How To Prep Your Artwork For Local Moving

While a local move may be easier and less expensive than a long-distance move, you still have to pack your belongings securely. Whether you are going five miles or 500 miles, you need to protect your stuff. This is particularly true with any artwork you own. Here are a few tips on how to prep your framed art for the local movers.

Art under glass

The first thing that people think of when they think about protecting art is ensuring that the glass does not break. Instead of worrying about the glass, which is inexpensive to replace, worry about the art. When glass breaks during a move, the broken pieces are likely to fall onto the artwork and cause irreversible damage to your poster, print, limited edition, or original art. By taking just a few moments to place packaging tape across the glass surface in an 'x' pattern, you can ensure that the glass stays put, even if it breaks, and protect the piece.   

Works on canvas

Canvas is very different, yet is just as tricky to move. While canvas does have glass to break, the canvas can be dented or, worse, punctured, during residential moving. Repairing canvas requires restoration work by a skilled artisan that can be very costly. Avoid the situation by sandwiching any art on canvas -- with or without a frame -- between two pieces of cardboard that are much less likely to be dented.

Gold leaf or lacquer frames

Pay attention to what type of frame you have. Custom frames made from hardwoods or metal are quite durable and typically only need a light covering during local moving. Gold leaf frames and lacquer frames, however, are made from softwoods that damage easily. Not only are the softer woods susceptible to dents but, in the case of a gold leaf frame, can flake off when handled roughly. Your best bet is to wrap frames made from softwoods with a soft blanket or comforter. Secure everything with packaging tape. 

Plexi boxes 

A popular trend in sports memorabilia collecting is to use a clear plexiglass box to display 3-D items, like a football, a signed jersey, or even a baseball glove. While this certainly allows the collectible to be shown in its best light, you need to take care when packaging the item for a move. In addition to wrapping the shadow box in a soft covering to avoid scratching the surface, you need to label which end is up to avoid damage to the mounting method used to adhere the item to the backing. 

No matter what type of art you have, take the time and effort to wrap it well before any local moving attempt.