Works
of art are some of the most prized possessions in a home, and yet the most at
risk of damage when moving house. This is more so for aged art which is very
delicate and susceptible to breakage and water damage. The prudent thing to do
when moving highly valuable art is to engage specialist moving companies in Portland who
have the wherewithal to handle such items. But less valuable art should be
handled with care as well, which involves careful wrapping and packing. Here
are a few tips to do it the right way;
#1
Get the right supplies
You
should pack each artwork separately.
Measure the dimensions for each to get an assessment of what you need.
Some of the supplies you will need are;
·
Cardboard boxes of
different sizes
·
Cardboard corner
protectors
·
Heavy-duty plastic bags
·
Bubble wrap
·
Glassine or archival
paper (acid-free)
·
Artist tape
·
Packing tape. Do not use
duct, scotch, or masking tape
#2
Wrapping and packing unframed art
Do
not make the classic mistake of wrapping unframed art direct on bubble wrap. This
is because plastic can form a thin layer of moisture which then sticks on the
paint. This will peel the paint when coming off. Place the painted face down on
glassine, which is a transparent acid-free paper you can find in many art
stores. Tape
down the art securely on the four-corner using artist’s tape. Wrap the
art between two layers of bubble wrap, roll it firmly and then secure in a
damp-free box before sealing it.
#3
Wrapping and packing framed art
Tape
the glass diagonally from corner to corner, and from bottom to top in sections
of thirds. This will protect the canvas against gouging by the glass in case it
breaks and shatters. Wrap the artwork in two layers of packaging paper, and
then bubble wrap. If you can get Styrofoam corner protectors such those used
for electronics, so much the better. you can also reinforce the package by
sandwiching it between two cardboards with corners that extend than the
dimensions of the artwork. Place in a damp-free box and seal.
#4
Avoid spaces and damp
Ensure
there are no spaces in the packing boxes. You can fill empty space with
archival paper. Place a desiccant like silica gel pellets in the boxes to
protect against moisture and damp.
#5
Labeling
Avoid
mixing up artwork by labeling the boxes ‘FRAGILE.’ This will tell your Portland movers that they should
handle with care.
Artwork
has a strong emotional attachment in many homes, which is why it should always
be wrapped and packed correctly to avoid damage and loss.
