Welcome back! It’s been said that one of the most traumatic experiences a person can go through is moving. There’s the uncertainty, the psychological upheaval, and the worry that your stuff will either be accidentally destroyed or sent to Alaska. At Aqua Teak, our business is all about quality furniture, and we hate to think of one of our beautiful teak shower benches being mangled in transit.

Yesterday, we discussed 5 tips for moving your wood furniture, and today we have another 5.

1. Unlike plastic or metal, wood is an organic material. That means it needs to be allowed to breathe. When prepping it for a move, wrap your wood furniture in moving blankets first, then feel free to use stretch film or bubble wrap.
2. Many types of wood, like teak and oak, are extremely heavy. Don’t try to move your stuff through muscle power alone. Be smart and use a dolly. A utility dolly has a carry capacity of about 500 pounds, an appliance dolly can carry up to 700 pounds, and a furniture dolly can handle around 1,000 pounds.
3. During the entire moving process, damage is most likely to take place within the moving truck. That’s because many people think that since wooden furniture is sturdy, it’s fine to stack other things on top. Using a wood table as a base will put stress on the table and increase the odds of cracking. Use the straps in the truck to tie it down, or secure it with twine.
4. There’s a trick to storing wood furniture for the long term. Find a storage facility that is climate controlled. If the facility is too humid, the wood can warp and panels can curve. If the facility is too dry, the finish can crack.
5. If you’re storing furniture, a wise choice is to just leave the moving blankets on or cover them with regular blankets. This keeps the finish from dulling, and it prevents dust and dirt from collecting within the cracks. It’s best to avoid plastic covers, since it can create condensation underneath.