Wood furniture is often the most prized furniture in the home, whether it's a modern oak dining table or an antique bedroom set. While wood is traditionally seen as a sturdy choice that can survive generations in the home, it is also one the first types of items to suffer damage during a move. The following tips can help you protect your furniture so you won't be faced with a repair.
Tip #1: Empty Everything
Although it is common practice to leave clothing and other items in drawers, you may not want to if you are concerned about damage. Filling the drawers makes a piece heavier and can weight it unevenly, which can result in it tipping. If the drawers are treated like boxes and not placed back into the piece, they are more prone to suffer damage. The main piece may also be flimsier without the drawers in the proper locations.
Tip #2: Remove the Hardware
Obvious places for damage include anywhere that has knobs or handles. These can get broken off, or they may scratch a neighboring piece in the moving truck. Take a few minutes to remove all of these external hardware items. Place them in a zip top bag and label it with where it belongs. If you have a piece with decorative carved pummels or knobs on the top, such as some grandfather clocks or headboards have, you should also remove these during the move. The same goes for removable legs.
Tip #3: Skip the Plastic Wrap
Don't wrap the piece with plastic moving wrap or bubble wrap—that can trap moisture and ruin the finish on the wood. If you need to secure drawers or doors, wrap twine around the piece and tie it firmly to keep everything closed. Use blankets, towels, or furniture pads to protect the wood. You can cover a piece in blankets and then wrap tape around the outside of the blanket—don't let it touch the wood—to hold the padding in place.
Tip #4: Get Help
Trying to move heavy furniture with too few hands or with the wrong tools is a recipe for disaster. Make sure you have a furniture dolly for heavy items—these can be rented. Bring in plenty of helpers or hire professional movers to make sure you have enough people to properly lift and carry items. You can also use pads and blankets to pad the corners or stair railing in the home so furniture won't bang against them. This saves damage to both the furniture and your walls. For more information on moving, see this site.
Share11 March 2016
Storage facilities are good for more than just long-term storage for items that you just don't have space for in your home. I have used our local storage facility many times over the years for all sorts of things. When we had our hardwood floors refinished, I moved all of the furniture and things into the storage unit. When my son was getting ready to head off to college, we stored all of the things for his dorm room in the storage unit. This blog will give you several ideas about how you can make a storage unit work for you.