Furniture Damage And Repair

Seven tips for furniture movers and shakers!

Case goods, such as entertainment centers, book cases and armoires, require special attention when maneuvering from one location to another. Structural case joints are not designed to withstand considerable amounts of pressure. If precautions aren't taken when moving case goods, these joints may break or crack, causing permanent damage. This damage often occurs when one person attempts to move larger pieces of furniture which should be moved by two people. The heavier the piece, the more likely structural damage will occur; therefore, precautions are needed when moving this type of furniture. Here are some simple rules to follow to avoid this type of costly damage:

• Don't drag the dining room tables across carpet. This causes the table legs to vibrate and loosen. Ideally, tables should be moved by lifting them from both ends. An operation which requires two people.

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• Drawers should be removed from chests of drawers or dressers before relocating. Moving furniture with the drawers still in may put undo stress on the drawer runners and cause the drawers to slide out. If the drawers cannot be removed, it is advisable to unload the drawers' contents and secure them with tape so they do not slide out during the move.

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• When removing the top hutch of a china cabinet from the bottom hutch, avoid sliding the top of the hutch. This will cause scratches on the front surface of the bottom hutch. To avoid these scratches, move the bottom hutch away from the wall and place the top hutch towards the back of the bottom hutch. Then slide the top hutch to the front. Attaching pieces of felt to the bottom of the hutch top will also prevent scratching.

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• Some case goods have doors on the front that may need adjusting from time to time due to improper alignment. If this is the case, simply adjust the leveling glides located on the bottom corners of the piece. By screwing the glides up or down the furniture will become level and the doors will be aligned. Uneven hardwood floors may also cause the doors in case goods to twist out of alignment. Make sure hardwood floors are perfectly level before placing any type of furniture. Also, avoid sliding case good furniture over hardwood floors, as this may cause damage to the furniture joints and scratch the floor.

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• When moving bookcases, make sure that all of the unsecured shelves are dismantled and the shelf pins are taken out or secured. An unsecured pin could detach and scratch the wood if moved improperly. Never carry a bookcase by the shelves since they can easily splinter or break.

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• Never move furniture that has removable glass inserts or tops such as coffee tables or side stands, without first removing the glass. Furnishings that have glass door inserts should be handled with extra care. To protect yourself from shattered glass, apply strips of masking tape to the panes. This will catch pieces of glass if the window should break.

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• Make sure the table drop leaves are secured in case the table is tilted during the move. Never pick a table up by the leaf handles since they can easily break apart.