Self storage units

[Decacraft]

After a bit of a lengthy conversation with the other half about how much gear I have accumulated for various things hobby related and outdoors, diy tools and bikes etc I may have to look at self storage containers.

Now the majority will be sorted and stored in boxes/totes, but my concern is tents/sleeping bags and other things that may suffer from condensation and mould.

Do any of you use these facilities? The ones I have been looking at offer 24/7 access and are a 10 minute drive away so easy for me to get to and pick something up if needed.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated, im not in a position to get a bigger shed(have a 6x4 which is pretty full) until the garden has been overhauled which may be a year or 2 away yet.

 

[Mesquite]

If they're climate controlled then you shouldn't have any issues with condensation or mould.

 

[Decacraft]

If they're climate controlled then you shouldn't have any issues with condensation or mould.

How would I know if they were? The only thing that's mentioned online is that they are treated with grafo-therm to prevent condensation but im unsure if that totally stops it or just minimises it

 

[Pattree]

My son uses a sixteen foot self store container. No power or venting. Textiles that he is keeping long term are vacuum packed - you can buy bags that can be pumped out by some vacuum cleaners or inflation pumps.
Otherwise you’ll need to take things out and air them in some sort of rotation.

Long term storage costs a fortune. I’m trying to get son to ditch/sell stuff and buy more when he eventually needs it using the money he’d save from not storing.

 

[Falstaff]

Freight containers as storage units are poor, absolute condensation nightmares.
I rent a garage with a metal roof- sealed it with 25mm celotex and expanding foam - sorted the condensation perfectly but it keeps getting flooded when the parking drains get blocked by leaves, and been broken into once.
I also have a storage place in a professional storage wharerhouse, its been perfect for over 17 years, but costs a lot. I need to make hard decisions about storage cost vs buy new if/when I need it.
The other use for it is to keep all my banking/tax records safely, being self employed you need to keep these to the grave virtually - HMRC can reach back as far as they want, and make highly questionable assumptions if you have no records - forget that 7 years stuff.

 

[rowen]

I owned a container storage site, we sold interior dehumidifier traps as has been said they are terrible for condensation.
If you put those in remember they have to be replaced.
I would advice anyone not to put things into storage, it’s a ride you won’t get off, you will keep adding to it, can’t get to the things at the back and then there is so much stuff in there(mostly of no value by my experience) that you will just keep paying for ever!
I had long forgotten school friends who had decided to go travelling for a year call me up and enquire, after I’d asked them what they were storing and worked out the value it was better for them to sell and rebuy, don’t put photos, paintings, books clothes, sleeping bags etc etc in one of your not regularly visiting it.
Just my opinion though