How to Protect Floors When Moving?

Protecting floors during the house moving process can be challenging. But, with a few tips and tricks from professional movers NYC, you can avoid damage and keep the delicate surfaces intact. Incorrect or unsafe moving can lead to ruined floors and put the additional expense on already expensive relocating. Whether you’re concerned about scratches on your wood floor or broken tiles on your tiled floors, these tips will help you move with ease and keep any type of flooring safe. Regardless of whether you have hardwood, vinyl, carets, or laminate, you want to make sure that your move is damage-free and your flooring in its best shape. Avoiding floor damage will save you a lot of time and nerves, not to mention unnecessary costs. Carry on reading to find out how to protect floors when moving.

Careful with heavy furniture

No matter which floor protection you use, it will not be enough if you drag heavy pieces of furniture across it. Instead of dragging, carry all items that are lightweight, like moving boxes or lighter household items, and avoid dragging them. If you have to carry extremely heavy appliances or furniture pieces, make sure to get helpers and moving equipment that will help you avoid dragging those items.

Pack well

There are things you can do while packing to prevent damage later on. For instance, use sturdy boxes that are in good shape and avoid using second-hand ones because they can easily break and hurt you while damaging the floor. Choose only strong containers for moving your things. Once you’re finished packing the box, double tape it to make sure it will not break. If you’re moving chairs and tables, “pack” them as well by wrapping the edges and feet with furniture blankets to protect your floors in case any of these items drop.

Take measurements

The next thing you should do is measure all of your large or oddly shaped household items to make sure they can fit through the door. You should also make sure that there are no obstacles on the way out. Otherwise, you can end up with scratched or scraped floors if you try to force a piece that’s too big through a doorway.

Get a dolly and a furniture slider

The proper equipment makes any job easier and more efficient. When it comes to moving try to keep your floors in a good shape. The best things to use are a moving dolly and a furniture slider. Slider is made of plastic and has fitted hard rubbers to prevent friction between floors and heavy objects. A moving dolly has wheels so you can load your item and push it safely to the moving truck without damaging the floor. Make sure to get a dolly that has rubber wheels instead of metal ones. The rubber wheels will be gentle on the delicate hardwood flooring. You don’t have to spend extra money on buying sliders and dollies. Instead, reach out to your local moving company and they should have them available to rent to you.

Carpet masking

In case your floors are carpeted, the easiest way to protect them is to use carpet masking. It will protect from dirt, paint, or spills, and it’s easy to use because it’s designed to work with carpet materials. You can easily find it at your local hardware store and simply remove it after the move is done. Another pro about using carpet tape is that it will not leave any nasty residue behind. The downside worth mentioning is that carpet masking can also be an investment, so if you’re on a budget, check out the following tips for protecting floors without breaking the budget.

Use doormats and floor runners

Another super-easy way to protect your floors when moving is to place doormats and floor runners. Doormats are especially handy if it’s raining or snowing. They’ll help you avoid slipping, so place at least several throughout the house. Place them in front of the entrance doors and directly after entering the house. That way everyone can wipe off their feet when they enter from the outside. When it comes to runners, most of them have one adhesive side and another one that’s non-slippery. So, having a few of those in areas with the most traffic will be very beneficial.

Old blankets and rugs

If your budget is tight and you can’t purchase mats and runners, you can be creative and use your household items to cover the floors. Go through your stuff and separate those old rugs or blankets that you wouldn’t throw away and you’ve been thinking of replacing for a while. They will use as rugs to wipe your feet off and protect floors in case something drops.

Use cardboard boxes

If none of the above works for you and you can’t afford to invest in other materials to cover floors, don’t panic. Just visit your nearest grocery or liquor store and ask if they have free cardboard boxes to give to you. You can also ask your neighbors or your friends if they have any boxes to spare, or even visit one of the online platforms and find free moving boxes, check out Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Freecycle, etc. Break boxes down to make them flat and cover floors with cardboard – especially those areas with high traffic.

Hire professionals

During the move, you may focus mostly and transporting your items safely and forget an equally important part of your home – your floors. Floors are an investment and protecting them should be a priority, so don’t risk damaging them. The ultimate way to keep your floors safe when moving is to get professional assistance. Your experienced movers NYC will bring their professional equipment and their experience to keep your home damage-free during relocation. Contact Rabbit overs today and get a free moving quote.