There is a time in life when things change. People are required to change their current way of living. That change is sometimes manifested in moving out from your home and settling in a new place. You have probably heard many times that every moving project is very complex and that it requires serious preparations as well as a proper set of skills. Things become even more complicated if some special or fragile items are included. If you possess a collection of valuable art, we are sure you will find this article useful. You see, you can’t entrust moving fine art to just about anyone. It has to be someone with experience and someone you can trust.
Moving fine art requires additional attention
Look for someone reliable
We’ve already mentioned that if you want your art to arrive in one piece, undamaged you will need to hire someone that has dealt with these relocations before. Luckily, experts can handle your art collection relocation, and all you have to do is find them. You can do that in several ways. For example, internet search. The database is huge and you will certainly have a lot of work. Therefore, give yourself some time to go through those pieces of information and single out several art movers that seemed the most professional and experienced.
Finding art movers online
Don’t settle for the first moving company you find
It is a classic trap. And that is why we are here to draw your attention to being patient and disciplined. Always have on your mind the type of relocation you are about to get yourself into. So, it is in your best interest to hire someone that’s really an expert in moving fine art. But with all those fake online moving reviews, we understand you might be confused how to recognize a really good moving company. The moving companies that you can trust do not hide even the negative reviews. Of course, too many negative reviews means that you should continue with the search.
Also, do not strain from contacting somebody you know that has been in a similar situation. Their experience might be of a great use.
Moving fine art requires a steady hand
So, once you’ve found the right art movers, the time for packing has come. Since we are talking about delicate items, it is important to stress once again the importance of careful handling of these items. So, everyone who is involved in the moving process should be very patient and observant. This way, the risk of damaging the item is considerably reduced, and moving mistakes can be avoided.
Find a room to temporarily store all of your artwork
We assume that you also have many other things, and pieces of furniture that you need to pack and get ready for the move. And since there will probably be a lot of people going all around the house, we suggest you empty one of the rooms in the house before every other where you will just carry over everything from fine art you possess. The point of putting these items in a separate room is that not many people will go in and out and that really lowers the risk of damaging or scratching. Inside should be allowed only those with the right of packing and lifting your precious items.
Invest in packing materials
Packing materials are one of the key factors of every successful relocation. Do even if your relocation is a long distance one, with a quality packing material your items will be safe and will endure the transport. Therefore, some of the most useful packing material for this type of moving are:
- Bubble wrap which is extremely handy with all kinds of fragile and delicate items. Once the desired items are being wrapped, then you should tape them at a back.
Use bubble wrap to protect your fine art
- Boxes of various sizes. It is important to obtain enough quality cardboard boxes since your items come in different shapes and sizes. However, these boxes should of a quality material. Hence, make sure to inspect each box and see whether there might be some holes in it or if it has been worn out.
- Wooden Crate. This is one is great for larger paintings or larger sculptures. They are usually made of a more sturdy material which is able to endure even longer transportations. Most importantly, it will keep your items safe.
- Filling materials. These could be padding foams, sheets of newspapers, sponge, etc. These are used to fill the empty space in boxes between a certain item and the wall of boxes. This way the items have less space to move during transportation.
Handle fine art properly
First of all, if you are packing paintings, keep in mind that you should first lay them carefully on a flat surface. From that position, you can start with securing them and preparing them for transport. Then, if those paintings have a glass cover, use a tape to form a letter ‘X’ over it. This will additionally secure the glass. But if your painting doesn’t have a glass cover, then you can use something you have in your kitchen for sure. Plastic wrap is a great assistant with these types of paintings. Just make sure to wrap your painting with enough layers.
Sculptures also require a gentle touch
Some sculptures are easier to pack than others. Those of odd shape requires a little bit more attention and using more packing materials. For instance, if you have a sculpture which has curves and thin parts, then make sure to use a lot of cling wrap. Moreover, in a combination with a bubble wrap, you’ll achieve even better results. After wrapping, the sculpture is ready for placing it in a box of appropriate size.
When moving fine art there are so many things to take into consideration. The ultimate goal is to have your items ready for transportation in such a way that the risk of breaking or damaging is at the lowest level. In addition to all the previously mentioned advice, we would also like to remind you that even if you’re moving in a hurry that you should not forget to label all the boxes with the right labels. This will be a clear sign for your movers to pay extra attention.
