Just after installing a new floor, the shiny, smooth and scratch-free surface is a real joy. But keeping the floor in its flawless state will take some work. Most homeowners take extra precautions for the first few months after installing new flooring until the first heartbreaking scratch appears. After that, many homeowners give up and allow their floors to become marked and marred.
You don’t have to be like most homeowners. Learning how to move furniture without damaging floors is easy. Use these handy tips from Floor Coverings International Southlake.
Moving Furniture
Dragging furniture is better than lifting furniture. Unless moving an extremely lightweight piece of furniture, it is a much better idea to drag a piece than to lift it. But of course dragging furniture across a floor commonly leads to deep scratches. Yet it is possible to move furniture without lifting it by using several methods.
How to drag furniture without causing damage.
- Use special furniture sliders. Placing a slider under each leg of a piece of furniture makes it a snap to glide pieces around your room without causing damage. You can find many types of these furniture sliders online.
- Use rags. Homeowners who need to move furniture a short distance and don’t want to run to the store can try using rags instead. Place a flat rag under each leg and drag it. It is important that people who choose this method drag slowly and constantly check to ensure the legs are still on the rags.
- Use hardboard. Many people know hardboard as ‘Masonite.’ Set furniture on the top of one piece of Masonite and then slide it across your floor. Since hardboard is smooth, it won’t damage the floors. One advantage of using hardboard as a way to move furniture is many manufacturers include hardboard as protection when shipping. That means there is a good chance you will have the perfect sized Masonite for your furniture already.
- Use cardboard. Even when using special furniture sliders, carpets with a thick pile can be tough to slide across. Laying down cardboard over a rug makes it much simpler and provides an additional layer of protection.
How to carry furniture without hurting your floors or yourself.
- Use the right lifting techniques. Feeling sore after moving a lot of heavy furniture is normal, but feeling pain isn’t. A lot of the pain is due to improper lifting techniques. Learning how to lift correctly takes only a few minutes and can spare you days of agony. Ask an expert, but always remember to keep a stable base and lift with your knees, not your back.
- Use a shoulder dolly. Even with proper lifting technique, not everyone is strong enough to move heavy furniture. Homeowners who plan on moving a lot of furniture should invest in a shoulder dolly. This tool is basically a harness which a person wears and then attaches to the piece of furniture. A shoulder dolly transfers the weight of the item to more muscles and allows people to carry much more weight.
- Call in the reinforcements. There is no shame in admitting you need help to move. Good friends and family members are happy to help share the load. If there is a long day of moving, make it as fun as possible by playing good music and offering plenty of food and drinks (but no alcohol). An after-moving celebration is a great way of saying “thank you.”
Additional Tips
- Make sure the floors are clean. Grit on the floor can cause more scratches.
- Ensure there is a plan before starting. Know where furniture is going and how it is getting there. This is especially important if more than one person is moving a piece.
- Go slow. There is no reason to rush while moving furniture. Trying to go fast leads to frequent injuries and damage.
Photo by Monkey Business Images
