Items such as fine art and antiques require professional care.
Only specialist moving companies have the expertise, personnel and equipment to handle items of a fragile nature.
To locate a specialist search under fine arts and antiques in your yellow page directory or online.
Alternatively consult your local art gallery or antique dealer for advice.
The important thing is to locate a business or individual who is familiar with the packaging requirements.
Depending on the size and weight, antiques and fine arts should be individually wrapped using paper, bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard paper. Paper is used first to prevent the bubble wrap from sweating and causing an indelible impression.
Then each item should be individually crated. Use treated timber so as not to attract a quarantine inspection, possible dismantling, fumigation, extra costs and the risk of permanent damage.
If the item is too large to man handle consider building a pallet under the crate. Use screws to secure the walls and, as well as a steel band wrapped from top to bottom and side to side.
Once crated use a stencil and aerosol spray to label the crate, with the full contact details at destination. Mark the item “fragile” and “handle with care” in red.
Now it’s ready to be shipped.
To calculate the shipping costs simply measure the breadth, height, and width and multiply these dimensions to obtain a cubic measurement. For example: 3 x 2 x 4 = 24 cubic feet.
To convert cubic feet to cubic metres divide the total by 35.315 feet.
Then multiply the cubic measurement by the rate offered by the shipping company. If you are shipping by air convert the cubic capacity by 167.7 kg per cubic metre to obtain a “chargeable volumetric weight”.
If you require assistance moving antiques or fine arts please contact us.
