Lumber Vs. Loft: Choosing How To Elevate Goods In A Storage Unit
Tossing items into a storage unit sounds simple when you are dealing with the idea in your head, but once you actually start to put things in the unit, you realize there's a lot more to it. One issue is keeping items off the floor in case something spills in a neighboring unit and seeps into yours. Keeping everything a few inches off the floor is the basic requirement, and many people get pallets or lumber and just lay those out, placing boxes on top. But many prefer storage racks and shelves. The right choice for you depends on what you plan to put in the unit and how you react to crowded scenes.
Pressure
If you have a lot to stack in the unit, the weight of those upper boxes can damage boxes at the bottom of the stack unless you plan it correctly. If you have a bunch of book boxes, for example, and you place those at the bottom with light boxes containing linens on top, your books are going to be OK. But if you have books, books, and more books, the weight of all those book boxes is going to crush the box at the bottom. Even books can get smushed. Lots of heavy boxes means you need lots of storage shelves.
Stability
Stability isn't that much of an issue if you don't have that many boxes to begin with. A small stack of book boxes isn't going to be that unstable. However, the more boxes you have to stack, the more unstable the pile will eventually become. For larger amounts of boxes and belongings, get storage racks that have sturdy bases, and place heavier items on the lower shelves.
Space
One issue that many don't realize is a thing with storage racks is that they can often result in lots of unusable space. Unless you can cram items into every last cubic inch of space in between the shelves of the rack, you're going to find that the racks have a noticeable amount of open space even when each shelf holds boxes. Granted, if you've got so much stuff that you need every last bit of space, you really need a bigger storage unit. But sometimes you find you have to temporarily add extra boxes, and seeing that space go unused because it's in nooks and crannies around the storage shelves can be frustrating.
Looks
There's no doubt, a shelving unit is going to make things look a lot neater inside a storage unit just because it'll be easier to line up the boxes on the shelves. For many people, this might not be the most deal-breaking issue ever, but the neatness of the unit can have a psychological effect on you each time you open the door. If you tend to go into a bad mood upon seeing a messy desk or disorganized room, do what you can to get storage racks into the unit. You'll feel less distressed whenever you look inside the storage facility.
Your storage facility manager can point you toward stores and shelving that they have seen others use in the units. If you need additional advice about safely storing goods, too, ask the facility staff. For more information, visit websites like http://www.billkingsmovingandstorage.com.