move long distance in Canada

Move Long Distance In Canada: Preparing Your Artwork For Moving

How to Move Your Framed Art Safely

When you have invested in art, financially as a collector, or with your time as an artist, as you move long distance in Canada, packing and transporting of your items is a serious undertaking that needs to be dealt with carefully and precisely. Art restoration is a costly and time-consuming process that any art collector would want to avoid. So, as you move long distance in Canada, how do you ensure that your investment is protected when you relocate?

Before you begin the packing process, the first step is to always take stock of what needs to be packed and make sure that you have the required materials on hand. This ensures that as you move long distance in Canada, you’re prepared to pack, and helps to avoid making do with what is on hand, as opposed to having what you need.

The most common items used in packaging art include the following:

Packing Framed Pieces

The most common artwork shipped in household moves is framed art and photography. There are three components to framed piece that need to be protected during shipping as you move long distance in Canada: the frame, the glass, and the art itself. It may seem like the art is protected by the frame and the glass, but if either of these components are damaged during the move, they could cause damages to the art itself as a result of the breakage. As you move long distance in Canada, the following packing steps will greatly reduce the chances of damage to your art.

  • Tape the glass. Using painters or artists tape, apply tape the outer corners and interior of the glass while being careful to avoid the frame itself. The adhesive on the tape could cause damage to your frame if applied directly. Taping the glass will help prevent glass shards from damaging your art should breakage occur during transportation as you move long distance in Canada.
  • Wrap the entire piece in a layer of acid free tissue paper and secure with acid free tape.
  • Wrap the piece again in a layer of bubble wrap, bubble side out, and secure with tape.
  • Apply your cardboard corners and tape in place.
  • Place crumpled up paper at the bottom of the box to provide a shock absorbent layer. Place 4 or 5 pieces of packing paper on the bottom of the box.
  • Insert your piece into an appropriately sized box, adding extra packing paper to ensure a snug fit.

Wrapped/Stretched Canvas

Unframed, stretched canvas art requires a little more care than framed work. Not only is the art fully exposed to potential moisture and dirt, but the stretched canvas can become over stretched and marred should it be pressed up against another item. As you move long distance in Canada, these pieces should be packed separately to avoid rubbing and stressing the canvas. The following packing steps will greatly reduce the chances of damage to your art.

  • Instead of using acid free paper, Glassine, an acid free packaging paper, is ideal for wrapping and protecting painted surfaces. Wrap your piece and tape securely, being careful not to tape directly to the canvas.
  • Use foam board or thick cardboard, cut a piece larger than your painting and secure it to both sides of the canvas, like a sandwich. Tape securely.
  • Wrap in a layer of bubble wrap and secure with tape.
  • Place crumpled up paper at the bottom of the box to provide a shock absorbent layer. Place 4 or 5 pieces of packing paper on the bottom of the box.
  • Insert your piece into an appropriately sized box, adding extra packing paper to ensure a comfortable fit.

 

Unframed Pieces – Rolling for Shipping

Not all wall art is framed and not all canvas pieces are stretched. As you move long distance in Canada, one of the safest ways to transport these photos is to roll them up, and place them into a plastic transportation tube. Before rolling your canvas pieces, make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand. PVC tubes may be purchased for shipping, but you can also ship in an appropriately sized cardboard box. As you move long distance in Canada, some tips to protect your canvas are to:

  • On a clean surface, lay a large piece of material of your choice to protect your piece when rolled.
  • Add a couple layers of acid free paper. Make sure your layers are larger than the piece itself.
  • Place your canvas face down on the layers. (If you are shipping art on paper, such as photography, place it down face up.)
  • Top with another layer of acid free paper.
  • Begin to roll from the bottom, being careful not to fold the art as you go. Once you are finished rolling, secure with tape.
  • Roll in bubble wrap, bubble side down and tape securely.
  • Slip your finished roll inside your PVC or cardboard tube. It should be snug, but not too tight.
  • Finish by sealing your tube using the cap provided with your tube, or by creating one out of cardboard.

As you move long distance in Canada, rolling can also be used for shipping multiple pieces by layering them from largest to smallest with sheets of acid free paper or Glassine between them.

Crating pieces

If you have a particularly large work, there is always the option of having a custom crate built for your piece as you move long distance in Canada. While custom crates will of course cost more than using cardboard boxes, they are designed specifically to protect and being made from wood materials, will be far more robust when in transit.

Quick Transfer’s Packaging Division does just this – we build crates to suit whatever you need shipped. We use high quality IPPC/ISPM-15 compliant wood packaging and take every detail into consideration including fragility, weight distribution, even moisture protection.  Regardless of whether you’re moving within in Winnipeg, within moving within the province of Manitoba, moving across Canada, or moving to a new country, Quick can help with all your moving needs. Contact us today to see how we can help you, and the difference that we can make for your move!