How to Safely Pack and Move Large, Fragile Artwork

When you move your household, there are a lot of regular items that need to be secured and transported. But moving the large, fragile artwork is an entirely different story. You cannot throw expensive oil paintings, gallery-framed prints, and fragile sculptures into a regular cardboard moving box. 

However, as long as you have the right tools and you follow a formula for packing your collection properly, it is impossible to damage anything. This article will walk you through the steps necessary to ensure your beautiful investments remain intact during your upcoming move.

Preparing the Surface of Your Artwork

Standard bubble wrap or plastic packaging must NEVER be put on the face of an original painting. Plastic locks in moisture, and in a hot transit scenario, these escape artists can permanently fuse to the delicate oils or acrylic textures. Instead, lay a clean sheet of acid-free glassine paper completely over the front of the work. We tape this paper smooth side down on the back of the frame, keeping it from slipping as we move it. 

Now carefully encase the whole unit with multiple layers of heavy-duty bubble wrap. Tightly wrap numerous times with top-quality packing tape around the outer layers of plastic bubble wrap. It will form an impenetrable wall against inadvertent breaks. Contact us to discuss your wrap supply needs if you need archive-safe wrapping supplies for your best pieces.

Mastering the Box-in-Box Packing Method

The corners of big framed pictures cannot bend with the weight. This is why heavy-duty structural support is needed to keep them from breaking wood or metal. Before you box the item, you should place specialized cardboard corner protectors over all four edges of the frame. Then, slip the artwork — which is now completely wrapped — into a freshly vacuum-tight heavy-duty picture box that has tight-fitting dimensions.

The box-in-box method is where you put that first package inside an even bigger carton, which is the ultimate level of protection. Blocking the void between the two boxes with crumpled packing paper will prevent shifting during transport. After surrounding every single seam of the outer box with thick packing tape, to help make it all one solid unit on its own. Discover our packing services today. Leave the boring structural boxing of your large-scale frames to your lengthy seasoned pros. 

Understanding the Financial Costs of Art Transport

By assessing your specific moving costs in advance, you can avoid being caught off guard financially during a large household move. Heavy-duty telescoping art boxes and corner protectors cost about $40 to $80 depending upon the level. If you enlist the help of professional movers to take care of local transport, generalized handling fees range from $85 to $155 per large item. To illustrate, moving a large 48-inch canvas by hand costs you around $120 to pack and move it locally. 

On the other hand, the manufacturer of a custom wooden crate for one very important sculpture in a museum can be almost $500. Sinking money into professional care saves an irreplaceable piece of family history and averts a multi-thousand-dollar tragedy. For a no-obligation quote, specific to your collection, please reach out today!

Securing Art Inside the Moving Truck

Packing and loading your possessions into the moving van has unique restrictions on spatial orientation requirements. When transporting framed paintings, you need to secure them vertically by their edges rather than lying flat on the truck floor. A large flat frame makes the center glass an inviting target for a heavy load shifting and easily breaking. You even want to slide the boxed art between hefty items like a mattress or a strong picket wardrobe. 

Strapping the boxes tightly against the truck walls on the inside with rugged ratchet straps prevents packages from sliding around. A safe ride to your new home is the way to go. If your house has to be renovated and you want your art to be stored in a clean and climate-controlled space, check our storage solutions now.

Enjoying a Safe Arrival at Your Destination

It really just takes a mix of the will to treat those large, fragile pieces with patience and care. This eliminates the risk of damage by using acid-free glassine paper and constructing double-box shields. 

You need a nice transition so that your lovely collection can safely grace the walls of your new place for years to come! Here at A2B Moving and Storage, our staff is trained to move your biggest frames with the right tools. Contact us today and book your next move with full confidence.