How Climate Conditions Affect Furniture During Transit

Handling a move is a major process that has a variety of moving pieces. However, in all the chaos, a factor many people forget to consider is the climate conditions that will be in effect during their move. Temperature fluctuations involving humidity, rain, and wind, in particular, can damage different types of furniture.

Wood, metal, glass, leather, and upholstery are all susceptible to issues. Choosing the right packing materials and shipping methods is crucial to prevent major issues. One of the many benefits of a furniture shipping company is the fact that they utilize experts who know how to pack items safely and efficiently.

Before learning some tips on how to protect your furniture, it’s important to take a look at why you need to protect it in the first place. Heat and humidity are two weather conditions many movers face, considering the bulk of moves happen during the summer months. In these conditions, the following effects can take place:

• Wood can expand and contract, leading to warping, cracks, and joint loosening

• Leather can dry out and become brittle, leading to cracks and discoloration.

• Upholstery fabric may fade or weaken in extreme heat.

• Metal can start to expand, which may weaken joints and fastenings.

Humidity can have additional effects on the above materials too. Specifically, humidity can cause mold or mildew in wooden and upholstered furniture. When humidity is lower, though, materials can be dried out which leads to cracks.

The best way to prevent heat or humidity from impacting your furniture is to maintain climate-controlled shipping that stabilizes temperature, add protective coatings to wood and leather, and use breathable wrapping material. This will allow for proper ventilation, which will help stop mold growth.

On the flip side of things, cold weather comes with its own risks for your furniture. Beyond the fact that you yourself will be cold during the move, your furniture will be cold as well. When temperatures start to drop, your material can be impacted in the following ways:

• Wood can begin to contract, thus making it brittle and prone to cracking.

• Leather may start to freeze and can develop stiffness and cracks.

• Glass can become more fragile, increasing the risk of breakage.

• Metal can also start to contract and weaken structural integrity.

These issues may seem small at first, but if the exposure is for a long enough amount of time then they can become quite severe. A major problem that comes from moving furniture in the cold is the sudden swings in temperature. Moving your furniture from a place with freezing temperatures to a warm room suddenly can cause condensation, which leads to moisture damage. Extreme fluctuations can also weaken the joints and adhesives of wooden furniture.

To reduce this risk and better protect your furniture in the cold, use insulated blankets and thermal wrapping to better regulate temperatures. The aforementioned climate-controlled trucks can also be useful here to keep the worst of the cold out. When you do arrive at your destination, as a general rule of thumb, allow all furniture to gradually acclimate to the temperature of the room rather than unwrapping it right away.

Rain and moisture present their own unique issues for furniture that you may have ready to be transported. Wood furniture can warp, smell, and quickly develop mold when exposed to moisture, whereas upholstered furniture will absorb the water which leads to mildew and odor issues.

Any exposed metal that your furniture has can begin to rust as well if it is exposed to prolonged moisture. To prevent this issue from occurring, use waterproof covers and plastic sheeting to protect your furniture from rain overhead. You can also opt to seal your furniture in water-resistant packaging when you are moving during the wet season. These are particularly helpful if your move is cross-country or international.

Assuming you are moving from a house, consider backing the moving truck as close to your garage as possible so that you don’t need to expose the furniture to the outdoors. If you are moving from an apartment building this may be more challenging, but speak with the property manager to see if there is a loading bay you could make use of for your move.

The last type of weather condition that can impact the materials your furniture is comprised of is the wind. While wind causes mildew or discoloration like the above conditions, wind can cause rolling, toppling, and damage from the impact of debris. Outdoor furniture and lightweight items are particularly susceptible to this issue.

On top of this, if you are using a moving truck to transport furniture, it may experience instability in extreme winds. If you aren’t used to driving in these conditions, you may soon find yourself having issues controlling the vehicle. Any damage it suffers may be charged back to you when you return it to the moving company.

To protect your items, secure all furniture with heavy-duty straps inside of the moving truck you are using. Also, consider using reinforced crates or padded boxes for any fragile items. As weather conditions continue to change during your move, adjust accordingly and switch your schedule around. Think about hiring professional movers as well as they will take additional safety measures during severe weather.

Protect your furniture during a move

The last thing you want when taking care of a major move is to realize that all your furniture has become damaged due to the weather conditions during the process. However, humidity, moisture, and wind can all affect furniture during transit and lead to potentially irreparable damage.

By taking preventative measures through the use of climate-controlled shipping, protective coverings, and proper packaging, you can mitigate this risk. However, the best way to avoid damage is to plan ahead, monitor weather conditions, and work with experienced movers who can ensure your furniture is delivered quickly, safely, and efficiently.