Storage Unit Size
Question:
does anyone have experience with self-storage units, and know how much space you need? I've tried to call around, but it's hard to know how much space you will need when everything is compacted into boxes. Can anyone recommend a natural foods co-op (the type with an actual store, not just a buying club) in Baltimore or the surrounding area? We're moving down there next week.
Answer:
Did you have everything when you moved into this apartment? If so, did
you rent a truck to move it? If so, again, how full was the truck?
Extrapolate from there.
Basically, you need to figure out how much cubic feet all your stuff
occupies, divide that by about 5 or 6 (depending on how stackable it
is), and find a storage place with square footage equal to or a bit
larger than the resulting number; more if you need to leave room for
access, less if you can safely stack most of it 8' high.
It may be advantageous to build some rough shelving that you can set in
the storage place and set some of the odd-shaped or more fragile stuff
on, as it'll reduce square footage requirements and protect all those
items much better.
Plan things when you start packing stuff into the storage place; if you
may need access to it, it has to go close to the front. Pack as tightly
as you can at the back, with things you won't need access to; use boards
to keep boxes off the floor to prevent them absorbing moisture from the
floor (happens with concrete).
We've been packing, but it was interrupted
somewhat by:
1. a pulled muscle in my lower back/side/hip (I don't
know what area to call it) which was excruciatingly painful
for about a week. DH was lifting me on and off the couch
and on and off the bed the first few days, it was so painful
I couldn't get off the bed without crying out. Couldn't go
to doctor unless I'd gone in an ambulance, couldn't have got
into the car. I'm better now, only an occasional twinge to
remind me. But, God, it was terrible!
2. DH had nerve block (steroid injections) into two
herniated disks in his spine, in an effort to relieve pain
(only somewhat successful). So he's not in the absolute
best of shape, either.
This is not being the easiest move ever for us! But I
think we're more or less on schedule. Actual move is a week
from today, Monday, November 29.
We took the cat to the vet to get some pills for her:
world's worst traveler, she is. Last time she had to travel
to and from a kennel when we were on vacation, it was only
about ten miles and she vomited and had diarrhea in her
carrier, necessitating an instant bath for her when we got
home. She was so distressed by then, poor thing, she didn't
even fight the bath at all.
This time, we have a two hour trip, which will be
practically unendurable if she is as ill again, and I can
hardly bathe a cat while directing moving men where to put
furniture, etc. I sure hope those pills work!
If every thing is packed into boxes it is very easy to figure out how much
storage space you will need. First find out what the size is of each type of
box you will be using is in cubic feet. If you buy the boxes from a storage
company the size of the box will be printed on each box. Then count the number
of boxes of each type. Next figure the amount of cubic feet of storage space
you will need. This equals ( size of type 1 box ) X ( number of type 1 boxes )
Plus ( size of type 2 box ) X ( number of type 2 boxes )
Plus ( size of type 3 box ) X ( number of type 3 boxes )
Plus ( repeat above multiplication for each type of box you have )
Then divide the total cubic feet of storage space required by the heigth of the
stack. For heavy boxes limit the stack height to 5 feet. For light boxes
a stack height of 7 feet may be used. The answer is the amount of storage
space requred. To this add approximately 25% for lost space and
inefficiencies.
Try for a 10x10 with at least a 7ft ceiling. Rental prices usually
quote floor dimensions, but rarely include ceiling height. The higher
ceiling allows storing light weight, easily damaged things like
Christmas trees, seat cushions, bird cages on top. If you don't have
much of this type of stuff, then the higher ceiling may not make a
difference.
Now, sort your intended storage load. What are you trying to store?
Mostly boxes of stuff or mostly furniture? I kept very little
furniture, only a few antiques or hand made pieces and baby furniture.
Sofas, chairs, standard house hold furniture is usually cheaper to
replace from a second hand shop or yard sale than to store. But don't
get rid of a favorite chair or piece of furniture with good memories.
That is not replaceable.
Use sturdy boxes for packing and keep box size as small as possible.
Find a local liquor store that will let you have free the boxes that
were used to ship glass bottled alcohol. Try to keep the full box
weight under 50# or what ever lesser weight you can handle. You might
not have any help when it comes time to move this stuff and hired
professionals tend to gripe about box weight over 50#.
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