Loft space as food storage

[Nari70]

Can you lovely people give me advice on using loft space as food storage?

I have approx one year of food in tins and mylar sealed (with oxygen tabs) dry food in food grade buckets. About 6 months in a cool outhouse but the rest in the loft. I have read a number of American websites saying this is a no no.

What do you think? Are any foods ok up their, maybe pasta or rice? I could jiggle things round a bit and get other preps up there but if I have to drop the food preps out of loft then the only option is digging the garden up and that in itself poses many more problems.

What about storing my water barrels outside well covered to make room in the outhouse? I could empty them regularly and refill to keep fresh. Although my secret prepping is blown as soon as I have visitors.

Why have you got so many barrels of water ......errmmm.

Sorry, a few questions in one there.

[unsure]

i would say , its a no no .
if you think about the differing temps in your attic , you can see why .
i tend to keep the likes of loo roll and kitchen roll up there , things that are not effected by the temp .

[featherstick]

The temp variation in the average loft is very high across the year. This will affect the quality and longevity of your food. Your plan B sounds ok, specially if you can explain the water as for your garden, if you have one.

[preparedsurrey]

The loft is usually no good as they are an oven in summer and a freezer in winter, so not good for storing anything temperature sensitive. You could get around this by creating a very well insulated storage area within in, like a box with 150mm of kingspan/ celotex (what building control want if it was going to be a living space) in the walls and ceiling. Make sure your loft will take the weight of whatever you put up there, or situate you storage over the top of supporting walls.

[Deeps]

i would say , its a no no .
if you think about the differing temps in your attic , you can see why .
i tend to keep the likes of loo roll and kitchen roll up there , things that are not effected by the temp .

Agree with this, the fluctuating temperatures are more likely to affect your victuals. If its dark up there the water might not be as affected so its an option. As unsure says, some of your non scran preps will be fine. I don't know your set up but have you utilised under the bed(s) in storage boxes ? I'm not allowed to because the monsters might hide there (she's a grown woman and a bloody scientist but go figure ) although my garage is starting to get a bit full of various boxes and the like and I'm reaching the point where its getting 'weird' having so much scran in there. Having stuff in cardboard boxes or plastic containers that aren't see through might help conceal things.

[Nari70]

Thanks all, a resounding no then.

Preps are over supporting walls as I was concerned about the weight but I will drop the food and turf out the water to make room in the outhouse. If anyone goes in there they'll think I've gone nuts......wall to wall tins and plastic buckets. No room under the bed, used for clothes ... the mrs has to have some storage

I've got a new plan.. build a lean too against the outhouse.

[Deeps]

Putting your tins etc in boxes either cardboard or plastic storage tubs (non see through ones) gives you an element of discretion if you're putting stuff in the garage/shed and is easier to describe as 'housey crap' rather than zombie stores. I'm in the same position and need to have a reorganisation for my expanding supplies.

[preparedsurrey]

Beware of vermin too if storing anything that's not in tins out of the house, putting poison down and having traps about will at least give you an idea if they are active before they destroy too much