Do Moving Companies Disassemble Furniture?
The majority of people employ the services of professional movers when relocating. Whether the move is a short or long distance, you will need the right vehicle, adequate manpower, and suitable moving equipment. Part of your moving task could also include oversized or large furnishings that need to be manoeuvred through narrow access points and up awkward stairways. Some items may simply be too large to fit, so it’s a good idea to organise disassembly and reassembly services from your moving company in advance.
Do you require disassembly and reassembly assistance? Most guys know they could do the job themselves – if only they had the right tools or an extra pair of hands. Then there is the scenario of giving yourself an hour to assemble a furnishing only to find out it takes most of the day – and that’s before you realise it’s back-to-front. Moving professionals can save you time and money by doing what they are experienced in, while you get on with other aspects of the move.
There are various large furniture pieces that are moved more effectively after disassembly, including beds, cabinets, wall units, vanity tables and exercise equipment. Moving professionals work fast, and the cost for taking furniture apart can be offset by requiring a smaller truck for transporting your disassembled load. There may be some items that are easily taken apart by yourself and readied for the move, saving even more time and money. Just remember to label the pieces and save screws and connectors in a jar or zip-lock bag.
Furniture that can be disassembled
Every type of furnishing comes in a huge range of styles, with varying build methods and fastenings utilised by different manufacturers. Some pieces are relatively simple to dismantle and reassemble, while others require expert skills.
Beds
Choosing whether to disassemble your bed will certainly depend on the style. The most common beds comprise of a simple wooden or metal frame with slats for the mattress to rest on. The slats and frame are usually connected by screw or snap-on fixtures that are easy to disassemble. A word of caution though, this type of bed is also often the less-expensive kit-style, and there could be some damaged screws or connectors that frustrate the job at hand.
More difficult beds include bunk beds and those with trundle drawers and sliders underneath. If you aren’t completely comfortable with your woodworking skills, it could be a good idea to let the moving experts take care of it.
Entertainment centres, cabinets and bookshelves
Many entertainment centres and cabinets are anchored together by methods that are invisible to the inexperienced eye. Separating them can be complex, and possibly risky, unless you are an experienced woodworker. Furniture usually needs to be disassembled in the reverse order to assembly, so unless you know exactly how the piece was put together, it’s not worth the risk trying to pull it apart, especially without the appropriate tools.
Bookshelves and similar shelving is usually much easier to deal with, as long as it it a stand-alone piece and not connected as part of an entertainment unit. Usually it’s just a matter of determining how the shelves are attached to the bookcase. If they are ‘floating’ shelves sitting on pegs or notches they can be easily lifted off and kept aside ready for reassembly.
Dining room tables
Removing the legs from a large table will make it much easier to manoeuvre around tight corners or up stairs. The flat table top is a lot more convenient to transport and will take up far less room in the truck than a table on legs. However, as with beds, not all tables are created equal, and although the majority are made for convenient disassembly there are exceptions.
Turn the table upside-down, resting the top on the carpet or a blanket while you examine the leg fixings. If they look complex – leave it for the movers.
Vanity tables and dressers
Although fairly easy to break down, large vanity tables also come with a sizeable (and heavy) mirror. Once the screws or anchor connecting the mirror are removed it will require support. It’s fairly simple with two pairs of hands on the job, with one person balancing the mirror while the screws are removed.
Disassembling and reassembling furniture yourself can be rewarding, but there is added risk of breakage or damage. Other commitments might also come first, and it’s reassuring to know that the moving professionals are on hand to take care of your valuable possessions at every stage of the move to your new home.
