Tag: garage organization

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SpaceLift in The Villages

Customer Letter about Their SpaceLift™ Storage Lift Installation in The Villages®, Florida.

We sometimes get such wonderful letters that we want to share them in full with our website visitors and blog readers. (A few excerpts from Bill’s letter are on our Testimonials Page.) Such is the case with this “love letter” from a very happy customer. Our SpaceLift in The Villages story fits the huge retirement community to a tee. If you know of The Villages, it is a very large active adult 55+ retirement community in Central Florida. One of its endearing factors is that you can go everywhere in a golf cart and membership there gets you golf for life on a number of beautiful courses. Bill T. moved there and needed to store some of this stuff . . . oh heck, we’ll let him tell the story:

Bill’s Letter

“We recently moved to ‘The Villages’ in Florida from Texas.  The move was part of a downsizing and also a move to be closer to my wife’s parents.  Even though we eliminated a great amount of household goods, we were still left with seasonal items and tools that needed storage.

Most every resident in The Villages uses their garage attic for storage.  Storage space inside these modest homes is limited.  In our case, the attic already had a plywood floor but approximately only 4-feet of overhead space.

While we are still young enough to move items up the pull-down stairway, we knew there would come a day this would become increasingly dangerous.  In addition, since we are Do-it-Yourselfers, there are the occasional tools that needed storage.  The Spacelift is big enough to move a job-site table saw into the attic.  We also have a preference to a tidy garage.

Large table saw would be very difficult to carry up and down an attic ladder.

After researching the most popular options the choices were clear between Spacelift and Versalift.  We selected Spacelift primarily since it did not require any overhead space Versalift has a cage/frame and Spacelift mounts flush with the attic floor.  However, there were other reasons including easier installation, a clean-look to the ceiling, and the price was less.  Both products could lift 200-pounds which was more than adequate.  With exception to the wall mounted remote, the Spacelift is completely self-contained.

We did choose the 5228-S Model which did require cutting a joist and providing sister joists for extra support.  The 5222-S Model will fit between 24-inch joists and would be easier to install.

The installation was very straightforward and can be done in just a few hours.  We took a little more time to trim and paint the ceiling. The instructions were very detailed.

Finished ceiling trimmed for a neat look.

We could not be happier!  The quality and thought that went into the Spacelift is very impressive!  The microprocessor controls slows the platform before it reaches the top or the bottom.  The controls are simple and the safety features for overloading, jams, slack tension detection are important.  The spring mounted ceiling panel always makes a flush fit when fully raised.  The nylon webbing that lifts the platform rolls flat and cleanly onto the rollers.  We had concerns about the aircraft wire consistently spooling properly on the Versalift.

One additional advantage we discovered over the Versalift is the Spacelift can be stopped short of the top to allow airflow into the attic that helps keep the garage cooler.  This is a more aesthetically pleasing solution than most other home owners we’ve seen that put a block of wood on their pull-down stairs to create the same type of airflow.

Neighbors that have seen the Spacelift are jealous!”

Regards,

Bill T
The Villages, Florida

tidy garage in The Villages, Florida, thanks to SpaceLift attic lift
Bill T and wife’s very tidy garage with their new SpaceLift in The Villages, FL. SpaceLift is in the back of the garage, center, moving containers into their attic for storage.
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Park Your Car Inside Your Garage and Enjoy These Benefits

If you’re like most people, you don’t park your car inside. Instead, your garage has become a glorified closet. One in four Americans say their garage is so disorganized they can’t fit even one car inside. This according to a homeowner survey by Gladiator GarageWorks. Yet, there are many and important benefits to park your car inside.

Average cost of a new car is pegged at $36,700, according to Kelly Blue Book. So, the inability to house and protect your automobile investment is detrimental. The value of a car or truck kept in a garage versus one parked outdoors is significant. Garage kept cars have higher resale value. Park your car inside (or your truck) to extend its life and maximize your investment.

Park Your Car Inside . . . Your Car Will Thank You!

Having your car outside exposes it to the elements. Acid rain, bird droppings, dust, dirt, pollen and debris attack your paint. Sun causes oxidation damage to your vehicle’s exterior. Ultraviolet rays and temperature extremes damage the interior. Ask your mechanic. We bet he or she can tell if a car lives in a garage or outdoors by looking at it. And a garage protects not only the exterior and interior finishes. Garaged car fluids stay closer to operating temperatures. They stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer. That reduces wear on your engine and moving parts. Oil and grease stay less viscous indoors. They do a much better job of lubricating your engine and moving parts at start up. You can prevent a lot of long-term wear that way.

Today’s cars are driven only five-percent of the time, according to Fortune magazine. Think about your own car or truck. How much time does it spend just sitting at home in your driveway? Worse yet, you park it on the curb because your garage is full.

Oh, but you commute? And at work you must park outside. Okay, still consider where your car spends every night, arguably half its life. Protected inside a garage it will look better longer.

Consider the convenience factor. Not having to scrape frost or clear snow in winter. Not climbing into a boiling-hot interior in summer. How about entering and exiting the car indoors. You’re protected from the elements. You’re safe and secure. Think of the last time you unloaded groceries in a rainstorm. Ever arrived to an empty, dark house late at night? You could push the automatic garage door opener and drive right in. But you cannot. Your garage is too full of storage stuff.

Park Your Car Inside . . . It’s Safer for You!

Park your car inside your garage to protect it from threats other than the elements. Garaged cars are far more secure from theft of the car and contents. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind, helps deter opportunity thefts. Bad actors go through neighborhoods trying car handles. Even the nicest areas are getting hit.

Unlocked cars and trucks parked outside can have their contents rifled or worse. An auto theft occurs every 33 seconds in the U.S., according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Download their free Vehicle Theft Prevention Brochure here. Some insurance companies offer discounted rates for autos kept in locked garages.

“People take great pride in their homes – organizing, decorating and showing off various rooms of their house, especially on social media,” said Karl Champley, master builder and home improvement TV/radio personality. “But the garage is the forgotten room of the home and those same people who are proud of their home are embarrassed by how the garage looks.”

Some so embarrassed they keep their garage doors shut so neighbors won’t see their mess. Keeping your car in the garage also maintains your home’s curb appeal. The GarageWorks survey also revealed marital discord. One of every five homeowners have argued with their spouse about the condition of the garage.

Here’s another benefit of parking your car inside your garage. Automatic garage door openers are very popular now. They make the garage the most-used entryway for many people. Why wend your way through clutter everyday?

Park Your Car Inside Using Your Attic

Banish all this mess and stress with the push of a button.

Fortunately, there are solutions to garage clutter. And there are many organizing coaches and clutter experts. Some pundits, would have you clear clutter by getting rid of your stuff. Please do consider donating unused items. Others belong in the dump. But it’s your stuff. For most of us it’s in the garage for one important reason: we want to keep it. How? Well, there is a whole industry offering racks, pegboards and garage organizing systems. But first, have you looked up?

In many garages the easiest clutter buster is right above your head. Often there is lots of storage space in the garage or home attic. Attic storage solutions open up a whole new space for your stuff often equal to or greater than the space below.

Keep rarely used but useful items in the attic instead of the garage. Cycling seasonal items out of your garage and into the attic increases floor space. For example holiday decorations. Do you use seasonal dishes or special occasion china? Cycle winter coats and summer clothes. Switch seasonal sports equipment, garden tools, toys, snow sleds and snow tires. The list goes on.

Storing items in the attic can be a hassle, even dangerous. Right? Who hasn’t tried lugging storage bins up and down attic ladders? Try carrying an artificial Christmas tree up and down the ladder. Even attic stairs are trouble for heavy items.

Easy Attic Access is Key

Create easy access to garage attic storage to park your car inside the garage where it belongs.

Installing a SpaceLift™ attic lift is the answer. It works like a mini freight elevator. It’s an electrically powered and computer controlled dumbwaiter. It carries up to 200 pounds and 24 cubic feet of storage items per trip. Our attic lift has no vertical limit. You can stack boxes, storage bins, containers and other garage storage items as high as you want. It takes a full size artificial Christmas tree in the box. Standing up. In one trip. Use your attic to its fullest capacity. Reduce clutter. Free up space in your garage and home. Enjoy the many benefits of parking your car inside your garage.

Need some motiviation? Take a before picture now. Install a SpaceLift attic lift. Then take a picture of your beautiful and organized garage. Show your car snug, safe and protected inside. Share that “after” picture on your social media for all your friends to see. Oh, and if you think of it, please also share it on our Facebook page: @SpaceLiftProducts. We love to hear from our satisfied customers!

Your dream garage starts in the attic, showing SpaceLift attic lift with beautiful garage. Park your car inside. A SpaceLift helps make space.

References:

Garage Space Survey

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/almost-1-in-4-americans-say-their-garage-is-too-cluttered-to-fit-their-car-300096246.html

Average New Car Price

https://mediaroom.kbb.com/2021-04-15-Average-New-Vehicle-Prices-Remain-Above-40-000-Threshold-Increase-More-Than-4-Year-Over-Year-According-to-Kelley-Blue-Book

Today’s Cars are Parked 95% of the Time

http://fortune.com/2016/03/13/cars-parked-95-percent-of-time/

Garage Car Insurance

https://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/garage-car-insurance/

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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.