Moving a heavy piece of furniture without scratching the floor is a challenging task. The difficulty level is cranked up a notch when you are moving heavy furniture by yourself. But you can pull off this challenge flawlessly by following a few tips and tricks.
You might have to invest in some moving equipment, but they are fairly affordable. After reading this guide, you will discover essential tips, proper lifting techniques, and protective measures to protect your floors while efficiently completing the task.
Equipment and Materials to Use
Instead of trying to move your heavy furniture by hand, consider investing in some equipment. These equipment and materials would come in handy in the long run. Not to mention, you can protect your floor and reduce your work time with the help of these equipment.
- Furniture sliders – Furniture gliders or sliders are small disc-shaped objects that you put under the leg of a piece of furniture. The gliders allow you to “glide” the piece of furniture over the floor with minimum resistance.
- Dollies – A moving dolly is basically a platform on wheels. When a piece of furniture is too heavy to carry, you can use a dolly to move it around without breaking a sweat. Just lift the furniture on the dolly and push it where you need it to be.
- Moving straps – Moving straps are highly durable straps to secure a furniture or appliance in place as you move it around. You can use moving straps for items that are not too heavy and not too lightweight. Moving straps are great when you have a partner to help you with the move. You can buy good-quality shoulder-dolly moving straps for $40 – $50.
- Masonite or hardboard – Hardboards are important in your moving ritual since it helps protect the floor. Whether you have hardwood floors or carpeted floors, they can get scratched as you loiter around heavy furniture. Use Masonite or hardboard to lay over the moving route of the floors to prevent any scratches.
- Cardboard – Moving boxes are mostly made of cardboard. You can get different-sized boxes to store the items accordingly. Cardboard boxes are easy to stack together because of their shape. Also, the surface is rough enough for you to get a good grip as you lift up and put down boxes.
Tips on How to Move Furniture Without Scratching the Floor
- Move furniture with someone else’s help: Moving heavy furniture alone is not impossible, but it is a fairly difficult task. So if help is available, don’t be shy in asking for it. Make it a two-person job, or even a group task to cut down the time and effort.
- Use furniture sliders: There is no need to use your furniture for weight lifting. Pushing or pulling heavy furniture or appliance is tiring and can damage your floors. Consider using furniture sliders for moving heavy furniture and to prevent floor damage. You can buy different sized and shapes of furniture sliders from $5 to $25.
- Disassemble your furniture: Before you move a heavy piece of furniture, inspect it properly. You can make things easier on yourself if you remember to disassemble your furniture before the move. Loitering a heavy piece of furniture is not a fun task for anyone, is it? Disassembling furniture would help reduce the size and weight, making the moving process much easier.
- Furniture moving equipment: Furniture sliders, moving straps, moving furniture pads, hand dollies – all of these can help navigate a safe and efficient moving job. You can flex your muscles at the gym. It’s better to be safe while lifting a heavy object, so use furniture moving equipment along to prevent accidents.
- Wrapping furniture with moving blankets: Wrapping furniture for moving protects the sharp edges from hurting people, keeps the floor from being scratched, and protects your furniture from getting scratched up during the move. You can use old blankets as moving blankets.
Correct Lifting Techniques
Moving heavy furniture safely requires you to follow a proper lifting technique. You need to protect not just the floors, but yourself as well. Follow these tips to ensure that you are lifting and moving furniture in-house correctly:
- Keep a good and firm grip on the furniture: Before lifting the piece of furniture, make sure that you have a proper and balanced grip. If you have someone helping you lift it, work together to balance the furniture. You can wear gloves to protect your hands from blisters. Gloved hands would also prevent sweaty palms.
- Bend your knees to gain better balance: When you are lifting a heavy piece of furniture, there are proper posture techniques to maintain. Otherwise, you risk hurting yourself. According to MyHealth, bending your knees gives you a better balance so you can lift objects without straining your lower back.
- Keep your back straight and aligned to your hips: Keeping your back aligned with your hips as you lift furniture is crucial for maintaining proper posture. According to Mayo Clinic, squatting is better, compared to kneeling.
- Refrain from moving swiftly: Take your time while you conduct the move. Your limbs should get enough time to get adjusted to the movements. You run the risk of pulling a muscle if you try to be hasty.
- Push instead of pull when sliding: While moving heavy furniture, push it over the floor instead of pulling. ACE Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Institute suggest that pushing is often better than pulling. It helps protect your back and prevents the object from rolling on top of you.
Examples of moving heavy furniture by Yourself without Scratching Floors-
Moving a sofa
Before moving the sofa, take its measurements and evaluate the weight. Most sofas are pretty lightweight, especially after you remove the cushions. You might have to enlist help from someone because of the length. You and your partner can go to each end of the sofa, lift it up, and then move it around.
Moving a dining table and chairs
Chairs are easy to move since you can just lift them up and put them wherever you need. When it comes to moving the dining table, caution is necessary. If it has a glass surface, then remove it before moving the table. Put circular furniture sliders under each leg of the table and move it around.
Moving a piano
Moving a piano is neither easy, nor practical. If it’s a small piano, then you can move it by yourself with the help of furniture sliders. Just put the sliders under the piano legs and carefully push them. But moving a grand piano is rather difficult. Disassemble the piano as much as possible before attempting to move it.
You can use moving pads and moving blankets to protect the piano during the move. Lift the grand piano into a moving dolly to move it safely.
Moving a bookshelf
Assess the size of the bookshelf before moving it. If it has detachable shelves, then disassemble the bookshelf. Pack each piece carefully and move the removable parts separately. You can lift the bookshelf into a hand dolly or use sliders underneath to move furniture safely.
Precautions to Take
- Consider the material of the floor: Protecting the floors while moving heavy furniture is a priority. Whether you have hardwood floors, tiled floors or carpeted floors, they can all get damaged if you are not careful. If you use furniture sliders or moving dollies, it minimizes the risk of scratching your floors.
You can still use hardboard to lay over the floor and create a rolling surface. It makes the move easier while protecting your floors at the same time. - Take care of the doors and walls: Not just your floors, other parts of your house can get damaged during the move if you are not careful enough. Wrap your furniture in moving blankets or rugs before the move.
It would protect the furniture from getting scratched, while also preventing the furniture from damaging the doors and walls. - Take professional help if needed: If you are unsure about your abilities to orchestrate the move, then leave it up to the professionals. Hire professional movers or a moving company to help move the furniture. They can get the job done efficiently without damaging your property.
The cost of hiring a moving company depends on the distance and the number of objects you need to move.
For example – movers can charge between $25 to $50 for local moves. So if you hire two movers for two hours who each charge $40 hourly, you would be paying them $160 for two hours.
Moving heavy furniture by yourself can be quite challenging. But you can pull it off if you follow proper guidance. Do not shy away from asking for help. Use moving equipment and enlist the help of professional movers if you deem it necessary.
Remember to take your time and prioritize safety. Use protective measures such as furniture sliders, dollies, blankets, and moving straps to ensure your floors remain in pristine condition throughout the process.
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