Your antique furniture has survived years, decades, maybe even centuries. It’s been through so much, and now it’s more valuable than ever. So, you certainly don’t want it to get damaged in the course of your relocation. That’s why you need to learn how to pack antique furniture like a pro. From packing materials to wrapping techniques. Every step is important to ensure the safe and successful move of your antique furniture. Here is a guide that will help you pack like a pro and keep that valuable furniture from getting damaged.
It takes patience to pack antique furniture like a pro
Before you get to buying packing materials and actually packing your furniture you need to arm yourself with patience. It takes preparation, gentle hand and time to pack antique furniture like a pro. Professional packers use many different tools and materials and have a lot of experience when it comes to packing antiques. You, on the other hand, don’t. So, if you don’t plan on hiring Manhattan moving services to assist you, you need to be extra careful and go really slow.
Remember: Antique furniture is very fragile
Just because something has survived for a long time doesn’t mean it’s rock solid. Antique furniture might look sturdy and be very well made. But you still need to invest extra effort into being careful when packing it. Moving something so old can easily cause damage to it. Vibrations are always a threat. And if you are moving long-distance, you need to account for changing temperatures and prolonged exposure. Hiring professionals is always an advisable course of action. But with proper preparation, you can pull this off on your own.
Prepare in advance
In order to pack antique furniture like a pro, you need to spend some time preparing everything for the move. It might seem easy at first. But for this packing task, you will need professional grade packing materials. Like the ones that pros use. And you will need to read up on best practices for packing different kinds of furniture. But, before you get to wrapping and packing everything, you should find a professional to assess the condition of your furniture.
That initial assessment is one of the most important steps when preparing antique furniture for the move. It will form a basis for your insurance. The professional who assesses your furniture will give you a document outlining the current condition of it. And you will need that document when filing for insurance.
Find a quality moving company
Even though you will know how to pack antique furniture like a pro, you will still need some assistance when moving it. Professionals have skills and years of experience with that kind of items. And they will know how to properly secure and load everything. So, find a quality Clinton moving company to help you relocate your furniture.
To disassemble or not?
It’s is often recommended to disassemble furniture before moving it. It makes for both easier packing and transporting of those items. But, when it comes to antique furniture, disassembly is not recommended. With old and fragile furniture, it’s best to leave it as it is. Disassembly might damage the furniture. Either by chipping of pieces or by ruining the highly desired patina that has accumulated on it. So, avoid taking anything apart. It’s better to spend double the amount of packing materials than to risk damaging something during disassembly.
If disassembly is necessary, in situations where it can’t fit through the door, don’t attempt to do it on your own. Call professionals to help you. Otherwise, you may not only damage your items, but you will also break your insurance agreement.
Packing materials
There are many packing materials that you will need if you want to be able to pack antique furniture like a pro. While you can use recycled packing materials in some cases, it’s not advised. Anything that is soiled or holds an odor can potentially damage your antique furniture. Old moving boxes are fine as long as they are clean. Any stain on the box is potentially an aggressive chemical that can cause damage. As for the rest of the packing materials you will need:
- Air-filled plastic wrap
- Stretching plastic wrap
- Moving blankets
- Packing tape
- Packing paper
- Scissors
- Packing peanuts
Make sure you don’t use cheap alternatives. The glue on the packing tape can easily damage the patina on your furniture. And make sure you use plenty of packaging material. You want everything to be very well protected
Packing antique furniture
Whenever possible, you should employ the help of professionals. They have the skills, tools, and experience to handle fragile and expensive items such as antique furniture. But, if you must do it on your own, you can. You can need to be really careful.
Start by assessing the size of the piece that you are packing. You need to have enough cardboard to cover it whole. Start by placing a moving blanket on top of it. Try and cover as much of the piece as possible. The main goal of the moving blanket is to absorb the force of impact if it comes to it. Then, cover it with stretching plastic wrap. That will make sure that the moving blanket stays in place. Cover each leg with plenty of air-filled plastic wrap. Don’t wrap them together, as the pulling force can bend or break them. Use packing paper to fill any holes left by the plastic wrap or moving blanket.
Once you are done with the wrapping, you can move on to the cardboard. You should cover the entire piece with it. Use packing tape to hold it in place. The cardboard will be your first line of protection. And you want it to be sturdy. So, buy quality moving boxes and cut them open. Use that cardboard on your furniture