Assembly and reassembly: tips for dismantling furniture for easier transit

There are many benefits to dismantling furniture when you are relocating. It will save you money by reducing the size of your shipment, it will protect your furniture from damage or breakage during transit, it will make it easier to pack effectively, and it will also make physically carrying your furniture an easier process. Let’s delve into some tips to make sure when dismantling your furniture, you are not left with missing screws, or mismatched joins when you ultimately go to reassemble.

It is all about the right tools

Before you begin the dismantling process, make sure you have the appropriate tools to fit your specific furniture pieces. Generally, a set of Allen Keys, a Phillips head, a flat-head screwdriver and a pair of multi grips will cover most of your needs. You will also need good quality, wide packing tape, various coloured permanent markers, and zip-lock bags. Having all of these items at hand will ensure you do not become frustrated or disorganised in the process of dismantling your furniture.

Sticky tape, markers and zip-lock bags

You are probably wondering why on earth you would require these items to dismantle your furniture, so we will address their purpose first before delving into the specifics of standard furniture items and methods to dismantle and protect your furniture.

The zip-lock bags are for secure storage of any screws, nuts or bolts. Keep one bag per piece of furniture and tape the closed bag to that piece of furniture in a place such as the underside of a table, or the back of a cabinet to ensure that you do not damage any of the finishes of the piece with sticky marks. This is why you need wide good quality sticky tape. Alternatively, you could label each bag indicating which piece of furniture it belongs to and package them separately, however it is far more convenient to have everything in one place, so you do not have to experience the “where did I put that” moment when reassembling.

The markers are to colour code the heads of your screws with the hole for pieces that may have different-sized screws. This way, when you reassemble, you know you will be using the correct screw for the correct fixing point.

When not to dismantle furniture

If your furniture is put together with glue or nails, we do not recommend dismantling it. The likelihood of damage or poor reassembly will be quite high. For items such as this, the safest option is to package it as best you can with protective materials such as bubble wrap, blankets or corrugated cardboard. Let’s move on to standard items that typically are appropriate for dismantling.

Tables and chairs

When dismantling a table, turn it upside down on top of carpet or a sheet to protect the tabletop from scratches. You will notice each leg has at least one screw or bolt affixing it to the tabletop. Remove the screws and place them in a zip-lock bag. Lay the legs against the underside of the table and tape them securely in place along with the zip-lock bag. You now have a perfectly flat-packed table that can be fully wrapped in a protective cover for transport.

It is typically best not to dismantle your chairs if you can help it but if the seat of your chair is cushioned it is advisable to remove it from the frame to protect it from damage. The process is the same, turn it upside down, remove the screws, zip-lock and tape to the underside of the cushion, and then wrap the seat in a protective cover. Be sure to number the underside of the cushion with a corresponding number in a discreet place on the chair frame to ensure a perfect match when reattaching the cushioned seating. This will ensure your upholstery is not damaged during transit and will make the frame easier to package.

Beds

There are so many different styles of beds that we cannot cover all scenarios. The following tips are for a wooden frame and headboard with slats under the mattress. This should allow enough information to cover most bed types. First of all, remove all the bedding and the mattress. Slats are not typically fastened to the frame but simply sit in grooves. Using your marker pen, number each slat and their corresponding groove as you remove them. This will ensure each piece is returned to its original position which is important in the event your bed is not 100% square. Next, find the screws for the headboard and remove them. Tape the screws to the back of the headboard. Follow the same process for the frame. If there are differing sizes or types of screws, it is best to colour code the head of the screw to the corresponding hole to ensure the correct fittings are used in the correct places when reassembling.

Appliances

We do not often think of dismantling appliances. Your fridge is a classic example of an appliance that needs dismantling before moving. Remove all shelves and drawers and wrap each one separately to the fridge body. This way, there is no risk of items coming loose and being damaged during your move, and the interior walls of your fridge are protected from any impact that would occur if those items did come loose inside the fridge. Tape your fridge door shut so there can be no accidental damage to the door itself, and also tape the electrical cord to the back of the fridge as an extra precaution against damage. Follow the same steps for any other appliances with removable parts such as the microwave base plate.

Cupboards

Depending on the size of your cupboard, and the material it is made of, it may be in your best interest to remove the cupboard doors, or it may be to simply tape the doors shut. Generally, if your cupboard doors are glass, it is best to remove them. Before you get to the hinges with a screwdriver check the type of hinge. You may be lucky and have a quick-release hinge that allows you to simply push the button to remove the door. The doors are easily snapped back into place when you reassemble the piece in its new location. If you have a standard hinge that requires a screwdriver, be sure to keep each door’s screws separate and attached to that door. If the shelves are not affixed, slide them out and wrap them separately to prevent any damage in transit.

Utilise a reliable removalist

Enlisting a reliable removal expert in Perth such as Adlam Transport, can help to take away any of the hassle or stress of dismantling, packing, and reassembling your furniture. Depending on the service you choose, your removalist can simply collect and transport your furniture, or they can take care of every step of the process. The choice is entirely yours.

We trust these tips have given you a good insight into the dismantling and reassembly process for your furniture. Taking the measures outlined will make your move less stressful and will keep your furniture in top condition for its new location. It will also save on space requirements during transit, ultimately reducing costs. Enjoy your move knowing you have all the bases covered for protecting your furniture.