Packing up your valuable pieces of antiques can be difficult, especially when you’re dealing with irreplaceable items. A bumpy ride in the moving truck could be all it takes to damage an older item that isn’t properly packed up. For that it’s important to pack your precious pieces in the appropriate way when you’re moving and to properly plan and follow every step of the packing so that you have exactly what you need for the process. If you’re concerned about how to safely pack up your antiques for transport to your destination Intermove can help you on the ground on our large experience when it comes to Moving and Relocation. Below is our helpful advices for packing and moving your precious so that they arrive undamaged, safe and that you keep your piece of mind without of any worries.
You Will need supplies!
Asquire your supplies in the early stage of your relocation so that when the time comes to pack your antiques you have everything you will need. Here’s the list of all supplies that you will need to safe relocate your precious antiques:
- Microfiber cloth
- Packing paper or packing peanuts
- Air-filled plastic wrap
- Glassine (similar to standard plastic wrap but resistant to air, water, and grease)
- Packing tape
- Corner protectors for art and mirrors
- Boxes, including specialty boxes as need
- Moving blankets
- Furniture pads
Preparation for packing!
You will need to take take a few steps before you start wrapping and packing your antiques so that everything in the packing process will go through smoothly
1.Made an inventory!
If you’re moving antiques and have more than just a couple of valuable items, it may be useful for you to take an inventory of all of your items and their current condition. This will come in handy for noting each item’s safe arrival at your new home and for assessing whether any damage was done in transit. Also, this will keep all of your items in the systematic and functional way.
2. Get an survey!
If you’re working with a professional movers you’ll want to know the precise value of your antiques from the insurance company so that you can relay the information during your initial inventory call and later on if you need to make any claims.
3. Check your homeowners insurance policy!
Some companies will cover your antiques during a move. If you’re not sure if yours company does, check your policy or call an agent to find out. While your homeowners insurance won’t be able to replace the item itself if it gets broken, at least you know you’ll be financially compensated.
3. Clean all of your items!
Before packing up each of your antiques, you should safely clean them to ensure that they arrive in the best condition possible. Keep a clean and soft microfiber cloth with you as you pack to gently remove any dust or debris that has accumulated on each item since the last time they were cleaned. Don’t use any chemical-based products, especially on wood and/or items that are going to go into storage. When wrapped up with no space to breathe, the chemicals can dampen and damage your antiques.
How to pack your antiques!
Moving antiques proffesionaly starts with properly packing them. Follow the guidelines noted below to make sure everything arrives in good condition and in one piece..
How to pack artwork, mirrors, and smaller antiques!
Step one: Assess your box situation and figure out what size or type of box you will need for all the items that you plan to pack.
In general, you want to go with the smallest box you can so that there is minimal room for items to shift around. Some items, such as paintings and mirrors, should be packed in specialty boxes. Others may benefit from dividers in the box, such as those you use to pack up your water glasses.
Step two: Wrap all glass items in a layer of Glassine.
Glassine is a type of barrier paper with a wax-like finish that keeps items from getting smudged or stained. This Glassine layer is especially necessary for anything with print or paint on it. Wrap the Glassine tightly around each glass, porcelain, and ceramic item and secure it with packing tape.
Step three: Secure corners with corner protectors.
Make sure to pay special attention to the corners of your framed artwork and mirrors. Due to their shape, corners are prone to nicks and scratches during moves, so it’s important to add an extra layer of protection. Corner protectors are available in plastic, styrofoam, and cardboard.
Step four: Provide some cushioning!
Use air-filled plastic wrap to create a soft cushion around each item. For maximum protection, wrap the air-filled plastic wrap around the item at least twice, making sure to cover all sides of the item as well as the top and the bottom. Secure it and straightening it with packing tape.
Step five: Box everything up.
Depending on an item’s size and shape you may want to pack it on its own in a box. Other items may do well packed up with other antiques, provided they are well protected with air-filled plastic wrap. Regardless of whether an item is on its own or with others, use balled-up packing paper or packing peanuts to fill in any gaps in the box so that items won’t move around and in that way they will be fixed.
How to pack antique furniture!
Step one: Disassemble your antiques!
Any large antique furniture should be disassembled if possible for safer packing and easier transport. But, don’t disassemble anything that isn’t fit for it or is too old to handle being taken apart and put back together. On all pieces, try to see if you can at least remove small items such as drawer pulls and casters and pack them up separately. And it is very imported to label each item what part they are of, so that you don,t have to worry about looking for pieces for assembling.
Step two: Wrap each item in moving blankets or furniture pads!
It is important not to put plastic wrap directly on old furniture, especially wood furniture, because it can trap moisture that can causecdamage. This includes using tape to keep drawers closed (use twine instead). Use moving blankets or furniture pads instead as your first layer to create a barrier between the furniture and additional plastic padding that will secure your items.
Step three: Add a layer of air-filled plastic wrap.
After you have an initial layer of protection on your furniture you can use plastic-based packing materials. Pay special attention to corners, and be sure to wrap all surfaces of your antique furniture and secure with packing tape. You’ll likely need to use quite a bit of air-filled plastic wrap so don,t worry if you excess the amount of supplies. It,s better to use to much that to little.
Moving antiques!
When you finished packing up your antiques your next task will be making sure they get transported as safely as possible. Make sure your movers know exactly what wrapped item are antiques and what boxes contain antiques. In that way it is important to label it in a visible way, and to note which side is up and which is down. You may even want to move the boxes with antiques yourself, so that they don’t end up mixed with other boxes stacked on top of them.
If you are moving with antiques mixed with other items your best thing to do is to isolate your antiques so they have less chance of falling over or getting otherwise damaged by other items. Store all artwork and mirrors upright, and never stack anything on top of your well-protected antique furniture. Use dollies to transport anything heavy from your house to the truck, and consider using extra moving blankets once items are in the truck to provide additional protection.
If you are worried about how to move your antiques, your best bet is probably to work with the professionals. When you hire a moving company, make sure to mention your antiques in your initial inventory call. They may have special crates and packing materials they can use to pack them up, plus they’ll know to be extra careful loading and unloading those items from the truck. And Intermove Bosnia can help you deal with this difficult items as per our experience in moving fragile, hevy antique items.
Keep on rolling!
