Any item can be damaged during a relocation. This warning, especially applies for fragile and valuable objects such as paintings. This is why, it is of imperative importance that you properly pack and prepare your artwork for your upcoming removal.
Step 1: Take down your paintings
Walk throughout your property and take off all the paintings from your walls. Place them face up on a stable surface to ensure their safety. Many people make the common mistake of leaning their artwork towards the wall and end up kicking them accidentally, which ultimately tears the canvas and ruins the paintings.
Step 2: Secure the glass
If you have framed your paintings with glass, make an “X” with cello tape across it. Make sure that the tape goes from one angle to another. This will keep the glass in place in case it breaks or cracks while the artwork is painting removed, loaded or transported.
Step 3: Remove the paintings from the frame (Optional)
If you do not want to take gambles with the wellbeing of your artwork, it would be for the best if you remove it from its frames. Remove the backside of the frames and carefully pull out the painting. Then roll the canvas and put it into specialised painting tube that will protect it throughout your relocation. If your paintings are smaller, know that you can store two to three canvases into one tube.
Step 4: Protect the glass
Cover the glass top with a piece of double-walled cardboard as it is heavier and therefore will provide better shielding. The carton should be big enough to cover the entire glass but not larger than the entire painting (frame included). If you do not have pieces of cardboard that you can use, just cut in piece an old carpet and use them to protect the glass. The goal is to not only protect the painting but also minimise the static electricity that can build up between the bubble wrap and artwork in order to ease the unpacking process.
Step 5: Wrap the paintings in bubble wrap
You can envelop your artwork with bubble wrap with three different techniques:
- Horizontal wrapping
- Vertical wrapping
- Combine wrapping
The last method is preferable, as it would keep your paintings more secure. However, largest pieces should be enveloped via the other techniques, in dependence of their shape. Always secure the edges of the bubble wrap at the backside of the artwork. When done, the paintings should feel tightly wrapped and secure.
Step 6: Call professional movers
Artwork should always be hauled by professional movers who have the necessary tools and vehicles to safely load, unload and transport them. Therefore, once you are done packing your paintings contact Removal 24 and take advantage of their high quality expensive and fragile item removal services in London. This way you will have the peace of mind that your artwork will be brought to you in a safe and timely manner. Keep in mind that the movers may decide to place your paintings into large boxes in order to add a supplementary layer of protection.