diff --git a/src/hashstore/filehashstore.py b/src/hashstore/filehashstore.py
index 2be657c4..c72dfb8a 100644
--- a/src/hashstore/filehashstore.py
+++ b/src/hashstore/filehashstore.py
@@ -392,6 +392,9 @@ def _validate_properties(self, properties):
             logging.debug(exception_string)
             raise ValueError(exception_string)
 
+        # New dictionary for validated properties
+        checked_properties = {}
+
         for key in self.property_required_keys:
             if key not in properties:
                 exception_string = (
@@ -400,14 +403,33 @@ def _validate_properties(self, properties):
                 )
                 logging.debug(exception_string)
                 raise KeyError(exception_string)
-            if properties.get(key) is None:
+
+            value = properties.get(key)
+            if value is None:
                 exception_string = (
                     "FileHashStore - _validate_properties: Value for key:"
                     + f" {key} is none."
                 )
                 logging.debug(exception_string)
                 raise ValueError(exception_string)
-        return properties
+
+            # Add key and values to checked_properties
+            if key == "store_depth" or key == "store_width":
+                # Ensure store depth and width are integers
+                try:
+                    checked_properties[key] = int(value)
+                except Exception as err:
+                    exception_string = (
+                            "FileHashStore - _validate_properties: Unexpected exception when"
+                            " attempting to ensure store depth and width are integers. Details: "
+                            + str(err)
+                    )
+                    logging.debug(exception_string)
+                    raise ValueError(exception_string)
+            else:
+                checked_properties[key] = value
+
+        return checked_properties
 
     def _set_default_algorithms(self):
         """Set the default algorithms to calculate when storing objects."""
diff --git a/tests/test_hashstore.py b/tests/test_hashstore.py
index 140d473a..34ba6e15 100644
--- a/tests/test_hashstore.py
+++ b/tests/test_hashstore.py
@@ -156,3 +156,34 @@ def test_factory_get_hashstore_filehashstore_nonconflicting_dir(factory, tmp_pat
     }
 
     factory.get_hashstore(module_name, class_name, properties)
+
+
+def test_factory_get_hashstore_filehashstore_string_int_prop(factory, tmp_path):
+    """Check factory does not raise exception when an integer is passed as a string in a
+    properties object."""
+    module_name = "hashstore.filehashstore"
+    class_name = "FileHashStore"
+
+    directory = tmp_path / "douhs" / "inttest"
+    directory.mkdir(parents=True)
+    douhspath = (tmp_path / "douhs").as_posix()
+
+    properties = {
+        "store_path": douhspath,
+        "store_depth": "3",
+        "store_width": "2",
+        "store_algorithm": "SHA-256",
+        "store_metadata_namespace": "https://ns.dataone.org/service/types/v2.0#SystemMetadata",
+    }
+
+    factory.get_hashstore(module_name, class_name, properties)
+
+    properties = {
+        "store_path": douhspath,
+        "store_depth": str(3),
+        "store_width": str(2),
+        "store_algorithm": "SHA-256",
+        "store_metadata_namespace": "https://ns.dataone.org/service/types/v2.0#SystemMetadata",
+    }
+
+    factory.get_hashstore(module_name, class_name, properties)