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Tips on how to move furniture when you have stairs

Moving furniture when you have stairs can be risky. You could injure yourself while moving them. This includes your back, knees, and feet. You can also injure other people in the process when you move big furniture like couches. You could also end up damaging the furniture if you fall, which can be a huge problem. When you have stairs, you need to consider hiring a moving company or get the help of some people who can carry the furniture for you.

Furniture move can also damage your stairs; if you're taking it upstairs or downstairs, the furniture could leave scratches or dents on your stairs depending on the weight and the size of the furniture you're carrying.

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Here are a few tips for moving your furniture:

Planning Ahead

It's needed to plan before moving with the furniture so that nothing goes wrong. You will have to think about how you want to move the furniture, what is needed to move heavy furniture, the potential dangers, and safety cautions.

This will help you prevent injuries and accidents; you can also avoid damaging your furniture or the stairs. Ask yourself if you want to carry it yourself or simply hire a moving company. If you decide to do it yourself, what furniture would be too heavy for you and require assistance? How would that go about? Would hiring a moving company be a better idea? Ask them the different charges depending on the number of men they would send over to carry your furniture. You may read our article on Do Movers Charge Extra for Stairs to know more on this.

See if your stair has enough space for you to bring up or down your big, heavy furniture. If not, then you could either get rid of some things to make room for them or just simply hire a moving company to do it for you.

When Moving Heavy Furniture

Moving heavy furniture is a major problem with stairs because there's a considerable risk of injury. You can injure your back, feet, hands, and other body parts when carrying too much weight in one hand. When moving heavy furniture, make sure that someone else helps you carry it. If you have a friend who has a truck to help you, ask them if they could come over and help you carry the furniture from your home to their truck.

If you need to move heavy couches or wooden furniture, hiring a moving company might be a better option because they know how to lift and carry the furniture without injuring themselves properly. They have experience and use straps and gloves to prevent injuries and accidents during the move.

If you decide to do it by yourself, make sure that someone holds the bottom part of the couch while you're lifting one end. If your stairs are carpeted, don't drag them; instead, lift them, turn them around and carry them. This way, your stairs wouldn't get harmed or messed up.

Another thing that you could do is to ask a moving company if they would come over for a small fee if you have too much furniture to move around in one trip. Moving companies usually offer discounts when the amount of furniture is big.

Moving Smaller and Less Heavy Furniture

If you're moving smaller and lighter furniture, it would be much easier for you to move them by yourself or with the help of a friend. You could just simply pick up the furniture and carry it by yourself without having to ask someone to help you. But make sure that it's not too heavy before you lift it, or else you could hurt yourself.

When moving smaller and lighter furniture, make sure that the stairs are safe for you to bring up or down the furniture. If there are no railings on one of your staircases, wear gloves so that you won't slip when carrying the furniture. Ensure that you have enough space on your stairs to bring up or down the furniture properly. If you decide to carry it by yourself, make sure that no one is carrying anything heavy while you're bringing up the furniture because you might both get hurt.

Use the right equipment

Always use the right equipment to work to help with moving furniture. There are various types of equipment that you can use to help you move furniture:

  1. A dolly: These are small, strong carts that can carry heavy objects for you. The moving company could also use them to bring up your furniture without getting them tired.
  2. Gloves: Handles can get slippery when bringing furniture down or up the stairs; wearing gloves would help prevent injuries and accidents during the move.
  3. Shoes with grips: Lifting your furniture can be hard on your feet; wearing shoes with grips would help you move the furniture without slipping.
  4. Cover the floor with plywood sheets: This way, there wouldn't be any scratches on your stairs or even on the bottom part of the heavy furniture.
  5. Straps: These can be used by the moving company to help them carry your furniture without getting hurt.
  6. Carpeted stairs: If you have carpeted stairs, try not to drag your heavy furniture because it might pull out the carpet and make marks on the floor. Lift it instead and turn it around so that you can carry them properly.

See if there are enough strong men to carry it for you. Sometimes, you might need to ask any strong men in your family or friends to help you carry the furniture. You could tell them that they'll get paid for helping, but make sure that they're not too heavy so that you won't get hurt while carrying them.

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Protect your stairs

Now, you'd want to protect your stairs from any potential damages during the moving process. There are several ways to protect your stairs from damage. Cover them with pieces of plywood so that no one would get hurt or slip when carrying heavy furniture up or down the stairs. This way, your stairs wouldn't get any scratches, and you also won't have to pay for any damages you've made on the stairs.

  1. Pad the bottom part of your furniture, especially if there are sharp corners on it that could leave a mark on your stairs. You wouldn't want to see scratch marks everywhere on your stairs.
  2. Remove all drawers from cabinets and dressers before bringing them up or down the stairs so that they won't get scratched. This way, you won't have to clean up the joints of your dresser or cabinet every time you move the furniture.

Trying the high and low technique

Sometimes, it's best to try the high and low techniques when carrying heavy furniture up or down the stairs. For example, if you need to bring a dresser or cabinet up your stairs, make sure that you bring its top part first by climbing the stairs very slowly so that it won't fall off. Then, get someone from behind so that you could get its bottom part up the stairs while staying away from the top part of it. Two people would be a big help when doing this technique.

Wrapping and protecting your furniture

Wrap all parts of your furniture properly to protect them from any possible scratches or damages during the moving process. You can use bubble wraps, cotton sheets, or anything soft enough to wrap your furniture with. This way, you won't have to worry about any damage to your furniture.

Moving safe

Now it's moving time, make sure you move your furniture properly and, most importantly, SAFELY! Take note of what you're doing and ensure that you don't slip when moving the furniture. Have someone there to help you if something goes wrong while moving it. Don't risk your life when moving heavy furniture.

  1. Wear shoes with grips so that you won't get hurt easily while carrying sharp objects up or down the stairs.
  2. Wear gloves so that your hands won't get hurt when carrying sharp objects up or down the stairs.
  3. Protect your stairs by covering them with plywood sheets at least 2 inches thick. This way, it wouldn't leave any marks on the floor, and you don't have to worry about cleaning up scratches on your furniture either.
  4. Pad the bottom part of your furniture to protect it from scratches and damages during the moving process.
  5. Don't try to be a hero when carrying heavy objects up or down the stairs. You don't want to get yourself killed while trying to move something big and heavy. Always ask for help before moving anything.
  6. Wrapping your furniture properly will help protect them from possible damages or scratches.
  7. Wear shoes with grips and gloves to protect yourself while moving heavy objects up or down the stairs.
  8. Don't risk your life! Ask for help if you can't carry heavy furniture up or down the stairs on your own.
  9. Be careful about carrying the furniture; lift with your legs and not your back.
  10. Move the furniture slowly to prevent accidents.
  11. Keep yourself and your surroundings safe when moving anything! Don't move objects too heavy for you! Always look for help if you're not sure about anything. Move the furniture in separate trips, this way it won't be as much work as carrying everything at once.
  12. If your stairs have carpet, cover them with plywood sheets before moving your furniture so that it won't leave any marks or scratches on the floor.

Conclusion

When moving furniture, it's important to take precautions in order to avoid any damages or scratches to your furniture or yourself. Furniture is crucial for your house, so it's important to keep them safe during the moving process. Always wear proper clothing that will keep you protected and comfortable, do your research before moving anything, and always ask for help if ever needed! Try these tips next time you're moving so that you won’t face any trouble!

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FAQ's

Can I do it myself?

If you have a team of people helping you out, then yes. It might be a little heavy for one person, though. Maybe if it's small furniture that you need to move, you can do it on your own. For bigger furniture, you'll probably need people to help you out.

Whom should I call to move my furniture?

You can contact any furniture moving company to help you with your furniture needs. If you're looking for a company that can provide you with excellent customer service, well-trained movers, and competitive rates, then we are the right choice for you.

When should I contact a moving company?

You can contact a moving company anytime you need them. If it's urgent, make sure to call as soon as possible so that they'll be able to schedule your move at a convenient time for you. However, keep in mind that some companies have limited availability and might not be available every day of the week.

How much will it cost?

Some companies may charge by the hour, while others offer a flat rate depending on the size of your furniture and how far you need to move. You can contact your moving company directly for an estimate of how much they'll charge you for your move. Keep in mind that some services have different rates depending on how far they travel.

How long will it take?

This also depends on how fast your movers are and how much there is to move. The more furniture the company has to move, the longer it will take to finish everything.

Can I hire a company for just one piece?

Yes, you can. Some companies have different pricing depending on the size of your furniture, so it's best to check with them directly about this matter. You may also need to pay more if they have to travel far, or if it's an urgent request. Keep in mind that not all companies offer this service, so you'll have to compare prices between companies before deciding on one.

Also See: Best Out of State Movers in the USA | How to Use Furniture Moving Sliders | How to Move Furniture Long Distance