Guide For Moving Paintings & Art

How To Move Art And Paintings

Art is an investment. A single painting can easily cost thousands of dollars – and could even have a value defined as something else than the monetary worth of the piece. The value of art or a painting can be defined by several factors, including ritualistic and cultural factors, as well as sentimental value.

When you decide to move, the transportation of any art and paintings in your house should be handled with care. Without the right approach, you might end up disappointed when you open up these pieces at your new house, only to find that your valued possessions have been damaged. We take a look at the most effective methods to move art and paintings to a new house, without risking damage.

Woman looking at a painting she is going to moveMoving Your Art And Paintings

Moving seems like a relatively simple process. You simply pack all of your possessions into boxes, load them up in the moving truck, and they are taken to your new home. Unfortunately, with some items, you do need to take a few extra steps – this is especially important with the items you own that have a lot of value to them. This includes both monetary and sentimental value.

Wrapping The Art

The process should start with packing. First, consider if the painting has a glass cover at its front. If it does, then you can skip ahead to wrapping it with paper or bubble wrap. If not, however, you need to get some plastic wrap first. Cover the entire painting with this wrap as it will help to prevent damage to the painting itself.a couple taking down a painting they are going to wrap and move

You need to get paper or bubble wrap, as well as a lot of cardboard. Start by wrapping your paintings in paper pads – add multiple layers to increase the protection. Each of your paintings or art pieces need to be enclosed with paper or bubble wrap, as well as cardboard. Make sure to add additional cardboard at the corners of the product, should it be a painting.

For paintings and are framed in glass, put a thick cardboard cover over the glass before wrapping it with the paper or bubble wrap. This will act as a protective layer to the glass to sure that your item is transported safely.

When you place the painting or art in a box, be sure to add multiple paper or bubble wrap layers at the bottom of the box. In addition to covering the bottom region of the box, make sure to add some paper or bubble wrap to the sides as well. You want to maximize the protection of the product.

It is also a good idea to consider adding some scrunched-up paper to the bottom of the box, as well as the sides as you place the paper in the box.

Taking Precaution

Be sure to make appropriate marks on the paintings. Use a permanent marker to add an “X” to the wrapping of paintings where glass is present. This will help you see which of the paintings are at risk of not only becoming damaged but also a glass panel breaking.

The same procedure should ideally be followed for sculptures and other art. Thoroughly cover the entire item in cling wrap. Follow this by many layers of bubble wrap. The more wrapping you add, the better the protection. Make sure to mark the boxes of sculptures and other art, particularly in cases where the sculpture is fragile.

Large and small boxes

Most likely you will be boxing your framed art. You need to box your items in a way that will maximize the protection of your art pieces. After wrapping your framed art you will want to put it in a smaller box. The smaller box will have rolled tissue paper in it at the bottom and the top. This will act as a bumper while for the art piece and provides extra cushioning while in the box. You will then put the small box in the larger box with rolled cushioning inside the larger box to provide the same protection as you did with the smaller box. Check out our video on packing with small and large boxes.

 

 

Valuables and Fragiles

Protecting your extremely valuable and fragile art is a priority when moving. These pieces require extra attention. Depending on the art piece, putting the item in a traditional box may not be the best move. Extremely valuable and fragile items can be crated to ensure no possible damage. There are many ways to crate valuable pieces of art. Whether its foam covering, layered crate walls, or heated shrink wrap, all of these are customized to your specific art piece. This customized protection will ensure that these very important pieces arrive at the destination safely.

 

Crating Items Sculptures

If you do find that your sculptures are not appropriate for wrapping and fitting in a box, then you should consider crating them. This can be an effective method for keeping the sculpture in pristine condition while it is being transported. Many sculptures can have on angles and points that won’t fit into a traditional box. On top of this, some sculptures are extremely fragile. Packing these sculptures in a crate will be the best strategy for protecting this kind of art piece

When moving with art and paintings, you need to ensure you take special precautions during the packaging and transit of these items. We looked at a step-by-step guide to help preserve your precious possessions and ensure they come out in pristine condition at your new home. To hire a professional mover trained to pack for safety, click here for a free estimate.

Hiring Packing Services

At Olympia Moving and Storage, we understand that preparation and packing are critical ingredients of a successful move.  To this end, we invest hundreds of hours training our staff on best practices every year.  Whether you require the luxury of a full packing service, or are simply interested in having our team pack some of your fragile items, we are confident that we can address your specific needs.

Full Packing Services

Olympia’s full packing service allows you to focus on the myriad of other details associated with relocating your home.  Our crews work as a team, carefully packing, labeling, disassembling, and preparing each room for moving day.

Partial Packing Services

Partial packing services typically involves Olympia Moving and Storage handling the most fragile items; such as stemware, china and pictures.  We also use this as an opportunity to ensure that your residence is fully prepared so that we can expedite the moving process.

Unpacking Services

There is so much effort and planning that goes into moving, that boxes often are left packed weeks and even months after the move date. Olympia’s unpacking services help you get a jump start on settling into your new home and include box and debris removal.

Benefits of Using Packing and Unpacking Services

Some of the benefits of having Olympia Moving assist you with the packing and unpacking process include:

  • A more efficient (and less costly) relocation based upon the fact that your residence will be fully prepared for the arrival of our moving team.
  • Peace of mind that your belongings will be properly packed and protected.
  • An expedited and consolidated time frame for completion.
  • Minimizing time taken away from work and family.
  • Reducing the stress associated with your move.
  • Ensuring that your boxed items are fully covered from a liability standpoint.
  • Limiting the time in which your household (and lives) are in transition mode.
  • Better organization on the front and back end of the relocation process.

More About Packing and Unpacking Services

For more information about Olympia’s packing services, or to speak with a relocation councilor about your specific needs, please contact Olympia Moving at 800-222-4744 or info@olympiamoving.com.