We all know how moving works when dealing with normal-sized furniture.
But moving oversized furniture is a different story.
An average dining chair? Easy peasy. A 400kg grand piano? American style fridge freezer? Oversized marble dining table? Massive sectional couch lodged inside a third-story apartment with tiny staircases? Now we’re getting into technical territory.
Truthfully, this is usually the point where people understand why furniture removalists are a thing.
Large items are awkward in ways most people don’t consider. Sure, they’re heavy. But being heavy is only one obstacle. Size and shape are issues too. Balance is an issue. Accessibility is always an issue. tilt it the wrong way when navigating through your staircase and you can ruin walls, floors, ceilings, handrails, and your furniture piece all in a few seconds time.
Professional movers handle oversized items way differently than how they’d carry boxes around your house. Moving large format furniture requires planning. It requires special equipment. Calculating weight distribution. Communicating with each other. Practically disassembling the furniture at times. Having the right lifting tools for the job.
Most wouldn’t believe how little actual strength is needed.
Heavy Furniture Problems Before You Even Pick It Up
Before even picking up your oversized furniture, professional movers will often do an evaluation.
This can include:
- Estimating the weight
- Measuring the dimensions
- Looking for fragile parts
- Planning entry and exit paths
- Assessing stairways
- Determining if a lift can be used
- Checking for ceiling issues
- Determining if floor protection is needed
Professional movers understand that bulky furniture will likely not go through a home in a straight line.
- Large sofas must be turned.
- Closets may need to be lifted upright.
- Refrigerators must be kept vertical.
- Granite tables should have secured carrying angles.
Handling heavy furniture guidelines also point out that odd-shaped items can actually be more difficult to move than heavier, well-balanced items. The reason is that awkward-shaped furniture is tough to get a good grip on and pivot.
This is why professional movers map out the route ahead of time instead of trying to “make it work” while carrying the object.
Measure your Access Points to Avoid Big Problems Later
It seems simple, but this step is crucial.
Your movers will (and should) measure:
- Doorways
- Stairs
- Hallways
- Elevator interiors
- Ceilings
- Turns
Restrictions at transition points are where oversized furniture always causes problems. It can pass through one area with ease, only to get stuck at the next. Doorways are the most common blockade, but staircases and turns surprise people too. Professional movers see this kind of problem every day.
Seasoned professionals will often catch these issues days or weeks before moving day.
This matters because the only ways to fix these issues are often to:
- Take doors off their hinges
- Disassemble furniture
- Book service elevators
- Deploy extra manpower
- Bring in a boom lift
- Rearrange truck access
When these problems come up unexpectedly, your oversized move can devolve into a disaster.
Professional Movers Have Specialised Equipment
This may be the biggest difference between DIY moving vs the professionals. Heavy or awkward furniture needs equipment meant to handle tough loads.
Here’s some of the specialty equipment movers use on the job:
- Furniture dollies
- Piano dollies
- Appliance trolleys
- Stair-climbing sack trucks
- Lifting straps
- Shoulder harness systems
- Sliders
- Protective blankets
- Tie-down systems
These make moving less physically demanding and increase your control tenfold.
Appliance trolleys, like sack trucks, stabilise fridges so they don’t fall over while you’re transporting them. Lifting straps allow you to carry heavier items by utilising your legs more than your back.
When people lift without the right equipment they tend to use pure strength. This is where most injuries and damages occur.
Case Study: Carrying a Marble Dining Table Down Apartment Stairs
A crew working on a high-end apartment move recently encountered a tricky situation with a marble dining table.
Heavy? Yes. But slim-shaped AND fragile! The building had:
- Sharp corners on the stairs
- Tiny landings
- Low overhead
…and no elevator.
At first glance, the table couldn’t come out intact.
Rather than try to power through it anyway, the movers hit pause. Rethink. Then proceeded to:
- Separate the base from the tabletop
- Secure the marble top with multiple layers of fluffy blankets
- Employ lifting straps
- Use individual spotters at each corner of the stairs
- Angle the slab vertically to pass the landing
- It took close to 45 minutes just for this one piece of furniture.
…but they got the table out with ZERO cracks, chips, or wall damage.
That’s the kind of patience that makes professional movers shine.
Heavy Furniture Rarely Travels Fully Assembled
Some clients think movers like furniture fully assembled because it makes their job faster.
The reality is often reversed.
Couriers regularly take apart large objects to lighten their:
- Weight
- Difficulty carrying
- Chance of damage
- Stairs challenge
- Doorframe impacts
Furniture pieces commonly taken apart include:
- Bed bases
- Sectionals
- Dining room tables
- Closets
- Bookcases
- Headboards
Every moving expert blog out there advises clients to take furniture apart as much as possible prior to moving day.
Funny how an investment of 15 minutes tearing stuff apart can buy you hours of grief later.
Also, let’s be real, it almost always avoids damage as well.
Talk breaks are Non-existent During Big Carries
One observation our customers make while we’re moving their oversized items is how much our movers are talking during the move.
It’s not just chatter. We communicate constantly for a reason.
- “We’re rocking.”
- “Head room.”
- “Down on your side.”
- “Spin slow.”
- “Step down.”
- “Corner!”
Precision teamwork during an oversized carry relies on movers being in sync at all times. That means continuously coordinating your movements with your fellow movers.
Moving safety tips for consumers recommend typically only one person leading the lift and the team calling out uneven surfaces, turns, etc.
Lack of communication turns even the strongest guys into toddlers in small spaces.
Weight Distribution Is More Important Than Muscle
You’d be surprised how many folks forget this.
Furniture movers don’t “power through” awkward loads with brute strength. They work smarter by thinking about:
- Centre of mass
- Equilibrium
- Weight displacement
- Smooth pivots
- Angles when carrying
They frequently carry tall furniture with a “high-low” lift. One person holds the top while another guides the bottom. This makes it much easier to balance and turn.
Top-notch movers have a firm grasp on leverage. An object in perfect balance can feel lighter (and safer) to lift than one that’s off-kilter. Despite the weight remaining constant.
Exterior Surfaces Need Protection As Well
Oversized furniture can damage more than just the furniture in question. It can damage property around it as well.
Movers will often protect:
- Hardwood Floors
- Tiles
- Railings
- Doorways
- Inside of elevators
- Painted walls
Most damage occurs when pressure is applied to transition points.
Such as:
- Sharp corners
- Stair turns
- Doorways
- Elevator entrances
Which is why professional movers use:
- Floor runners
- Sliders
- Corner protection
- Blankets
- Cardboard as protection
Multiple professional movers sites highlight transition points being the biggest cause of damage to a property during an oversized move.
Trust me when I say repairing scuffed up floors is costly quickly.
Oversized Furniture Has to Be Loaded Strategically
After a gigantic couch finally makes it to the truck, the problem isn’t over.
Professional movers don’t just toss giant appliances into the back of a moving truck either.
The way the truck is loaded strategically because:
- Heavy items need to be balanced
- Delicate finishes shouldn’t touch
- Items need to be held in place
- Moving items around prevents transport shifting
Typically heavy boxes and appliances are loaded up against the walls of the truck and then strapped down with rope and cushioning. Loading a truck improperly will cause items to shift during transport. Moving items around creates a bigger risk of collision and tipping.
There’s a reason handling oversized-items is more technical than most think.
The hard work doesn’t end when your giant item makes it into the truck.
Larger Items Require Specialty Movers Sometimes
There are some pieces of furniture that don’t fit into a residential move. Period.
Take things such as…
- Grand pianos
- Billiards tables
- Safe boxes
- Exercise equipment
- Marble tops
- Built-ins
…and the list goes on. You get the point. Some items call for specialty movers who come equipped with the tools and expertise to handle the job.
Specialized equipment can include:
- Lifts
- Custom crates
- Piano skirts
- Heavy duty dollies
- Boom lifts
When it comes to moving large objects like pianos and other heavy furniture, online forums are ripe with conversations about how technique and planning play a much larger role than speed and strength.
After a certain size, regular lifting methods just aren’t sufficient to safely move your item.
Keeping Crews Safe is Also Important
When talking about moving larger items, most conversations center around preventing damage to the item in question.
However, there is also a risk of serious injury when moving oversized items.
Here are some techniques professional movers utilize to keep themselves safe while lifting heavy objects:
- Bend knees, not back
- Don’t twist
- Square up to the object
- Keep hands steady
- Use your equipment
- Know when NOT to move something
Too many back injuries occur each year when people lift heavy objects incorrectly. One universal tip in lifting heavy objects is to keep your load closest to your body and avoid twisting your torso while lifting.
Which is why professional movers will often abort a lift if the path turns precarious.
Why Professional Oversized Handling Looks “Easy”
Customers sometimes watch professional movers carry massive furniture pieces and assume the work looks effortless.
- It isn’t effortless.
- It’s controlled.
The reason experienced movers appear calm is because they:
- Plan ahead
- Measure carefully
- Communicate constantly
- Use proper equipment
- Understand weight distribution
- Protect routes beforehand
- There’s a system underneath the movement.
And honestly, oversized-item moving becomes dangerous very quickly when that system disappears.
FAQ
What are examples of oversized furniture?
Moving pianos, sectional sofas, marble tables, refrigerators, safe boxes, wardrobes, and larger appliances are all examples of oversized or bulky furniture moving.
Why do movers measure door frames and staircases?
Measuring doorways and staircases allows movers to know whether or not furniture will fit before starting the move. Additionally, measuring gives your movers insight into which furniture may have to be disassembled and whether or not special equipment will be necessary to ensure a safe and successful move.
What kind of dollies do professional movers use for oversized furniture?
Dollies, lifting straps, appliance dollies, sliders, furniture blankets, ramps and stair-climbing equipment.
Will movers take my furniture apart?
In most cases, yes. As previously mentioned, bed frames, sectional sofas, tables, and wardrobes will likely need to be partially dismantled. Doing so decreases the risk of damage and increases furniture manoeuvrability.
Why do movers yell at each other?
Moving oversized and heavy furniture items takes meticulous and constant communication. Since moving bulky items typically requires two or more people to lift at once, your movers will talk to each other to prevent collisions, injuries, and falling.
Will moving large furniture damage door frames and floors?
Yes! If movers fail to use corner bumpers, furniture blankets, and crating services when needed, large furniture can scratch wood and tile floors, dent walls, damage railings, and mark door frames.
Conclusion
Moving bulky items and oversized furniture is much more complex than one might think. Instead of tossing and heaving large items in and out of homes, professional furniture movers use dollies and moving blankets to break down and carry each item safely. Communication and proper lifting/ balancing techniques are also essential when moving large furniture through narrow door frames and staircases.
Most large furniture doesn’t want to fit through doorways or up and down stairs. Steps get tighter. Doorways suddenly become narrower. Indoor ceilings are always too low. Indoor corners don’t clear like they should outdoors. And elevator doors that looked spacious while dragging a fridge out of your kitchen suddenly become tighter than ever before.
Pro furniture movers know this. Which is why they take their time measuring each area before moving in and putting down protective covering on surfaces. They also disassemble your furniture when needed and shift their carrying angles as necessary to safely accommodate your move.
Trust us, once that 400lb couch makes it up your apartment staircase without scratching the walls or the furniture, you’ll understand that moving oversized items has little to do with strength and everything to do with accuracy.