Moving an art collection can be intimidating, whether it’s an obra or priceless paintings, delicate sculptures, or framed works. These pieces hold both emotional and financial value, making it crucial to handle them with care. Hence, proper packing techniques and selecting the right materials are critical to ensuring that your art remains in perfect condition during the move. This guide will take you through the key steps to safely pack and transport your art collection.
Why Is It Important to Properly Pack and Protect Your Art Collection When Moving?
Art is more than just decor—it often holds sentimental , emotional, and financial value. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, your collection faces risks from mishandling, moisture, dust, and physical damage during transit. Here’s why proper packing is crucial:
- Prevention of Damage: Art is sensitive to changes in humidity, temperature, and light. Proper packing prevents cracking, fading, or tearing caused by exposure to these conditions.
- Maintaining Value: Art can lose value if damaged. Careful handling helps preserve or even increase its worth over time.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing your collection is safely packed reduces stress, letting you focus on other parts of the move.
Proper preparation not only keeps your art intact but also ensures that you can continue to enjoy your collection in your new space, without the need for expensive repairs or restorations.
What Materials Should You Use to Pack Paintings and Fragile Art Pieces?
Packing your art requires specialized materials to avoid damage. Ordinary cardboard boxes and bubble wrap won’t provide the level of protection needed for high-value or delicate pieces. Here’s a list of materials that will help keep your artwork safe:
- Acid-Free Paper: Protects delicate pieces from discoloration caused by regular paper.
- Bubble Wrap and Foam Wrap: Provides cushioning, but don’t wrap too tightly to avoid damaging fragile parts.
- Corner Protectors: Shields the vulnerable corners of framed art from damage.
- Custom Crates or Boxes: Offers maximum protection for especially fragile or valuable pieces.
- Glassine Paper: A glossy, moisture-resistant paper that protects the surface of paintings from moisture, dust, and fingerprints.
- Packing Tape and Labels: Strong packing tape secures your packages, and labels ensure movers handle fragile items with care.
Using these materials can make the difference between your art arriving safely or sustaining damage during the move.
How Should You Pack Sculptures, Canvases, and Framed Art to Avoid Damage?
Different types of art require different packing techniques. Here’s how to handle each category of artwork:
- Paintings and Canvases:
- Step 1: Lay the painting face-down on a sheet of acid-free paper or glassine.
- Step 2: Wrap the painting in bubble wrap, ensuring it’s well-cushioned.
- Step 3: For framed pieces, place corner protectors on each corner before wrapping.
- Step 4: Place the painting in a sturdy box, ideally one made specifically for art. Fill any gaps with foam or soft material to prevent movement.
- Sculptures:
- Step 1: Depending on the size, wrap the sculpture in bubble wrap or foam. For more fragile pieces, wrap multiple layers for added cushioning.
- Step 2: Use a box slightly larger than the sculpture, and fill the space with foam peanuts or crumpled packing paper to immobilize the piece.
- Step 3: For especially delicate or large sculptures, custom crates are often the best choice.
- Framed Art:
- Step 1: Use corner protectors to guard against damage to the frame.
- Step 2: Wrap the frame in bubble wrap, ensuring it is fully cushioned.
- Step 3: Place the wrapped frame in a box and fill any extra space with foam or paper. Be sure the frame can’t shift during transit.
Pro Tip: For all types of art, make sure the pieces are marked as fragile and kept upright during the move to prevent pressure on delicate surfaces.
What Are the Best Techniques for Transporting Art Safely?
Once your artwork is packed, the next step is ensuring it arrives safely. Here are some essential transportation tips:
- Use Climate-Controlled Transport: Protect sensitive pieces from temperature changes and humidity.
- Keep Art Upright: Transport framed art and canvases vertically to avoid pressure-related damage.
- Secure Art in the Vehicle: Use straps to hold larger pieces in place and pack tightly to prevent boxes from shifting.
- Insurance: Make sure your art is covered under proper insurance, as regular moving insurance might not cover valuable pieces. Most standard moving insurance won’t cover high-value artwork, so you may need to take out a separate policy.
Proper transport is key to ensuring your art collection arrives at its new location in perfect condition.
What Common Mistakes Should Be Avoided When Packing and Moving Art?
Even with the best intentions, mistakes can happen. Here are the most common ones to avoid:
- Using the Wrong Materials: Standard boxes and newspapers don’t provide enough protection for valuable art.
- Over-Packing: Avoid packing too tightly, as pressure can damage fragile pieces. Hence, you should allow some space around the piece.
- Ignoring Climate Considerations: Not using a climate-controlled vehicle can expose your art to damaging conditions.
- Underestimating the Value of Labels: Always label boxes as “Fragile” and include clear instructions to ensure careful handling. This helps movers know how to handle the artwork properly.
Should You Hire Professionals to Move Your Art Collection, and If So, Why?
While it may be tempting to handle the move yourself, hiring professional art movers has distinct advantages, especially for high-value collections:
- Expertise in Handling Art: Professional movers, like Safehouse, are experts in the nuances of packing, moving, and transporting delicate and valuable pieces. They use the best materials and techniques to ensure your art stays protected.
- Insurance Coverage: Professional movers often provide insurance specifically for valuable items.
- Specialized Equipment: Professionals have access to custom crates and climate-controlled vehicles for maximum protection.
If your collection is particularly valuable or extensive, it’s worth the investment to hire professionals.
Conclusion
Packing and moving your art collection takes careful planning, the right materials, and proper care. By following this guide, you can protect your valuable pieces from damage and make sure they arrive safely at your new home. Whether you decide to move your art on your own or hire professionals, these steps will help keep your collection in great condition for years to come.
Ready to ensure your art collection moves safely and securely? Contact Safehouse today for a consultation and see how our specialized art moving services can be tailored to meet your needs.