Stop! Avoid These 7 Mistakes When Moving And Storing Art

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Whether you have a simple poster from your favorite concert or a limited-edition Chagall, all framed artwork needs to be treated carefully if you expect it to survive a move. Luckily, protecting your masterpieces is easy when you know how. 

1. Upright: First and foremost, art likes to be stored upright. There is less risk of a heavy object being placed on top of it and breaking the glass, and it puts less strain on the frame. If you have limited-edition or original art that was framed with archival materials, chances are the piece is simply hung inside the matting with archival tape. This form of mounting the artwork preserves its value, but the tape will break if the artwork is not kept upright—and right-side up. Mark your artwork to indicate which end is up. 

2. Back-to-Back: Even the hardest oak frames can get scuffed and dented during a move. One tip to protect the frames is, after wrapping in a protective material, to store your art back-to-back and front-to-front. Simply put, this means that if you lean the back of a picture against the front of a black lacquer frame, the hanging hardware on the back will scratch the delicate front surface off the black lacquer frame beyond repair, even through the protective wrapping. Putting rough backs so that face each other—back-to-back—and the softer fronts of frames facing each other can prevent this from happening.  

3. 'X' on the Glass: Glass is easy to replace. You can grab a new piece at any hardware store or custom frame shop. The reason you do not want it to break during a move has to do with your art. Broken shards of glass can wreak havoc on your art, tearing it to shreds as it moves against the surface. Take the time before you pack everything up to put a large 'X' of packaging tape across the glass of each picture. This won't prevent the glass from breaking, but it will prevent the broken pieces from falling onto the surface of your art. 

4. Art on Canvas: A mistake that many people make is to assume that art on canvas does not need to be packed as securely as art with a glass covering. While there is nothing to break, canvas art presents its own set of problems. It needs to be sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard or foam board. Not only do you risk of another object piercing through the canvas during the move, but you also have to worry about dimples. When canvas art is left unprotected, the slightest bump on the edge of a table or door handle will leave a dimple in the canvas that cannot be repaired easily or inexpensively. 

5. Specialty Boxes: If you are especially concerned about a favorite piece of art or are making a cross-country move, consider purchasing specialty boxes designed specifically for art. Much like boxes for plasma televisions, these boxes have foam interiors meant to cradle your art during the trip. While they are pricey, the boxes get the job done and, fortunately, can be re-sold once you reach your final destination. 

6. Temperature: If you are storing your artwork for any length of time, make sure that you have a climate-controlled location. Extreme heat and humidity can damage artwork. Posters mounted with a high-pressure glue process can bubble, which is not repairable. Likewise, canvas can bow, which ruins the piece for future enjoyment. 

7. Insurance: Lastly, talk to your insurance agent. Find out if you art is covered and to what value. Ask if it is covered while inside the moving truck and, if applicable, while at a storage unit. If its not, get a rider until your move is complete. Verify what type of documentation you will need should the worst happen. Find the original receipts and take photos of everything before the big move. 

If you take the time to treat your art right and protect it before the big move, it will arrive safely and undamaged, whether you are moving cross country or around the block. For additional information on how to safely pack your belongings, including art, contact a company like Wheaton World Wide Moving.

15 October 2018