Is it safe to store PM in an unheated attic?

[playmogal]

Like other collectors here, the problem of sufficient space is growing each day....where to store sets I am not playing with is becoming a big issue for my family.

Having read the comments in Flatcat's thread about the importance of not alienating the rest of the family, I realized it is time to develop a storage plan that leave most of our common areas free of our toys. Hubby's N-scale train models end up all over the breakfast area and my PM clogs up the dining room; mixed with a home office where we both work much of the time, this ain't good! Plus it is starting to freeze at night, and we had to bring inside the houseplants on the balcony the past six months.

Our 2600 s.f. (300 s.m.) downstairs area is under construction and may be used as an apartment by the kids when they finish university in May. So storing everything down there is no longer an option.

So I am forced to store much of our collections in 18 gallon (82 l.) Rubbermaid containers, which do stack well and are easy enough to lift unless packed too heavily. These are available for 9USD at several chain stores.

Hubby came up with the idea of laying plywood on the rafters above our 600 s.f. (60 s.m.) garage, and adding a hoist that can lift the containers above the pull down stairs . Last weekend he laid the plywood and built a rail around the edges to keep boxes from sliding off the plywood and falling through the insulation and sheetrock in the ceiling below like an electrician misstepped and put his leg through our living room ceiling a few years ago.

We have three collections to store and are starting with L first because it is the largest and is played with the least. Most of these containers are on the garage floor awaiting final sorting and hoisting up to the attic once the hoist is complete.

My question (for you more experienced collectors) is will the temperature extremes in the attic space affect the PM sets store in Rubbermaid containers with tops? In the winter the min temp is about freezing. In the summer this space heats up to around 130 F even with some huge eyelids opening to the outside and a ridge top vent. We have tried various exhaust fan systems, but they seem to make little effect in this massive attic area with a 20 ft plus ridge line.

I hesitate putting much of my collection up there until I know it is safe for the sets. We are fortunate that the attic is dry and has no mold problem. Thanks for your input, Pgal

(photos to follow in a day or two)

[kenc]

I'm facing the same problem, Playmogal (if temperature extremes are no issue then there's no problem at all)   

So, awaiting input from others too...

[flatcat]

I think it's perfectly fine to store Playmobil in the loft - I store some of my collection in a shed in the garden.

The only things I wouldn't recommend leaving in the cold are any boxes or instructions/papers etc

Over time these get distorted and ruined in the temeperatures in a loft or shed.

Damo

[tonguello]

I would say that some plastics will take it better than others. Some rubbery plastic could crack or get sticky with extreme cold and heat tempreratures. Im thinking for instance about the willow leaves.
I would also leave out of there paper instructions and fabric (tents, carpets, sails)

my 

[Baron Marshall]

agree with all posts... HEAT WILL BE a problem if it is too hot... cold wont be... unless its more than 30 below... and then it is only a problem if you dont heat the plastic back up slowly... I could give details but it might be too graphic 

[flatcat]

Oh yes, I forgot to say I always keep all the material things inside, like Gaston mentioned

Damo

[bonniebeth]

Well, I don't think the cold will hurt it one bit, but like others have said, heat is a problem. I'm in Louisiana, and as you know, it is HOT and humid... our attic gets to extreme temperatures in the summer.

Well, my childhood playmo was stored in our attic for many years, and did suffer a few ill effects. The biggest problem I had was that the walls of the western buildings twisted and warped, so that it is now very difficult to make them fit together. And it made other pieces very brittle.

[playmogal]

Thanks for the info, folks!

So it looks as if cold is not a problem if items are warmed up slowly before they are used, and softer pieces and paper products are not stored in the cold.

As far as heat goes, I am wondering at what temp it becomes a problem. The temp is lower where the containers will be stored on the floor and the highest near the top of the attic space. We have equipment that could chart the temp there and see what it does over the seasons keeping an eye for highs that are too high once we know what is too high.

If any of you have noticed heat damage from storing containers in the attic, could you give me an idea of what the highest temp may have been if you have any record of it? I am not clear if it is the highest temp or the longer exposure to somewhat lower temps that does the damage. Has anyone come across data from PM revealing this info?

Also has anyone noticed any damage to their L sets in high temp storage? We have more L  than P containers, so this could be the more critical info.

If we absolutely have to, we may be able to store many containers in a large second bath/utility room downstairs that probably would not get much use.

Thanks again, Pgal

[tonguello]

Wait... now that I think about it.... you have a 900 square meters "downstairs" and you run out of space?
How much furniture do you guys have!?   

[playmogal]

Ooooops! My mistake!

It is a total of 300 s.m. downstairs, but most is taken for a bathroom, kitchen/ living/dining area, two bedrooms and my son's gym room.

And as Flatcat so aptly stated, we can't fill up the personal spaces of other family members with our hobbies because they have different interests, Pgal