Jim–
Another cache option:
In a basement, with exposed floor joists, several options are available:
1) around the rim joist above the concrete foundation, the rim joist usually is on the outboard edge of the concrete foundation, with floor joists sitting on top of the concrete foundation. This in old houses might leave an 18″ gap between the rim joist and the inner face of the basement wall (stone foundations). In newer homes, it might be a foot or so. Free space, easy to conceal with a false front, or a thin insulation board.
2) between the floor joists, especially where a drop ceiling has been installed, pull off a few panels of the drop ceiling, install [all or part of a sheet of oriented strand board] (OSB), screwed to the bottom of the floor joists (assuming that you have an inch or two between the bottom of the joists and the top of the drop ceiling), and you have a hidden shelf.
Substantial amounts of stuff can be hidden this way. And I mean, substantial. Best Regards, – Tom S.
Jim,
Another way to cache ‘long storage items’, i.e. those that are put away for long term for whatever, is as follows:
Modern construction methods employ the use of ‘screws’ as opposed to ‘nails’ and solid support columns have been replaced, especially when those columns are more decorative than structural, in many applications (barns, porches, etc.) with screwing together 1″x6″s or 2″x6″ planks of various lengths—thus creating a hollow void.
This ‘void’ can be easily weatherproofed and filled with ‘whatever’. Painting the column only adds to the distraction! To the casual observer or the thief, this ‘cache’ [in plain sight] would appear to be yet another structural/decorative construction method and ultimately overlooked.
Just another idea on an ageless quest to preserve that which should be. – Matt, Somewhere south of Kentucky and north of Alabama