5 Tips on How to Wrap and Pack Art

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.