How To Disassemble And Securely Wrap A Dining Room Table In Preparation For Moving

Dining room tables can be difficult to move without scratching or even breaking delicate legs, if the proper preparation is not undertaken beforehand. That's why it is important to spend the time it takes to protect your dining room table's finish as well as its structural integrity. Below is what you need to know about disassembling and wrapping your dining room table:

Tools and materials needed

• Bubble wrap - purchase bubble wrap in bulk sizes from furniture movers or from online suppliers of moving supplies. Buy the largest width you can find, as this will cut down on the amount of taping you will need to do.

• Strapping tape - avoid using clear packing tape, as it doesn't possess the compressive strength needed to wrap the protective layer around the table parts. Strapping tape contains embedded strands of reinforcing fibers that add strength to the adhesive backing.

• Hex-key set - most dining room tables are held together using hex bolts, so be sure to have a good set of hex keys, often called Allen wrenches, available that will fit the bolt heads.

• Other items - you will also need a good pair of heavy-duty scissors, and it is helpful to have an assistant available to aid in maneuvering the table during the process.

How to disassemble and wrap your dining room table - step-by-step procedure

1. Prepare a location for working - You will need plenty of space for working, so choose an area without unnecessary obstructions. Remove all chairs and pack them separately, and keep the area well lit.

2. Remove and wrap any glass panels that are present - If your dining room table contains any glass inserts or panels, these will need to be removed first. Furniture glass panels are made from tempered glass, so they are designed to be strong when being handled under ordinary circumstances. However, tempered glass will "explode" if struck sharply, so be cautious not to drop a panel on its edge or accidentally strike the glass with a tool or object.

Lay each panel on a piece of bubble wrap cut to a size that is approximately 2 to 3 inches larger on each side than the glass. If your bubble wrap strips are too narrow, lay them side-by-side and tape them together along their seams with strapping tape. You can, and should, stack multiple glass panels on top of each other, but just be sure to add a layer of bubble wrap between each glass piece. Finish the stack by adding a final layer of bubble wrap.

Next, attach the end of your roll of strapping tape to the top layer of bubble wrap and work it across and underneath the stack of panels. Bring the tape roll around and make a couple of more wraps to secure the bubble wrap and glass pieces. You may need someone to help hold the panels together during this process. Following that, wrap another two turns of tape around the panels and glass in a 90-degree direction from the first taping. Finish by wrapping the entire package in a moving blanket and taping the blanket flaps closed.

3. Remove and wrap the legs - Once you have taken the panels out and secured them, the next step is to flip the table over and lay the surface on a clean blanket. Do not lay the tabletop on a floor or even carpet; you may scratch the surface with tiny particles that you can't see.

After turning the table upside-down, locate the bolts that hold the legs in place. Most table legs will contain at least 2 bolts holding them to the tabletop. Remove these bolts with a hex key; if the legs are heavy, you will need someone to hold them up while loosening. After the bolts are removed, pull the legs free from the table, then reinsert the bolts and any washers or nuts through the holes in the legs. This will ensure the legs and hardware are ready to go whenever you reassemble the table at your new location.

Next, lay the legs on pieces of bubble wrap that are approximately four to five times as wide as the width of the legs and a little longer than the length of the legs, too. Grasp the legs and roll them tightly with the bubble wrap until you have made small, tight bundles. Use a few turns of strapping tape at each end of the bundles to hold everything together.

4. Wrap and secure the table and legs - The last step is to wrap the table itself and secure the legs to the unit; this will prevent accidentally separating the legs from the table during the move.

Begin by lifting the table and sliding bubble wrap under the tabletop; again, tape together strips of bubble wrap it necessary to hold it together. Be sure to allow about a foot of overlap on each side of the table, then fold over each side and tape it to the hidden underside of the table. Never place tape on the finished surface of the table to avoid marring the finish.

Once the tabletop is covered, wrap two turns of tape around the edge of the tabletop to protect the edges and corners. Next, lay the bundles of table legs on the underside of the table and secure them to the underside as one unit with strapping tape. Finish up by laying the now-wrapped table and bundles of legs on a moving blanket, top side facing down, and folding the blanket over the edges of the table. Secure the edges of the blanket with strapping tape.

For more information about moving, or to contract a professional, contact a company like Modern Movers, Inc.

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