A typical move involves not only furniture but also larger, more fragile items like mirrors and paintings. These are at high risk of suffering damage during the move. Larger items also have the potential to hurt you during the move. Learn more about how to safely transport large, fragile items.
Why Moving Large or Fragile Items Is Complicated
A large item may be very heavy, increasing the risk that you’ll drop it. That drop, even if from only a few inches high, can damage the item. If you drop it inside your home, the impact can damage the floor.
Fragile items, of course, can suffer damage no matter their size. But large, fragile, thin items like mirrors pose a real problem during a move. If something jostles them while they’re in the back of the truck, the item could shatter.
The usual packing methods of wrapping something in butcher paper aren’t going to work for these. You need additional padding to help protect them. Moving them in and out of your home and the truck also takes more time and may require multiple people to handle it.
Use the Right Packaging Materials and Techniques
Furniture pads and bubble wrap are essential materials when preparing to move large or fragile items. If you have paintings or other art that uses materials that are susceptible to scratches, using acid-free wrapping paper is a good idea.
How you wrap the items matters, too. Cover all parts of each item, including the corners. It often helps to use layers of different materials, too. For example, a mirror might have a couple of layers of bubble wrap and then additional padding around that. It may help to leave the packing to a professional moving company because the movers will know which materials will work best.
Proper Loading and Restraint Procedures Are a Must
Packing isn’t the only stage at which you take protective measures. Hold the items securely as you move them onto the truck, and ensure they won’t move around when the truck hits bumps in the road. Be careful what you put next to the items and restrain those so that they don’t fall and damage other items.
Moving large or fragile items is complicated but not impossible. Hiring a professional moving company that offers packing services is a good idea if you’ve never wrapped and moved these items before. If you still want to pack things yourself, however, research what packing materials each type of item would need. All that preparation will help those items survive the move to your new home. When you need long distance moving services in Warren, MI, contact Integrity Movers.