1. What most movers skip is the pre-move assessment. It's important to find out if the painting has been hanging for years or is new. This gives clarity on the climatic conditions it's been adapted to, since a painting living in a climate-controlled condo would react differently on a sunny day. Once this is done, we check for dust and debris before wrapping the painting, not with a cloth, but with a paintbrush. This saves the painting from ruin, while we also check if the oil paint is still reactive or not. If it's an oil-painted one, we wrap it with wax paper barrier, so that it maintains the required air gap. While for acrylics we use glassine with foam on four corners, because plastic bubble wraps bring in heat and might damage. Now, to pack the paintings, we use two boxes, one inside the other. This is the typical telescoping method, where the outer box is 3-4 inches bigger than the inner one, often filled with loose foam in between. This ensures that even if the box shifts while on the move, no damage can reach the painting, as shocks are absorbed by the loose foam. 3. Packing a framed painting is quite tricky, since it consists of two completely different materials that react differently to temperature, sunlight, and humidity. This is why we check how the painting is framed, especially if it has mitered joints. The joints must be safeguarded with a hard foam, since corners are the most stress recipients in case of a movement jerk. While with unframed paintings, we intend to build a surrogate frame using a foam core or cardboard holder to absorb shocks. Every edge of the painting is framed and taped at the stretcher bar depth temporarily. Now, if the paintings are not on canvas and can be rolled, first check the age of the painting. If it appears to be half a century old or more, then roll it side out ways only. Always keep in mind to never roll an oil painting, even if it's old, since this kind of paint is always reactive, and you might end up spoiling the painting. For glass, the taping method can be used; however, using a normal masking or packing tape won't do. Blue painter's tape is the best option to use for packing glass frames. However, if the glass is plexiglass, you have an added static charge problem to deal with. For this, we use anti-static foam as an overlay over the frame, so that no dust particles are attracted, and the frame remains as it is.
1. The process begins by cleaning the picture frames and checking for any broken glass before packaging. If possible, remove the glass from the picture frame to prevent breakage during shipping. Once the glass is removed, it should be cleaned thoroughly, and any loose parts should be taken off the picture frame. Weak spots, such as corners, should be reinforced with corner protectors or tape. To hold shards together in case the glass breaks, painter's tape can be applied in an "X" pattern over the surface. After completing this preparation, a sheet of bubble wrap should be taken, and the picture frame should be placed at its center. The bubble wrap must be carefully rolled over the frame, starting at one corner and working to the opposite side, ensuring overlap to maximize protection. Once the frame is completely covered, seal the bubble wrap with packing tape. Reinforce the corners with corner protectors, which may be purchased or made from cardboard, to absorb shock and protect the picture frame. The picture frame should be placed in a box in a vertical orientation. Any empty space inside the box must be filled with packing peanuts or crumpled paper to keep the picture frame stable and secure. The box should be sealed and clearly marked "Fragile" to indicate its contents. 2. The basic materials necessary for shipping picture frames safely include bubble wrap, corner protectors, packing tape, a strong box, and packing peanuts or crumpled paper. Choose the right box size to ensure a snug fit for the picture. Smaller picture frames require a box measuring 12 x 12 inches, while larger frames will need a 24 x 36-inch box. Cardboard can be reused to create corner protectors. Thin foam sheets and newspapers can also serve as packing material and protection against scratches on the frame. 3. Custom-made boxes or double-walled boxes are required for large picture frames. When constructing a custom box, provide at least 2 inches of padding around the picture on all sides. Use heavy-duty bubble wrap or a moving blanket to wrap oversized picture frames and guarantee sufficient protection. Extra padding should also be applied to the corners to absorb any shocks during shipping. Oversized picture frames must always be placed standing upright in their boxes to minimize the chance of damage.