Tips for Moving Heavy Items

Aug 9, 2024 | Moving Help, Moving Tips

Moving heavy furniture is like trying to wrestle a toddler into dress clothes! It’s awkward, strenuous, and usually results in crying and a couple of “What was I thinking?” moments.

Whether it’s to pivot a cumbersome couch through a narrow doorway or lift that ridiculously heavy armoire, the challenges of moving hefty items can transform even the calmest individuals into exasperated messes.

But fear not! Element Moving & Storage is here to save you from the furniture-moving fiasco. We’ve gathered some expert tips and tricks for moving large furniture safely and efficiently, turning your moving-day nightmares into a smooth, seamless experience. Ready to find out how? Let’s dive in!

Measure Furniture

Before you lift that colossal couch or towering bookshelf, measuring the dimensions and weight of your large items is crucial. Knowing these details helps you plan the best route for moving them and prepare for the necessary equipment and assistance.

By understanding the exact size and heft of each piece, you can avoid those frustrating moments when you’re stuck halfway through a doorway and realize your prized furniture piece is too big to fit.

Equally important is measuring your doorways, hallways, and stairways. These pathways will be your furniture’s new obstacle course; knowing you can lift furniture and pass through without a hitch is key to a smooth move. Take the time to measure the width and height of door frames, the turns and lengths of hallways, and the dimensions of any stairwells.

By doing this prep work, you’ll avoid unnecessary stress and potential damage to your furniture and home.

Can You Disassemble the Heavy Furniture?

You’ll want to disassemble heavy furniture during a move. After all, it’s easier and safer to move heavy furniture in pieces rather than as one whole unit.

For example, removing couch legs will not alleviate any weight but makes squeezing a couch through a door frame an easier, less stressful experience.

Similarly, dismantling bed frames or emptying dresser drawers and large cabinets of their contents lightens your load.

So, yes, our Dallas movers say disassemble heavy furniture where you can. Just remember to find a safe spot to secure loose screws and nails. The last thing you want to do is move to your new home and wonder how you’re going to put your bed or couch back together,

Clear a Pathway

Preparing for a furniture move requires strategic planning and safety precautions. By meticulously clearing your path of potential hazards like rugs and smaller items, you create a secure route for transporting bulky pieces.

Furniture sliders and protective coverings facilitate smoother movement and safeguard your floors and furnishings from potential damage.

This comprehensive approach to space preparation culminates in a safer, more streamlined moving process, allowing you to navigate the challenges of moving large furniture with greater ease and confidence.

Must-Have Tools for Moving Your Heavy Furniture

Moving heavy furniture requires specialized equipment when efficiency and safety are at the top of your mind.

When moving large pieces, we suggest leveraging an arsenal of advanced tools, including stair rollers for navigating staircases, ergonomic moving harnesses to distribute weight evenly, and robust forklifts for the most challenging items.

What would moving large furniture be without investing in a great dolly? If you know you’re moving something in the 100-pound range as your biggest piece of furniture, the Vsaiko Folding Hand Truck is the perfect piece of equipment, coming in at around 22 dollars.

If you’re moving heavier furniture like a 250-pound chest of drawers, you will need a sturdier dolly. The Safco collapsible dolly is a great option for moving larger pieces of furniture with ease.

If you’re moving massive pieces of furniture (like in the 1000-pound range), you need a dolly that can handle all of that heat. We think the manual furniture mover from Pake Handling Tools can give you the boost you need, albeit at a premium price.

Adding these tools to your arsenal transforms daunting moving tasks into manageable operations

Tips for Tilting through Narrow Spaces

We’ve all seen the “tilt and pivot” episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S and know that getting large and awkwardly-shaped furniture through narrow spaces like smaller doors or hallways.

If you are moving large furniture yourself, we suggest inviting more than a few friends over for help. They can help you measure doorways and hallway widths and provide the muscle and encouragement you’ll need to disassemble, lift, and tilt your large furniture.

Proper Lifting Techniques

Speaking of lifting heavy furniture, if you’re moving yourself, you want to make your actions as safe as possible with some of these lifting techniques.

Always find a good grip on the furniture. This helps you prevent dropping it and injuring yourself. If you need extra grip, moving gloves can help you bring the perfect touch to your lift.

Once you grip your furniture, lift with your knees to avoid any extra stress on your back. As you squat down, keep your back straight and bend with your knees and hips when picking up the furniture.

Get Expert Help Moving Heavy Furniture

Your move is stressful enough as it is, and moving heavy furniture is something you don’t need to add any literal weight to your shoulders.

If you want to make your move as smooth as possible, hire a professional Dallas moving team that can handle difficult items like heavy furniture (refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), art pieces, and everything else in your life!

At Element Moving & Storage, we offer white-glove moving services that have earned us a reputation of excellence. From moving pianos to gun safes and large art sculptures,we’re ready to get you moving.

Schedule your free consultation today!