roller wheels, clasps and handles become more apparent.

Weight of the bin contents is also an important strength consideration. Capacity of your SpaceLift attic lift is up to 200 pounds. You probably do not want to have that much weight in a single plastic storage container, not only for the strength of the plastic, but for your convenience in moving the container around the attic. You can stack containers high on your SpaceLift attic lift and if you’ve stacked too much weight it will let you know.

Where possible, we prefer clear plastic storage containers because it is easy to see what’s inside. Even with clear bins, but especially with opaque ones, be sure to label. You think you’ll remember, but you won’t. A labeling system saves you hours of opening and closing containers searching for a particular item. Want to take it a step further? Make a list and maybe even a map of your storage items and containers and keep it on a clipboard at the attic entrance.

Storage Container Considerations

Okay. You have your list of storage items. You have your map of attic space. Now you can match the size and type of storage containers to the items and space available.

Now you’re ready to go shopping in person or on the internet. The Spruce offers this blog post, “The 6 Best Plastic Storage Bins to Buy in 2021.” They cover a broad range of container sizes and types.

three plastic storage bins stacked on SpaceLift attic lift
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You may not think of it this way. But one of the best ways to do a thorough spring cleaning is to start in your attic. Spring cleaning includes refreshing your living space. Moving items into storage opens up more living space. It can remove clutter and help you better organize. For most homeowners that means trips to the attic or basement. And that’s why first addressing your storage space is the secret to successful spring cleaning for your living space.

A clean attic lets you to put your great attic storage ideas into action. The attic is the perfect space for seasonal storage of items like holiday decorations and summer sports equipment. It’s great for long-term storage for little used but important items like tax records, family memorabilia and future hand-me-downs like baby clothes. Convenient access is key to making storage work.

In addition to making room for more storage, clean attics equal healthy homes. Consider that attic allergens and irritants seep into your living area through ceiling hatches, doors, recessed lights, heating and cooling systems. Irritants such as dust, dander and mold can wreak havoc for allergy sufferers. They could irritate your family’s lungs. From the time of its invention, spring cleaning includes thorough dusting and sweeping.

1. Remove all items

Take all boxes, furniture and other items out of the attic before starting to clean. If some items are too difficult to move out of the attic, pile them in one corner. Cover them while you clean the remaining space. Spring cleaning is a once-a-year opportunity cleaning areas rarely reached by your vacuum. Same as in your living space.

Having an attic lift makes the physical labor of moving items in and out of the attic much easier. Our lift is one of the best, SpaceLift™ attic lift. An attic lift is like a mini freight elevator. It transports items so you don’t have to lug them up and down the attic stairs or ladder. It’s like a dumbwaiter for your storage items. Storage lifts are popular moving items between home living and storage spaces. They work for attics and basements.

2. Spring cleaning tips

The following spring cleaning tips apply equally well for attics, basements and living spaces. Before beginning the process of cleaning or moving items consider a dust mask. It’s especially important if you are allergic. Where possible open a window or vent to circulate air. Replacing that stuffy winter air with outdoors fresh air is always welcome. And it is a big reason spring cleaning waits for warmer days.

San Francisco Gate published an article “How to Clean an Attic Space”. You find it full of tips and ideas to keep in mind when tackling the task of cleaning your attic. The article suggests dusting with an electrostatically charged feather duster. Wipe wooden beams, walls, baseboards and window frames to collect dust and dirt. After dusting, sweep the floors, corners, cracks and crevices with a vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming rids your space of dead insects, dust mites, dander and potential allergens.

3. De-clutter your space

While you are moving items during cleaning. Now is a good time to assess what you put into storage over the last year or years. Do you still have use for it? Did you forget about it entirely? Would someone else be able to make better use of it? Evaluate whether to throw away, donate or keep items. Do this before reorganizing your storage space. You’ll have less to organize. Clutter is not limited to trash and useless items. Clutter can be anything.

Home Storage Solutions suggests a list of five guidelines to use in determining if items are clutter. Get ready to make difficult decisions you may have been putting off for a while. Not wanting to make the decision could be why you stashed these items away in your attic to begin with. At SpaceLift we are all in favor of you keeping the stuff you want. Even so, those “wants” are worth reevaluating from time to time. Spring cleaning makes the perfect excuse.

4. Categorize storage items

Once you’ve gotten rid of clutter, the next step is to clean items going back into storage. Dust all furnishings, containers and boxes. Clean the corner where they were temporarily placed. Finally, reorganize remaining items. Retrieving items in the future is far easier from an organized storage space. “Categorize all the items you wish to store in your attic and divide them into groups. For example, holiday decorations, family heirlooms, out of season clothes, old baby clothes, etc.,” said Jane Blanchard in an article on Modernize.com.

Place items you will not frequently need toward the back of the attic. Organize stuff you might need more often near the door for easy access. If you have miscellaneous loose items, use a clear storage bin to keep them together and create more room. As you categorize, keep in mind new items you may want to move into storage. Chances are you’ll uncover more storage needs during your downstairs spring cleaning.

label storage bins for attic storage

You don’t think you’ll forget, but you will. Label boxes, storage bins and containers as part of your storage organization ritual. This is good for spring cleaning and any other time!

5. Storage Ideas

For larger attics, it’s a good idea to invest in such storage solutions as shelving and large clear plastic bins. This article explores what storage containers are best for attic storage. The website, Do It Yourself, offers three tips for storage solutions. Work with what’s already in your attic. Use exposed wood frames to support shelves made from wood. It’s your attic. So any wood will do, even cheap plywood. Freestanding shelves can be made out of any cheap, strong wood and L-brackets. Alternately, just purchase utility shelving. Stackable containers are perhaps the easiest way to add space. Clear bins allow you to view what’s inside without moving them to open. Before buying plastic storage containers, check out the list compiled by The Spruce of the six best to buy in 2021.

Start the process of claiming more living space in your home this spring by cleaning and reorganizing storage items. A SpaceLift™ attic lift makes this tedious task less labor intensive. It makes attic storage enjoyable for the whole family, and for years to come. SpaceLift lifts feature computerized smart controls with built-in safety features. It has no restriction on how high you can stack items. Its low profile base makes loading and unloading easy. The lift carries up to 200 pounds and 24 cubic feet of cargo per trip. Transferring items to the attic and back down takes the push of a button. Travel time is three inches per second. It installs between attic floor joists. Installation is easy requiring basic carpentry skills. Many SpaceLift attic lifts are installed as DIY, do-it-yourself, projects. We can also recommend local installers if you want to go that route. Just contact us!

https://cleancrawls.com/clean-declutter-attic-7-simple-steps/

https://www.doityourself.com/stry/3-storage-shelf-ideas-for-your-attic

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/clean-attic-space-25834.html

https://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/clutter-buster.html

https://modernize.com/homeowner-resources/other/attic-storage-101

https://www.thespruce.com/best-plastic-storage-bins-4154995

A Spring Cleaning Checklist to Increase Your Overall Productivity
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Increasing your home value is usually a key consideration when choosing home improvements. Some rennovations can also help your home sell more quickly when the time comes. However you should also think about how a renovation can improve your life. Think how a remodel will improve your comfort, convenience and joy. These additions improve your overall quality of life without breaking the bank. We built our list around the average U.S. income tax refund, which in 2021 was $2,983 according to the IRS.

Bathrooms remodels are best home improvements

According to real estate database company Zillow, a mid-range bathroom remodel costs around $3,000. And they say it is one of the easiest ways to increase the value of your home. Upgrades can return $1.71 in home value for every $1 spent. For example, are your toilet and faucets dated? New light fixtures make a dramatic difference. Switch to a pedestal sink or stone countertop with double sinks. Upgrading to a frameless shower costs between $1,200 and $2,500. But it resulted in overall sold value increase of five percent above expected value. Plus, it led to a sale 38 days sooner, according to Zillow keyword research.

The life-changing value of a nicer bathroom goes unsaid. Even so, there are simple amenities worth considering. For example, a multi-function shower head costs very little. Think about next winter with heated towel bars. Or maybe dream of a heated floor. This is the most expensive of the home improvements recommended here. But how much time do you spend in your bathroom?

Kitchen updates range from simple to complex

Kitchens are one of the more critical selling features in homes these days. Plus, they have become the center of family activity. This makes them a major decorating point of difference in any house. A dated kitchen can be a home sale downer. Fortunately, you can give your kitchen a trendy makeover for not much money. Resurfacing cabinets is a job you can hire or do yourself. Or, just changing out the hardware makes a big difference. Adding subway tile or redoing the backsplash updates the look in a weekend. Often a good cleaning and a no-hands faucet make your sink like new.

Depending upon the size of your kitchen, these home improvements fit within our tax deduction investment. For life value you’ll soon appreciate how much time you spend in your kitchen when you update its look. How did we live with that old faucet all these years?

Fung shui your closet

Is your closet a nightmare? Do you constantly have to reorganize so you can fit all your clothes inside? A closet makeover might be the right step for you! We use our closets daily. That much traffic trying to choose outfits can cause chaos. Simple fixes abound. Start by organizing. Most people only wear 20 percent of the items in their closet. This according to a California Closets designer. You’ll love him in this Wall Street Journal article, “A Closet Filled with Regrets.” There are simple solutions. Install shelving to organize smaller items. A dedicated shoe rack minimizes time spent hunting for a matching pair. Organizers range from simple inserts you buy and install yourself to custom closets with built-ins galore. Closet remodels run from $1,000 to $3,000 for materials and installation, according to Home and Garden TV.

Number and size of closets are a big determining factor for your home value. Imagine a potential homebuyer looking into your closet. You also get immediate life value too. Mornings are stressful enough; having an organized closet is one way to start your day on a positive note. It’s one of our favorite home improvements.

Better Yet, “Clone” Your Closet

There’s also a cool idea to “Clone Your Closet“. It uses a SpaceLift attic storage lift and portable wardrobe. First, load portable wardrobe with off-season clothes. Second, load the whole wardrobe, standing up, on the SpaceLift platform. Third, push a button and the SpaceLift whisks the whole wardrobe up into your attic. Finally, roll off the lift and onto your attic floor.

Upgrade home and garage attic storage

Most of us face a conundrum: do we have too much stuff or not enough space? Reducing clutter is a goal for many homeowners. Being better organized creates more living space. Of course, your home shows better to prospective buyers if it is neat and orderly. Improving storage space in your home or garage attic is a fairly inexpensive option. Especially compared to others on our list of home improvements. Consider that it is a permanent enhancement. Plus, it costs far less cost than hauling your stuff to a storage facility and paying a monthly fee. Also, because home storage is more convenient, you’re likely to use it more too. (Here’s a blog post “Do the Self Storage Math.”)

If you don’t have one, you’ll need a floor. An attic flooring system can range from simple plywood to finished floors. There’s also an attic decking solution, Attic Deck by Metro Products. Snap-in panels are lightweight. They come in widths to match most attic floor joists. You can buy them direct or at Amazon, Home Depot, etc.

Next, easy attic access is key. Carrying storage bins, boxes, Christmas and Halloween decorations, et cetera up and down the attic ladder or stairs is a pain, even dangerous.

Attic Lifts make storage home improvements easy

These motorized platforms carry storage items between floors. SpaceLift Products makes a lift with computer controlled smart safety features. It has no restriction on how high you can stack items. Plus its low profile base makes loading and unloading easy. It carries up to 200 pounds and 24 cubic feet of cargo per trip. Transferring items to the attic and back down takes the push of a button. It travels smoothly at three inches per second.

SpaceLift attic lifts fit between attic floor joists. Installation is easy requiring basic carpentry skills. Many are DIY projects. Alternately, you can pay a bit more for installation. Most any handyman or remodeling contractor can do it. SpaceLift makes two models selling for $1,895 and $1,995. This includes free shipping and a two-year factory warranty. For prospective homebuyers, an attic lift is a unique solution to a vexing problem. You should also know it makes your home stand out from the crowd. And for adding value to your life? New York Times Bestselling Author Marie Kondo titled her book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” ‘Nuff said?

Installing a SpaceLift attic storage lift in the attic one of the popular home improvements

Consider an outdoor fire pit

Fire pits offer different pleasures in every season. Something primordial in us all makes gathering around the fire a special pleasure. In summer months the pit is a perfect place to roast marshmallows. Eat them right off the stick. Or build lots of gooey s’mores! The fire’s warmth makes your backyard the perfect place to relax. Chase away evening chills of fall and spring. It’s a great place to hang out with a hot chocolate on a snowy winter afternoon.

Fire pits run from $40 to $5,000. At the low end, $40 gets you a simple, transportable iron bowl you sit on the ground. You can pick one up at Home Depot, Lowes or TruValue. Or go cowboy sheik with a galvanized, made-in-America Behrens tub. Drill some holes in it for air to feed your fire. At the high end, for $1,400 to $5,000 you get a professionally installed stone pit or outdoor fireplace. Feed your fire pit real wood or opt for a gas or propane fueled model.

These are among the most popular outdoor living features, according to The Spruce. It is another unique amenity that makes your home more distinctive with prospective buyers. And it offers many memorable evenings between now and when you sell the house.

Add an outdoor dining area

Having special spaces beyond the walls of your home is exotic and fun. On a beautiful day it’s easy to enjoy the weather by adding an outdoor dining area. This improvement can be as simple or complex as you desire. Your outdoor space can be a table and chairs on the lawn. Or you can build. Some outdoor spaces are like adding an extra room to your house. Dining al fresco has been a hot restaurant trend for years.

A simple 10 by 10 tent costs less than a hundred dollars. To keep out mosquitos there are all variety of popup screen houses. There are all sorts of pavers for patios. Or maybe a wooden deck is your choice. At the higher end, people are building tree houses with electricity and running water.

Backyard office in a screened tent. Come winter the tent, screen, table and chairs all go to the attic to await spring.

A popular trend is creating a seamless transition from your home to your outdoor living space. People are using indoor-appearing furniture on their outdoor patios and decks. Country Living magazine says, “indoor steps outside.” Temporary or permanent screen houses extend the evening. Space heaters extend the season. Home Depot has outdoor furniture sets starting below $500 and going up to $3,500 and more. Designer furniture stores have even more expensive options.

Of course, adding a deck or patio has always added value to your home. Now, making it an outdoor dining and living area adds value to your home and your lifestyle. (Protect your outdoor living investment. Use your attic to store lawn items during the winter. A SpaceLift attic storage lift makes it easy.)

End lawn furniture abuse! A SpaceLift attic storage lift makes it easy to whisk summer furniture into your home or garage attic. Your investment in summer gear is protected. Your summer stuff lasts longer. Your furniture will be happier.

Install a bay window

A bay window is its own magic space. The extra panels of glass create panoramic views and pour extra natural light into the room. Its distinctive architecture becomes a focal point in your home. Exotic windows add curb appeal and memorability. They boost your home’s resale value. Add a cushioned seat and the window becomes a special nook for you. Maybe its a place for your cat to luxuriate in the sun. (Some models add a bit of extra storage under the seat.) The most common rooms for this feature window are bedrooms, home offices and living rooms.

Installation and window unit costs range from $500 to more than $3,000. The range depends upon window size, materials and other factors. Estimates according to Home Advisor. It is the least expensive of the home improvements recommend. Yet it adds a wonderfully dramatic touch.

Sources:

https://www.zillow.com/digs/guides/before-you-sell/investment-to-boost-your-home-value/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324240804578415002232186418

https://www.thespruce.com/feng-shui-to-clear-closet-clutter-1274483

http://tidyingup.com

https://www.thespruce.com/design-features-and-elements-for-yards-4105977

http://www.countryliving.com/gardening/g4244/outdoor-decor-trends-2017/

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Bust clutter. Getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the average home. It can reduce asthma and allergy triggers, according to The American Cleaning Institute. “For many people the conundrum is: do they have too much stuff or not enough space?” said Dave Berliner, inventor of the SpaceLift attic lift. His invention solves the problem of using your attic for storage by creating easier and safer access. Even the famed clutter buster Marie Kondo says, “The aim of storage is to give every item a home – a designated spot for it to rest and recharge when not in use.”

“Many organization gurus tell you to purge, get rid of your stuff. I disagree. It’s your stuff. There’s likely a good reason you kept it in the first place. Busting clutter may simply be a matter of moving some of your stuff out of your living space and into a convenient storage space,” Berliner said, “This is especially true for seasonal items like decorations, patio furniture, tools and toys. These items ‘spark joy’ in their season. Meanwhile, you protect your investment by keeping them safely stored. Storing them in the attic, not your living space, makes more room for you. It helps you get, and stay, organized.”

Place for Stuff

WebMD suggests 8 common clutter “hot spots” you should address.

  • 1 = There’s the entry hall dump. (Here in New England we have mud porches.)
  • 2 = Next is the overstuffed pantry. Better organization helps. Install a back-of-the-door rack.
  • 3 = Then there’s that mail pile. Usually in a public place. You plan to handle that paper. But don’t. And the paper pile seems to grow all on its own. A basket helps keep mail neat. Maybe try paperless bill pay?
  • 4 = Refrigerator door clutter? Not sure we agree with this one WebMD. It’s is your personal choice. One person’s cluttered refrigerator door is another’s treasured collection.
  • 5 = Certainly on the list is the bathroom counter. All those potions and lotions tend to spread. The Container Store has a variety of clever solutions. Organizers help you go from “sloppy to serene,” the article says.
  • 6 = Garage clutter. Did you know one-in-four homeowners say they can’t fit their car in their own garage? If you have an attic, SpaceLift attic storage lifts offer an elegant solution. A beautiful garage starts with a good storage system.
  • 7 = Junk drawer. Admittedly, some of us love our junk drawers. But it can take forever to find an AAA battery that you just know is in there! There are many excellent drawer organizers. The Spruce rates the 9 best ones.
  • 8 = Kid clutter can be a challenge. Toy boxes help. But only if you use them. This is a great opportunity to teach your children clutter busting.

Bust Clutter with Storage

“Lack of space” was cited as the biggest challenge to improving organization by 32.9 percent of consumers surveyed by NPD Group for HomeWorld Forecast Consumer Survey. “Yet most homes have lots of available storage space in attics above the house and garage. Access is generally the limiting factor,” Berliner said. “Attic ladders or pull-down stairs can be tough to negotiate. They are downright dangerous when carrying storage bins, boxes or other items. There is a risk of falling, or hurting your back, or damaging your items,” he added, “Easy attic access is the key to attic storage solutions.” (Read our blog about Ladder Safety at Home.)

Control Clutter with a SpaceLift Attic Storage Lift

Berliner’s answer was to invent an attic lift. “It is like having your own mini freight elevator to carry storage into your attic in just minutes. It’s a dumbwaiter for your stuff,” he explained.

Designed to fit between attic floor joists, installation is easy requiring basic carpentry and electrical skills. Many are installed as do-it-yourself projects, Berliner said, or the company can help with local installers. It sells directly on its website, www.SpaceLiftProducts.com. A short video on the website shows how the lift works. Prices start at $1,895 with free shipping and a two-year factory warranty. SpaceLift™ Products are assembled in the USA, in Stratford, Conn., by Redco Home, a division of Redco Audio, a family-owned company.

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Do it yourself SpaceLift attic storage is pretty simple. It requires only basic carpentry and minor electrical skills. First, let’s answer six basic questions. One, can you frame a rectangular opening in your attic floor (aka garage ceiling)? Two, are your attic floor joists 4 to 14 inches deep? Three, is your attic floor no more than 15 feet above the home or garage floor below? Four, do you have an attic floor or attic flooring system over some part of your attic? Five, is your attic a rafter or truss system that will support weight of you and your storage items? Six, is 110 – 120VAC electrical service available to your attic? Yes? Then you are on your way to enjoying the convenience of a SpaceLift attic storage lift.

In most cases, answers are all “yes.” If you’re not confident, this job can be done by any competent handy person with basic carpentry and electrical skills. Or if you wish, hire one of our SpaceLift Products dealers and installers located across the U.S.A.

If you have any doubts about your attic construction and capacity for storage, first consult a structural engineer.

FREE Do It Yourself SpaceLift Attic Storage Resources

Your next step is to consult the SpaceLift Products Page. There you can review the installation requirements and framed opening dimensions.

Our website has numerous free do it yourself SpaceLift attic storage resources:

Download the SpaceLift Installation manual PDF

Choosing a Location for Your SpaceLift

First and foremost, your SpaceLift carries cargo only. No people allowed. Think of it as a dumbwaiter. Like your own mini freight elevator. So while you’re improving attic access for storage items, you also need access for people. Pull-down attic stairs are the most common. Sometimes, older homes have regular stairs. Or you may have a narrow staircase. A simple hatch and extension ladder will do. Once your SpaceLift attic lift is installed, you no longer need carry storage items on the ladder. Lift instead!

Unlike competitors, a SpaceLift attic lift is designed to fit neatly between attic floor joists. No part of the unit protrudes up into your attic. This makes it a lot easier to move around your attic. Our carrying platform is easy to load and unload. No bars or chains are in your way.

Even so, we recommend at least four feet ceiling clearance above the lift. No sense banging your head! In fact, installing your SpaceLift where you have the most ceiling height makes the most sense. Take advantage of one of our lift’s best features: no vertical stacking limit. When considering location, think of putting your fill size artificial Christmas tree, or pop-up tent, or ski bag upright on the lift.

Again, our Do It Yourself SpaceLift attic storage Siting Guide offers more advice.

Making the Cut

If you’re like most do it yourselfers, cutting into your home or garage ceiling can be intimidating. Relax! First, you should know our SpaceLift comes with a white cover. Second, your ceiling cut is less than the size of the cover. So it makes a neat appearance. Some customers, like Bill T. even take the time to trim the ceiling opening. Bill used some moulding for a truly finished look. Read Bill’s letter and see his do it yourself SpaceLift attic storage install.

In most cases, our recommendation is to make the cut from the attic floor side. First, you can even lay the SpaceLift box between the attic floor joists to be sure.

do it yourself SpaceLift attic install shown lifting heavy table saw
Bill T.’s Do it Yourself SpaceLift attic storage. Note the moulding around garage ceiling opening. Bill’s a real DIYer. He uses his lift to store a heavy, portable, table saw in his attic.

A Note about Basements

Far and away, most of our do it yourself SpaceLift attic storage installs are for attics. But if you use basement storage, and are tired of lugging up and down the stairs, our lift works just as well for basements. You simply install the lift in your home floor with a trap door covering.

Do it Yourself SpaceLift Attic Storage Done in a Day

Most do it yourself SpaceLift attic storage installations take half a day or less. Once the unit is physically in place, there are a few simple steps to set up operation. Our programmable lifts make for easy set up.

Then say goodbye to the old household storage hassle on your stairs or attic ladder. The low-profile SpaceLift design is ideal for moving seasonal storage and holiday decorations in and out of your attic space. Up to 24 cubic foot capacity (and 200 pounds per trip) allows you to move more stuff in less time. Consult with your contractor and organize you life. You can do it.

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Convenient home storage has one impediment. Access. Attic access is perhaps the worst. Some have only a hatch. Others have those dreaded, pull down ladders. Older homes may have a staircase. Often attic stairs are narrow and twisty. Convenience is not a term that comes to mind.

Inconvenient home storage access may be why drive-up, walk-in rental storage units are popping up like mushrooms all across America. By the way, investing in your own home is always better than renting. Check out our blog and Do the Self-Storage Math. In the long run, using your own attic is cheaper.

Safety is an even greater concern. Lugging a storage container up that pull-down attic ladder is not just inconvenient. It is downright dangerous. Ladders and stairways are one of the leading causes of home injuries. Each month brings a new holiday. Every holiday is home storage season. Regardless of your age, climbing a flight of stairs with a load of storage presents a challenge. Think about it. Your risk increases significantly when you struggle to move bins and boxes on an attic ladder.

Then there are some things near impossible to lug up a ladder. For example, do you have utilities in your attic? This customer had to replace a 50 gallon hot water heater in his attic. Perhaps you want to store a valuable, but little used tool? This customer keeps his job site table saw up there.

Convenient Home Storage Secret: Lift Don’t Carry

The solution? Install a SpaceLift attic storage lift. With the press of a button those awkward bins and boxes are carried up into your attic storage space. The low-profile SpaceLift design makes it easy to load and unload. Because it pulls from all four corners, there is no impediment to storage stacking height. You can stack storage as high as your attic ceiling allows. Think full-size artificial Christmas tree. Or a 10×10 tent. Or a bag of snow skis. You can use a portable wardrobe and your attic lift to clone your closet, rotating seasonal clothes to attic storage.

Heavy lifting is an advantage over any ladder. Our lift carries up to 200 pounds per trip. Greater capacity means fewer trips.

Install a SpaceLift attic lift and see your attic in a whole new light. You can, at last, clean out your garage. Claim more living space. Reduce clutter. Or as Lisa Winkler from Alabama says, “My SpaceLift saved my back!”

Shows a portable wardrobe with seasonal clothes in and out of attic storage. Convenient home storage is looking up!
Once you install an attic lift, you find all kinds of useful applications! Here a portable wardrobe is loaded on the lift and used to swap seasonal clothing to create more closet space in the home living area.

What is an Attic Lift?

Think of it as a modern dumb waiter with smart controls. It’s a mini freight elevator for attics. The SpaceLift attic lift is electrically powered. Its computer controls offer important safety features. Perhaps the most important is obstruction detection. If the lift is blocked by anything, it stops. Some competitor lifts warn against broken storage items, even broken bones, if anything gets in the way of their lifts.

Also the SpaceLift attic lift protects itself. If you try to overload it with more than 200 pounds, it just won’t go. No damage to the motor.

We invite comparison. If you want convenient home storage, you want to get the right lift. It should be the one that is convenient to load and unload. Easy to use. Safe. And of course, cost is always a consideration.

P.S. Basements for Convenient Home Storage Too

Yes, we say convenient home storage is “looking up,” a play on words for attics. But if you use your basement for storage, there’s no reason a SpaceLift storage lift does not also work for you. It is meant to carry items between two floors in your home or garage. It installs neatly between the floor joists. If your floor joists above the basement are 7 inches deep or more, the lift can be hidden beneath a trap door. (At six inches or less, the unit protrudes above the floor. Four inch deep joists are minimum.) SpaceLift Products has lots of installation support, including free, downloadable guides, videos, even CAD files. Many are installed as DIY, do it yourself, projects.

P.P.S. Commercial Installations

This blog posts cites “convenient HOME storage.” However, SpaceLift attic lifts are robust enough for commercial use. They are installed in warehouses, stores and commercial kitchens. Like a dumbwaiter or mini freight elevator, they are perfect for bars and restaurants. Stop lugging cases of booze and kegs of beer up from the basement! Because our lift has no vertical stacking limitation, it fits a keg just fine. Jon Rocket sells model rockets and parts. Its office is in a loft. The owner calls his SpaceLift attic lift a “trade secret.”

SpaceLift attic lift commercial kitchen installation
Commercial kitchen installation. SpaceLift attic storage lift shown to right of stairs. It carries supplies up and down from storage, instead of carrying on the staircase. This is Tiny Drumsticks in New York City.