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Without a doubt, painting moving can be a painstaking task, especially when the artwork you are trying to relocate is on the more expensive side or means a lot to you. However, packing paintings for moving isn’t the only tricky thing when it comes to relocating artworks.
Sculptures and antiques can also cause problems from this aspect. We at Lifestyle Moving & Storage are well aware of the fact that moving artwork can be a hassle, and to ensure that you don’t make any mistakes, we discuss a few valuable tips for moving canvas artwork.
In the end, if you’re still uncertain about whether you can do it yourself, you can always take advantage of our fine art & antiques moving services in New York.
Tips for moving artwork (canvas paintings)
Painting moving is all about considering every detail and adequate preparation. So, let’s get into it, shall we?
Get the right supplies
Moving artwork is all about ensuring that the paintings and other fine art arrive safely at their destination. As such, you should get all the essentials for packing, such as:
- Shipping tape
- Painter’s Tape
- Bubble wrap (old blankets may also be good alternatives)
- Parchment paper
- Sharpie
Know where you’ll want to pack your fine art
Make sure that you don’t just start packing these valuables anywhere. Designate a specific area for packing artwork, preferably on a larger, flat surface, like a bigger table or the floor. Start with putting the blanket or the bubble wrap down. You don’t want to put the painting directly on the floor without any cushioning under it.
Wrap the painting with care
How to pack artwork for moving? With extra care! Before you lay down the canvas on the bubble wrap or the blanket, ensure that you’ve measured just enough parchment paper to wrap the front and back of the painting fully. First, lay down the entire paper, and only then should you place down the canvas.
When that’s done, carefully wrap the paper’s edges around the canvas. Why parchment paper? Painting moving is probably the safest with it because it won’t stick to the artwork, keeping it from accidentally removing some of the paint. It will also prevent spills or rain from damaging the piece while it’s on the road.
Then, grab the painter’s tape and secure the parchment paper around the painting, like you would wrap an ordinary gift. Of course, avoid getting the tape on the canvas directly.
After this, put the bubble wrap on the cushioned area, where you’ll also want to lay the paper-wrapped canvas. Wrap the bubble wrap around the painting, precisely like in the case of the parchment paper, and secure the package with the shipping tape.
Lastly, make sure to put the canvas into the right-sized box and use either foam or a blanket to fill out any extra places.
When packing artwork, especially canvas paintings, you should avoid packing multiple paintings together. You want to prevent damages like puncturing and scratching at all costs, so it’s a wiser idea to pack everything separately.
Glass-frame paintings
How to pack artwork for moving if they have glass frames? Well, basically, you will want to perform the same actions with the same do’s and don’ts. When packing artwork with glass frames, the main difference you will want to make is applying two painter’s tape stripes across the frame, resembling the letter X.
This is a great painting moving life hack. Even if the glass breaks for some reason, the X-tape won’t let the glass shatter into tiny pieces in the box. This safety hazard can potentially damage the painting even further.
So, making such an X can really make a huge difference and prevent cracks while the painting’s in transport. Especially when the road is bumpy, this tactic can be a life-saver.
Other painting moving tricks and tips
Now, that you know how to pack artwork for moving, here are a few more pointers that will make the relocation process a lot easier.
Label the boxes
Once the artwork packing is done, take your time and label all the boxes with the words “fragile,” “valuable,” “glass,” “canvas,” and so on. Things can get really hectic during the moving process, and you always want to know where they are and where you’ll store them. Additionally, you might forget about a fragile piece of art and handle it with less care than you should.
Don’t lay other things on the “fragile” boxes
When moving artwork, this sounds pretty obvious, but as we’ve mentioned above, things can get really busy during the moving process. And when things get hectic, and you tend to get the packing done fast, you might make a few rash decisions that might impair the safety of your valuable fine art. So, even when you are in a hurry, ensure that the glass-framed and canvas paintings are in secure spots and nothing’s packed on top of them.
Don’t hesitate to hire help
How to pack artwork for moving? Well, your safest bet will always be hiring a company with experienced and seasoned team members who know how to take care of precious antiques and art.
While we all appreciate it when our family and friends help us with packing, the entire moving process can turn into a nightmare if they don’t care for your things enough or accidentally damage them.
As we stated earlier, things can get really busy, and you might not be able to oversee where your most precious possessions end up on the truck. And often, some family members might not even know how they should position fine art on a truck while moving.
That’s why most people who’ve already dealt with painting moving will recommend hiring professionals for the job. With expert help, you will know that everything will be taken care of while you can focus on other aspects of the move, like handling things with your old and new landlords or real estate agent.
Make sure that your valuables remain safe
Moving can be a chaotic experience no matter how well you prepare for it. There is a myriad of things you need to keep in mind, and often, messing around with your valuable art collection is the last thing you want to do.
On that end, we aimed to give a detailed guide on how to pack your paintings to ensure that they survive the moving process and arrive at your new location without any harm.
Still, if you don’t have the time (or patience) to pack these precious belongings, as said before, carefully, you can always hire a team of professionals to handle it.
As such, you should know that the team at Lifestyle Storage & Moving is able to lend you a helping hand with moving paintings, canvas art, sculptures, and any other type of art for that matter. We know how vital these things are to you, and we will make sure that everything will be stored on the truck securely and will arrive safely at your new home.
As such, feel free to reach out to us today if you’re planning on moving.
