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| Protecting Your Carpets, Floors, and Walls |
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Aside from all the packing and everything else involved in moving, you should also plan on protecting your carpets, floors, and walls. With all of the traffic going in and out of your house, not to mention all of the large items that will have to be carried in and out of the door, your home can get dirty and sustain some damage. However, there are several things you can do to protect your home during your move.
It is important to remember that no matter which method you use, you will have two sets of carpets, floors, and walls to take care of. You certainly don't want to put in the time and effort to protect these things during the move-out but neglect to do the same when everything is moved into your new home.
Though your movers may use their own drop cloths or runners to lay out during the move or take other actions to prevent damage, there are no standard procedures across the industry. You may be better off protecting your home yourself. Just be sure you know what the situation, and any extra costs involved, will be prior to the move.Carpets |
Photo by asifthebes, sxc.hu | | One of the best ways to prevent any damage to your carpet is to purchase a special self-adhesive plastic film made for protecting carpets. These products allow you to easily cover your carpet with a tear-free, non-slip surface. Most brands of carpet-protecting film won't leave adhesive residue behind on your carpets and are available in a variety of sizes. You can even purchase a paint roller-like applicator to help you lay the film out. However, although they are great products, they don't come cheap. |
If you can't find the plastic film, or don't want to spend the money on it, there are a few other things you can do. You can place any bed sheets, blankets, towels, or drop-cloths over your carpet. If you have any old rolls of carpet lying around, you can cut these into strips and place them on top of the existing carpet.
Though these materials provide for an inexpensive way of protecting your carpets, they can easily bunch up and possibly cause someone to trip. You can try to prevent this by taping them down with blue painter's tape. Still, you and your movers should be extra careful when walking on these surfaces. |
Hardwood Floors |
Your hardwood floors are an expensive investment and are more susceptible to damage than carpet. They can be easily scratched or dented by your movers' shoes or if someone accidentally drops something. To prevent these things from leaving a mark on your floors, you can use a variety of protective products to cover your floor.
Like the plastic films used for your carpets, you can purchase rolls of plastic film for your hardwood floors. Make sure you get the right type for your specific floor, as there are different products for factory-finished and contractor-finished hardwood. Again, if you don't use one of these products, you can easily make a path with blankets or drop-cloths. You could even tape down pieces of cardboard for you and your movers to walk on.
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Photo by Mikee414, sxc.hu |
| TIP: If it is raining on your moving day, make sure you change the cardboard or blankets often to prevent slippery surfaces and to keep your floors from being damaged by water. |
When moving your furniture around, it is a good idea to attach felt pads to the bottoms of your pieces. This will prevent any scratching as you decide on how you want to set up your furniture on a hardwood floor. You may even want to keep these pads on after you move to avoid any future damage. When moving a large appliance or other heavy item, prevent scratches and dents by placing the object on top of a piece of plywood and a moving blanket to safely and easily slide it out. |
WallsSince many people focus so much on protecting their carpets and hardwood floors, it's easy to forget about your walls. While your walls won't be at as much risk as the other surfaces, they can still sustain damage as your belongings are moved throughout your house. The walls of heavily trafficked areas, such as hallways and doorframes, can be covered with drop cloths to prevent scratches.
Additionally, you need to take extra care when moving sharp-edged objects. There are several ways to minimize this damage:
- Cover these items with moving pads or blankets.
- For large objects that have to be slid along your floor, protect the corners of your walls with corner guards – plastic shields that can easily be installed and uninstalled.
- Put felt pads on the backs of head boards, dressers, and bookcases so these items won't leave marks on the walls when you put them into place.
While moving can be hard work for you and your movers, it can be especially hard on your carpets, floors, and walls. By taking the proper precautions, gathering the right materials, and having a plan well before moving day, you can protect both your old home and your new one.
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