Packing and moving mirrors and glass panels safely are not as simple as they look like. This article will give you tips to prevent damage and cracks in your glass; as well as keeping you safe while wrapping your items.
Mirrors and glass table tops or panels are delicate and need extra care when packing and transporting. Be prepared to pack them properly. Think about how you are going to pack and move them safely, including while they’re in transit. Measure your mirrors and glass so you have everything ready to go.
You will need masking tape or duct tape and good strong quality packing tape. Cardboard boxes, cardboard sheets, bubble wrap and removal blankets for wrapping will also be essential. It’s very important to keep the glass upright at all times and do not lie it flat.
Masking tape
First, you need to use masking tape or duct tape to place tape in the shape of an “X” across the glass. This will add extra strength to the glass. Should it get damaged will help keep the rest of the glass together and prevent it from shattering.
Protecting the corners and your hands
If the glass panels or mirror does not have a frame (just a sheet of glass), please be careful when wrapping and moving. If you don’t have cardboard corners, you can cut up pieces of cardboard to fit the corners and tape these securely to the glass so they do not move. These will help protect the corners and yourself while moving it around. For a large sheet, placing another piece of cardboard in the middle of the four sides will make it easier to move. Keep the glass upright and don’t lie it flat on the ground. Place in between two large items like your lounge suite.
Wrapping your glass or mirror
Have your sheets of cardboard or what you are going to wrap your glass or mirror in (can be foam sheet or bubble wrap). Start wrapping your glass. If you’re using thin bubble wrap, wrap it a few times and tape up securely. You can also use a removal blanket.
Top tip when storing your wooden-framed mirror, using cardboard or packing paper first rather than bubble wrap will be a good step. This is to anticipate should your item get hot while in storage or in transport, the bubble wrap can cause damage to your wooden frame.
Boxes for your glass or mirror
Having a cardboard box for packing is a great idea. It will help protect you and your item while in transit and make it easier to move around. Having the right size will make the job easier, too. If you need to improvise, you can get two boxes and use one as the base and the other as the lid. Adjust the size so it’s not too big and seal securely with packing tape.
Fragile labels
Don’t forget to label your box. Not only you, but the person who’s assisting in the moving/transporting and storing can identify what is in the box. That way, it can be placed in a safe place in the truck and in the storage as well.
Loading and transport
If you’re hiring a professional removal service, they will know where to place it in their truck. If you are loading the truck yourself, make sure it’s secured and no other items will move or smash into the side of the box. It can be placed in a safe spot between two lounges or larger furniture, but make sure it’s not too tight either. Always keep the glass/mirror upright because lying your mirror down can cause it to break. Do not place items on top of the mirror/glass.
Unpacking Your Mirror or Glass
Keeping it upright at all times. Move the box to where you want the mirror or glass to go before unpack it. Be very careful when unwrapping your package, you surely don’t want to get injured. Place a sheet or something under your box as a precaution should the glass somehow have been broken while in transport. If all is good, you can place the item securely in its destination. Then you’d want to remove the masking tape or duct tape from where you placed the “X”. Unmask it gently and carefully. If there is a sticky residue, you can use some glue/sticker removal spray or some glass cleaner.
Insurance
If your item is expensive, it’s wise to insure your items. Some insurance companies in Australia offer “goods in transit” insurance to cover your items while they are in transit or storage. This will be a good idea especially if you’re storing or transporting glass/mirror articles for commercial purposes such as retail, home decor or construction businesses.
Storing Mirrors or Glass Article in a Storage Facility
We can fairly say that all items are at risk of damage during the transition to a storage facility. However, glassware has a much greater risk. Crystal, wine glasses and dishes need to be packed carefully to prevent damage, but the most sensitive type of glass is glass sheet such as mirrors, picture frames and paintings.
There are a number of protective materials and packaging boxes available for security. The most popular invention has been the bubble wrap. Bubble wrap has become the most widely used material for glass protection during transport and storage. The material is a composed of two layers of plastic sheet that trap bubbles of air between them. The bubbles act as shock absorbers for any sudden forces. Another useful material is styrofoam peanuts. As the name suggest, the material is numerous individual peanut shaped pieces of styrofoam. The peanuts come in a few sizes to suit the size of the item that needs to be packed.
When packing a mirror to store it in a storage facility, remove it from the surface where it was hung or attached to. Remove any hooks, nails, adhesive pads or other attachment accessories from the back of the frame. Also remove any decoration or material stuck on the frame or mirror surface that does not belong to the structure itself. Then clean the mirror and brush any dust off its frame. Dust particles can cause scratches on the mirror surface when under stress.
Place a sheet of foam sheet or bubble wrap and lay the mirror face down on it. Fold the excess sheet around the mirror frame and tape it at the back using some packing tape. Wrap the mirror in a second sheet of foam/bubble wrap and securely tape it. Cross wrap the whole mirror and frame using the packing tape to hold the packing together.
If it’s possible for you to get some supply, the safest boxes to use are special cardboard boxes meant for storing glass frames. These boxes come in a regular size and in a telescopic form. The telescopic form is made of two boxes, one inside another. The outer box can be slid to alter the size of the box. Prepare the box by placing a fair amount of foam peanuts at the bottom. Carefully lower the bubble-wrapped mirror frame into the box until it rests comfortably on the layer of peanuts. Fill the edges with more foam peanuts for cushioning. The frame should sit snug in the box with almost no movement when the box is moved. Cover the top with more foam peanuts then close and seal the flaps.
Don’t forget to mark the box as “Fragile” in bold letters using a thick marker to make sure that you as well as other people involved in the transporting/storing process are aware to handle this box with extra cautions. Sometimes two mirrors need to be stored in one box. In such a case, wrap both mirrors in bubble wrap and place them in the box with their glass sides facing each other.
If done correctly, your mirror and frame -as well as other glassware- will be safe and secure in your storage unit, even for longer period of time.
First, you need to use masking tape or duct tape to place tape in the shape of an “X” across the glass. This will add extra strength to the glass. Should it get damaged will help keep the rest of the glass together and prevent it from shattering.
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