When we moved into our large house 26 years ago, everything that had to be saved “in case we need it” was stored in the basement. Despite being over 1000 square feet, the basement was filled with boxes except for little pathways through them. My packrat wife was happy, but the mess drove me crazy.
Each week I bought and bolted together a couple of bays of metal shelving, and 20 boxes were moved off the floor. Sixteen bays of shelving, a frosty material dispute, and a garage sale later; all the boxes were off the floor.
Unfortunately even in a dry basement, over time cardboard will absorb humidity and smell. So each week I bought ten plastic storage bins and removed the cardboard boxes from one bay of shelving. Half a year, another frosty marital dispute, and another garage sale later; all the cardboard boxes were gone. Now when we actually “really needed something” from the basement it could be found.
A long time passes ….. and I become a model railroad geek. As you know nobody collects more junk than model railroaders. The shelves quickly overflow with locomotives, cars, track, books, video tapes and tools. The boss now feels justified invoking the dreaded “in case we need it” clause; and the basement collects junk at an alarming rate. Too old and tired to fight with the boss and sort through the rising tide of junk, I give up and have the storage rooms walled off and lay claim to a small workshop area. I ignore all suggestions to install a dropped ceiling and engineered hardwood floor in the basement; as that would quickly turn my remaining refuge into a depository for old furniture as the boss continues to remodel the house.
No one ever listens to free advice, but if you are considering bays of shelving, buy the new plastic ones. Unlike the flimsy metal ones that take an hour to bolt together, the plastic ones tap together in a minute and are actually stronger than the tinplate ones. Over the years the metal shelves will scratch and rust, particularly in a damp environment like a garage. The plastic ones won’t scratch or rust, and can be spray washed clean. Should they have to be disassembled for moving, the plastic ones will tap apart easily and stack neatly.
If I had to move, my metal ones would be the first items out on the driveway at a giant garage sale. Hopefully buyers would ignore the “free to a good home” sign the boss would have stuck on my back.
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