Art is much more than a monetary investment—it’s an expression of you and your personality and an irreplicable piece of your home’s decoration. Because of that, it makes sense that you want to ensure they safely reach your new home, and hiring Montgomery moving companies can help you ensure that.
If you prefer the DIY approach or simply would like to learn what moving companies do to protect your invaluable art pieces, we’ve got you covered. Let’s go over five tips for packing and transporting paintings!
5 Steps to Pack and Transport Artwork During a Move
1. Find Appropriately Sized Boxes
The first step in any move is getting the right supplies to ensure your object’s safety. To do so, sort out your artwork according to size. You can pack small and medium-sized artwork together, but try to pack large paintings separately in a box slightly larger than the frame you’re packing.
If finding one within these specs is impossible, you can purchase a custom-sized box or custom crate.
2. Mark the Glass With an ‘X’
If there is a glass covering the frame, make an X across it with masking tape. This will prevent the glass from totally shattering when it breaks, which could end up damaging the precious painting. It will also keep it in place and prevent it from moving too much if it breaks.
3. Protect the Artwork If it Doesn’t Have Glass
If your artwork is not covered in glass, you have two options for protecting it during transit. You can use commercial palette wrap or cover the painted surface with multiple layers of kitchen plastic food wrap. This will offer an extra layer of protection to the precious painting if it suffers a hit.
4. Wrap the Art with Paper and Bubble Wrap
When packing fragile items, having a wrapping that can provide cushioning is key.
Lay the brown paper flat on your worktable, overlapping the ends so the paper area is twice as large as your frame. Press the glass side of the frame up against the paper. As with a gift, wrap the paper’s ends around the frame. Then, add a layer of cushioning bubble wrap, ensuring the bubbles cushion the outside rather than pointing into the artwork.
Newspaper should never be used to wrap frames or artwork. While it’s good for padding, it can leave marks on artwork. Wrap individual little frames with packing paper, even if you are packaging multiple of them in the same box.
5. Test Movement
Give the box a little shake before closing it to check for movement. If the artwork feels like the frames are about to shift, add crumpled newspaper to cushion it. Once it’s okay, seal the box.
Label the box properly with the word “Fragile” on both sides and its location, like “Living room” or “Bedroom.”
Hire Specialized Montgomery Moving Companies
Packing and transporting artwork or family photos can be especially challenging. Large pieces of art can easily be damaged during a relocation, even by the same things that are meant to protect them, like the frame and glass.
However, if you follow these packing tips and hire a qualified team of movers like Pink Zebra Moving, you can rest assured that your precious art will reach your new home safely. If you want to learn more about what we do to protect your objects, reach out!