Wooden furniture is very sensitive to damage during a move because of its fine quality. Whether you have collected antiques, or you are worried about moving a desk passed down for generations, even a brand new coffee table, you want to make sure you adequately protect wooden furniture while the relocation is in process. Since experienced Manhattan movers know that preparing for a move is half the job well done, they can help you jump over this obstacle hassle free. Pro movers know the best way to properly secure your furniture. In the event of you wanting to protect your furniture yourself for whatever reason, we still want to make sure that your wooden furniture stays safe on moving day, so we have prepared some important tips on how to do so.
Without the proper precautions, your precious wood can get scratches, or the upholstery can get rips. Luckily, with some key supplies and our easily applicable tricks, you can move any fragile furniture without worrying. These tips will be your safety net against any potential damage.
How to use packing materials in order to protect wooden furniture
There are a lot of moving mistakes that people make while relocating furniture that could be easily avoided. Here are some tips on how to prevent damage by properly wrapping and protecting your stylish furniture for your move.
1. Using furniture pads, moving blankets and foam padding is a must
In order to protect wooden furniture, how you wrap and pack them plays the biggest role in protecting them during your relocation. Getting the proper packing equipment means you have successfully completed half the move by ensuring your furniture arrives intact. If you don’t wrap your furniture with enough protective material or forget to secure moving parts, your piece could end up at its new home with a lot of damage. And if it detaches on the truck it could damage other furniture around it.
There is no such thing as too much protection. You know how they say, better safe sorry. Especially when it comes to delicate wooden furniture. Wrap corners as much as possible to cover every exposed inch of wood. Pieces like hutches will most probably several layers of padding.
2. Do not use bubble wrap to try to protect wooden furniture
In fact, you wouldn’t even be trying. Since wood is porous, covering it in bubble wrap or plastic shrink wrap can be very damaging to the exposed wooden surface. If you want to use bubble wrap in the end, as the final layer of protection, go for it. After placing all the important protective materials directly on the wood, like moving blankets or furniture pads, you can use the plastic. That way it won’t be in direct contact with the wood. But it can also serve as a line of defence against the movements the furniture will be experiencing while the truck is moving.
3. Separate and secure drawers and knobs with all the other small pieces
Most pieces of furniture, even older antique pieces, have all these small intricate parts like handles, knobs and casters that you have to remove. They can dislocate during the trucking and fly about the moving vehicle potentially damaging your other furniture. Before you wrap the furniture, remove these pieces and secure them by packing them in a separate box or a Ziplock bag. Always label everything.
Same story for drawers or cabinets. You’ll have to tie them shut with rope and put enough padding underneath. This prevents the coarse string from rubbing on the furniture while moving. The same thing that applies for bubble wrap, applies for duct tape. Plastic should never be in direct contact with wood, especially duct tape!
4. Dismantle your furniture
You should dismantle your furniture completely especially with bulkier pieces that have intricate legs or handles and drawers. This also goes for packing antiques as well. Remove the legs, take bed frames completely apart. This tiring process will pay off eventually by making your furniture easier to move. It will also prevent scratches that usually happen when you brush furniture up against walls or door frames. It will also make it easier to load onto your moving truck.
5. Remove legs and place extra padding on any corners and handles
Furniture parts that stick out such as legs, corners and handles can come into contact with other objects during transport. To protect your wooden furniture from this, remove these parts and put extra padding and protection on all corners. Tie down larger pieces to stop them from toppling over or sliding. Use twine for the large, heavy items in order to tie them down to the truck bed. You need to keep them steady while in the truck is moving to prevent them from falling over. Place a moving blanket in between every piece in case they bump into each other while in transit to prevent damage to your furniture. Also a very important note – never stack other items on top of wood furniture. This should go without saying.
How to move and load wooden furniture
After you have completed the packing process, with enough cushioning provided to protect wooden furniture, you are ready for the next stage. Time for loading the moving truck. If you are brave enough to attempt a DIY move, be extra cautious during this step. Use a furniture dolly for heavy items and get as much help as possible by enlisting the help of friends and family. Moving bulky and heavy furniture is no joke. Get your moving quote NYC and see just how affordable a move with Dynamic movers can be. And headache free. You should never slide or drag wood furniture on the floor. You always have to lift them completely off the ground and carry it to the moving truck. Tricky, right? But it is crucial if you want to protect wooden furniture and prevent damage to your floors.
Hiring professional movers is the best way to protect wooden furniture
If you have lost your confidence after reading this article, means you are smart about protecting your beautiful wooden pieces. It’s best if you enlist the services of professional movers. Trained professionals have moving insurance and are well experienced with all the stages of moving delicate furniture. When you decide to hire the services of professionals, make sure that they are qualified for the task by doing a background check.
Nonetheless, if you are moving cherished wooden pieces, protect yourself with a comprehensive insurance plan.