How To Pack and Move a Bookcase Securely
If you are a book lover, there is no doubt that you will want to take your personal library with you when you move to a new home, be it across town or across the country. However, moving books is not an easy task (they are heavy and take up a lot of space), and neither is moving a bookcase. Bookcases are usually large and heavy and therefore very uncomfortable to move. They are vulnerable to scratches, chips and dents and need to be well protected to survive relocation intact and unscathed.
Moving the shelves is not a complicated process, but it requires a lot of care – you need to properly prepare bulky furniture for shipping and find a way to transport it safely to your new home.
Here’s how to pack a move-in bookshelf so that it remains in great condition and can house your treasured books, photos, souvenirs, and other trinkets once again after relocation.
Consider whether your bookshelf is worth moving
Moving furniture, especially bulky pieces like bookcases, takes a lot of time, effort and money.
Packing large furniture requires a lot of packing materials and a lot of hard work.
Most bulky parts require disassembly in order to safely remove them from a home.
Transporting heavy furniture requires several people and specialized moving equipment; etc.
Therefore, it is very difficult and very expensive – the cost of moving increases in proportion to the weight of the shipment and the complexity of the work – to carry furniture from one place to another. In addition, there is a great risk of parts being damaged during the relocation process.
Therefore, before deciding to bring your bookshelves to your new home, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of moving furniture; it may make more sense to just buy new parts for your new place.
There are several important factors to consider in order to make the right decision:
The space available, the layout and the layout of your new home: If your bookcase does not fit in your new home (neither dimensionally nor aesthetically), there is no point in taking it with you.
The value of furniture: If your bookcase is made of quality materials and has a high monetary, sentimental or aesthetic value (an expensive wooden bookcase, an antique, a family heirloom, etc.), you will surely want to keep it.
The state of the furniture: moving a damaged bookcase is not worth the money and effort involved in the process.
The complexity of the work: the weight of the shelf, the special services required, the peculiarities of the pick-up and delivery places, etc…
The risk of damaging furniture: If the risk of damaging your bookshelf during the relocation process is too high (if it is too large, too heavy, too cumbersome, or too delicate to survive the relocation intact), it may be better not to move the piece.
Relocation Distance: Moving heavy furniture across the country may not be worth it, but getting it across town won’t be that difficult or expensive.
Good to Know: Inexpensive press board bookcases are quite vulnerable to damage, not only during transport, but also during disassembly / assembly, so it is generally not a good idea to move them.
If you decide that your bookshelf is worth moving to your new home, you should start preparing it for shipping well in advance of moving day.
Empty the bookshelf
Your first step is to remove all the items from the shelves and put them in order.
Books – Put aside the volumes you want to take with you and find a way to get rid of the rest of your reading before you move in. Wrap the books you are moving into your new home in packing paper and place them in small, sturdy moving boxes.
Photos: Wrap your framed photos in wrapping paper and bubble wrap, place in padded moving boxes, provide enough cushioning between individual images in a box, fill any remaining empty spaces with crumpled paper or bubble wrap, and seal containers tightly moving. . Write “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE” on at least three sides of the boxes. Keepsakes, Figurines and Collectables: Wrap each individual item in packing paper and bubble wrap, use packing tape to hold the wrapping together, and place items in strong, padded moving boxes with lots of padding inside (make sure the items are items can’t change and / or come into contact during transit). Tightly seal and label the boxes with their contents and any necessary handling requirements (“This side up”, “Handle with care”, etc.)
Pack any other souvenirs, decorative items, etc. that you have removed from the shelves according to its type and specific packaging requirements.
Dust the empty shelf and wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth.
Now that you’ve emptied and cleaned your furniture, it’s time to learn how to pack your shelves for moving.
Disassemble the shelf
Unless your library is small and light, try taking it apart to move it; Furniture will be much safer and easier to transport when it is dismantled and packed flat.
If your bookshelf has glass doors, remove them first; use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the hinges together, then carefully remove the glass doors. Place large clean pieces of cardboard on the glass and wrap all doors with bubble wrap (use plastic wrap or packing tape to secure bubble wrap in place). Wrap packages in mobile blankets for added protection.
Remove the shelves from the shelf and wrap them individually to protect them from scratches and other damage during shipping;
If your bookshelf has legs, try removing them (furniture legs / pre-move-tips / what-to-do-with-books-when-they-move / they are especially susceptible to damage) and pack them separately. Depending on the type of bookshelf, you may need to unscrew or unscrew the legs, or break the glue joints between the legs and the shelf frame. If you can’t remove the legs, wrap them in several layers of bubble wrap to keep them secure during the move.
Remove the top side board from the shelf; use a flat head screwdriver to turn the bolts on each side of the upper side board counterclockwise.
Separate the sideboards from the bottom shelf; There are usually two screws that hold each side of the shelf together. Use your flat head screwdriver one more time to turn the bolts counterclockwise and free the dressers.
If the different parts of the bookcase are glued together, you will have to break the glue joints to disassemble the furniture; to do this, slide the blade of a putty knife between the sideboards and the top / bottom of the bookcase and carefully break the link.
Number all detached pieces and mark them: left, right, top, bottom. Wrap them in bubble wrap or moving blankets.
Place all screws, bolts, and other fasteners in a seal able bag so they won’t get lost during the move. Place the bag on one of the largest pieces on the shelf.
It is good to remember:
Be sure to follow the instruction manual when disassembling your library (if you don’t save it, you can probably find the relevant assembly instructions online – all you need to do is follow them in reverse order to carry your furniture safely). Besides).
Take pictures at every step of the disassembly process, so you have no trouble reassembling your library after your move.
How to pack a bookcase for moving if it can’t be disassembled
If the bookcase is a solid piece that cannot be disassembled, you will have no choice but to move it as is. Just make sure to.
Lock the doors: If your bookshelf has lockable doors with latches, all you need to do is close the doors and lock them. Otherwise, you will have to use straps or ropes to keep the doors tightly closed.
Wrap the entire bookshelf in furniture blankets (pay special attention to the corners and edges) to avoid scratches, dents, chips, and other damage during the move. Use plastic wrap or packing tape to keep the protective covers in place. Make sure the tape is not in direct contact with the wood as it can peel off veneers or finishes or leave sticky residue that is difficult to remove.
How to move a heavy book shelf
If you’ve managed to disassemble your library, it will be a breeze to get the wrapped pieces safely out of your home and onto the moving truck.
Otherwise, you will have to use specialized moving equipment to get your large library off the property and into the moving vehicle.
Place the furniture sliders under the wrapped bookcase and carefully slide them across the floor. Use a furniture dolly to carry the shelving to the moving truck. Be sure to use proper lifting techniques when loading the part onto the dolly to avoid accidents and injuries. Secure the shelf with straps to keep it stable while you take it out of your house.
Carefully load the shelving into the moving truck and secure it well: use the loading ramp to lift the furniture and place it at the rear of the vehicle and fix it firmly to the side so that it does not move during transport.
Good to remember: moving a bookcase will be much safer and easier with professional help. Experts have the specialized equipment and technical knowledge to get the job done as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible. Your items will be well cared for and your relocation will be a guaranteed success. So be sure to get a moving quote from us to see what our professionals have to offer before deciding to move your bookshelf on your own (or attempt a DIY move). You may be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the service and the affordability of Price.
