It can be really stressful to move. You need to pack up all of your things, move and make sure that nothing gets damaged in the process. Imagine how it can be stressful to move your art collection. It is something that you have been collecting for quite some time, and you take great pride in it. Maybe those are all your artworks, but that only means that they are more valuable to you. You should know that moving them will be stressful, and you will have to pay special attention to details. You will have to make a lot of decisions regarding your move.
Be careful when you move your art collection
Moving your artwork is a difficult task. One best left to experienced professionals that can move your art pieces safely. Art is very fragile and can easily get damaged. It’s also quite expensive, for some even priceless. So you need to take special care when you want to move your art collection. Making a mistake here can cause a great loss.
Packing supplies for moving artwork
When you want to move your art collection, the first step is to acquire proper supplies. Art and frames that it comes in are very fragile, so you will want to give them a proper protection layer. Make sure you have enough of everything. Don’t try to save on these supplies as it can cost you your precious art collection. Supplies that you will need are:
- Moving boxes
- Packing paper
- Protective foam or wrap
- Standard packing tape
These are the essentials that you will need. Depending on the size and type of art you might also need packing peanuts and moving blankets. It all depends on the shape of the frame, the size of the piece and its age. Older, more fragile pieces need special protection. By properly packing your artwork you will not only protect it but also help your movers deliver them undamaged.
Choose the right box
When it comes to choosing boxes you are presented with two choices: new or used. Choosing used boxes is great for keeping the moving expenses low and it also produces less waste. But you need to be careful with old boxes. Moving boxes need to be dry and clean. Dirt or mold in the box can easily stick to your painting and ruin it.
When it comes to new boxes, you have a few choices. There are specialty boxes that you can buy at your moving supplies store. They are specially designed for moving artwork. But, if your local moving supplies store doesn’t have them, regular moving boxes will do. In any case, the box needs to be a little bit larger than the frame. You don’t want anything to be too tight. It can cause the box to rip or frame to break. Make sure that the box has a solid bottom. If not, you can strengthen the bottom by stacking a few layers of hard cardboard.
Packing your art collection
When it comes to packing, there are also a few things to look out for. While plastic will give good impact protection, it also retains a lot of moisture. So if you want to move your art collection long distance it might not be the best solutions. The best material you can use is standard brown packing paper. It’s easy to tape, it lets the art breathe and it gives decent protection to your piece.
How to properly wrap framed artwork
When you are packing your framed art piece, the most important thing is to protect the piece itself. A frame is expensive but it can be replaced. The painting itself can’t. Start by laying packing paper on a flat surface. Place a piece of cardboard slightly larger than the frame and put the piece on top of it. The glass should be facing down. Wrap the piece as you would wrap a present. Make sure that the whole frame is covered with paper. After the paper has been set in place, tape the paper. Use regular packing tape. Avoid stronger tapes as they can contain chemicals that can go through the paper and damage your frame. You should tape it both horizontally and vertically, making sure that both lines intersect. That way you can ensure that the paper will stay in place.
Packing artwork
As already mentioned, specialized boxes are the best when moving artwork. But, even if you can’t find them, there are some general rules when it comes to boxing artwork. Larger pieces should go in their own box. Avoid putting two or more large pieces in a single box as the weight of the frames can easily rip the box. You can put a few smaller pieces in the same box. You just need to make sure that the glass and frames don’t break and that the bottom is strengthened properly. Moving blankets are great for protecting both the frame and the glass. And protective plastic can be a great way to soften the blows.
After you’ve put everything in boxes fill them with packing peanuts. Especially if you are using regular boxes. It will ensure that the frame doesn’t move around in the box.
Choose the right moving company to move your art collection
Moving artwork is hard. It takes a lot of time to pack everything and a lot of experience in transporting it. To avoid the hassle and stress of it all you can hire professionals and move with ease. But you need to be careful who you choose. There are many moving companies that are great at what they do. But when it comes to moving priceless art, you can’t just let anyone handle it.
Make sure that have the expertise
In order to make sure that you are hiring the right moving company for this task, you need to do a little research. You should start with their website. Most companies that have experience in dealing with artwork will advertise it on their website. After that, visit a few review sites and look for people who have already done business them. Search by keywords and see what rating they got. And give them a call if you are happy with everything that you saw. Talk with them a little bit about what measures they employ to protect your art collection.