Protecting Hardwood Floors When Moving
Are your hardwood floors the favorite part of your new home? Or are you anxiously awaiting to move into your new home so that you can admire your great new floor? How would you feel, if there was a few scratches and scuffs on the flooring? We’ll give you a minute to let that soak in and for the anxiety to fade before moving on. The good news is, the professionals at Easy Movers in Charlotte have gathered a few tips to protect your hardwood floor during a move.
Tip #1 No Sliding
Never slide anything on your hardwood floors – not your dresser, not your fridge…nothing. If you don’t remember anything else from this list, please remember this. It’s the cardinal rule of living in a home with hardwood floors. Even the smallest slide could leave a mark that won’t go away quickly. Don’t slide furniture or boxes – no matter how heavy or light. Even the slightest slide across the surface of the floor could have a considerable impact on the look of your floors if it’s not done correctly. This is especially true if the floors are unswept or in need of mopping.
When you’re moving, you’ll need to protect the floor by using felt pads under the feet of furniture to prevent scratching. Your movers probably will not have the felt pads so you need to purchase these from your local hardware store to avoid scuffs and scratches. So wait for them to arrive and let them place the felt tip pads on the feet for you as they bring the furniture in.
Tip #2 If It Touches the Floor – Pad It
Now that you know how important it is not to slide anything across your hardwood floors let’s talk about another way to protect your floors during a move. Anything that comes in contact with your hardwood floor needs to be padded. Even if you never plan to move or slide a piece of furniture, you should put Felt Tip pads underneath it.
When you are packing and getting ready for movers to come, you have to have the same discipline when it comes to keeping your floors in pristine condition. For instance, if you’re taking pictures off the wall, you’ll probably stack them or lean them against the wall before you box them. But, before you set those pictures on the floor, put down some padding. A blanket, bubble wrap, towel, or even a scrap of cardboard will provide enough protection between your items and your floor to help prevent a scratch. Never put metal or concrete against bare hardwood floors or furniture.
The same goes for screws, hammers, and other tools you may have out while packing or unpacking. You’d be surprised just how much damage a tiny screw could do to a beautiful floor if it gets accidentally smashed into the wood. If you opt to hire professional movers, this is one more things you won’t have to worry about because professional movers will have precisely what you need to keep your floors in tiptop shape.
Tip #3 Hire Movers with the Right Equipment
Moves are smooth when you have the right equipment. That’s why you need to hire movers that have the right stuff. And when we say “stuff,” we mean moving equipment and accessories. By using professional moving equipment, the movers can prevent damage to your hardwood floor. Items your local moving company will use to protect your hardwood floors include:
- State of the art Neoprene Runners in the main entry ways and hallways
- Painters Drop cloth over carpets and rugs
- Rubber Wheel Dolly’s
- Smooth Faced Masonite for refrigerators
- Non-slip rubber-soled shoes (instead of booties)
Dolly’s use rubber wheels, which makes them safe to use on hardwood floors. The rubber tires will move smoothly over entryways so you won’t have to worry about gouges or scrapes. Lastly, talk to your movers about their shoes. Years ago, everyone wore disposable booties over their boots to protect carpet and other flooring. However, a better idea is non-slip rubber-soled shoes. Just like the rubber tires on a dolly, the rubber soles on work boots are the better choice for movers. Your movers may also be able to hand carry items like dressers and chest of drawers upstairs if they are not too heavy to avoid using dollies on hardwood stairs.
Now, that we’ve given you our best tips to protect your hardwood floors during a move, you’re ready to move out or move in with less anxiety. If you’re in the area and want professionals you can trust to make your move simple, contact Easy Movers today.
Our movers are friendly, efficient, and know exactly how to prevent damage to your home’s hardwood floors.
