Keeping Rodents, Insects, And Water Out Of Your Storage

An outside storage unit is a very useful thing to have. If your house has a limited amount of closet space or you simply do not have anywhere else to stuff your extra belongings, then you can place them inside the storage. If you like tending to a garden, then your shovel, watering can, and other gardening tools can go in there. Your water hose or automobile paraphernalia can go in there as well.

A problem that the owners of many storage units face is the threat of intruders and the elements. If you purchase a shed from your local hardware store, then you will have less to worry about because these sheds are usually made from a heavy-duty plastic that is strong enough to withstand the forces of nature. Of course you would still have to check on it periodically to ensure that there are no ruptures or signs of water damage. Also, to minimize water damage, it is best that the unit be placed on a platform so that water cannot come in when it starts raining. You can make a cement block that is at least 8 inches high to use as the platform. Using cinder blocks is another option, but make sure you do not just put them underneath the ends of the unit because that will not be very stable.

A storage unit that you made yourself from actual wood and other building materials will be more susceptible to water damage. The wood might be harder to clean out than the heavy-duty plastic that the other sheds use. The storage unit has to be built properly, so if you have little to no handyman experience, consult the help of a neighbor, friend, or family member that does have more experience. Personal belongings that are placed into a storage unit that is not built properly is as good as gone.

Use a waterproof sealant so that the water does not permeate the wood, and install a mini gutter system on it so that the water drains off of the roof properly. Check on the structure of the storage every now and then and definitely before the rainy winter and spring seasons. All of your belongings inside need to be placed in airtight storage containers. Do not use cardboard because it is a paper-based material that mold can grow on. Bigger items that cannot be placed in these plastic bins need to be placed in large plastic bags and tied tightly so no moisture can get in.

As for insects, you can spray both the inside and the outside perimeter of the shed. Do not put your belongings in immediately after you spray; allow the shed to air out for a while. Setting up some roach motels and baits will help against insects that do manage to find their way in. As for rodents, you will need to set up traps along the entrance of the storage unit. This should keep out insects and rodents, but if the problem should persist or worsen, then you will need to remove all of your stuff out, fumigate the unit, and check to see if your belongings have been affected.