Around 29% of home moves happen in the Summer when families don’t have to worry about school pick-ups and after school activities because it’s the holiday season.
Despite having more time to get things done, a move is still going to be stressful, and you’ll have plenty of items that need secure packing and careful transportation to your new home. Your picture frames are one of those - especially older frames with glass used as the glazing instead of the safer alternative of acrylic.
Nevertheless, any picture frame you have that’s ideal for complimenting the photographs (or artwork) you have displayed within it, may be difficult to replace. Careful packing and handling are paramount to get it from A to B with zero damage.
Packing Materials that Help Protect Picture Frames
Bubble wrap
Bubble wrap is the simplest packing material to use with any type of picture frame moulding as it’ll prevent any breakages to the glazing and protect scratching the frame.
Cardboard boxes
Once a thick layer of bubble wrap surrounds your frames, if you have a cardboard box tall enough, slip the frame into it. You can use tape to stick together empty kitchen roll tubes to the height you need. And insert those into the corners of cardboard boxes to give them some more strength and protect against the boxes being bashed in that it could cause a dent on a wooden picture frame.
Cushioning inside cardboard boxes
While empty kitchen roll tubes can be used to strengthen the corners of boxes, they aren’t going to provide any cushioning to the front, backs and sides of the box. It’s safer to pack with plenty of cushioning all around your frames just in case the box gets dropped. Bubble wrap gives some cushioning, but there are stronger packing materials such as corrugated cardboard and polystyrene. If you’re packing an expensive picture frame, consider double layering your packaging, even it means transporting a bigger box. The added protection will be worth the extra handling effort.
Storage of picture frames
If you’re not planning to unpack right away, or you need to put some items into storage until you get the keys to your new place, some added precautions may be required to protect not just the frames but the photos or artwork they have inside them.
Storing picture frames needs moisture taken into account because with enough moisture, mould and mildew can become a problem. Two things help prevent moisture accumulation.
Silica gel and Charcoal
Both of these materials are good for moisture absorption and can be used to make your own moisture traps. You can sandwich packets of silica gel or a small block of charcoal inside two sheets of fabric stitched together. These can then be placed inside the box you’re using to store your items.
If you need to protect any of your belongings from moisture, those are two effective materials to use. Inside the bubble wrap housing your frames, silica gel will be the better option as it won’t leave any dark marks if it comes loose.