Standard boxes and generic bubble wrap are not designed for the items most likely to get damaged during a move. Collectibles, artwork, antiques, musical instruments, and family heirlooms each have specific vulnerabilities, and the right packing approach for each is different. This guide covers what works, what to avoid, and when the job calls for professional equipment and experience.
Wirks Moving & Storage, based in Marietta since 2009, provides full-service packing and specialty crating for local and long-distance moves. Every crew member is a Wirks employee, not a subcontractor, ensuring your move is handled by reliable movers.
Terms Worth Knowing Before You Start Packing
Specialty crating: A custom-built wooden crate designed around the specific dimensions and fragility of a single item. Used for artwork, mirrors, sculptures, fragile antiques, and anything where standard cardboard box packing is not adequate protection.
Full-service packing: A professional crew packs your entire home using appropriate materials matched to each item type. They supply all boxes, padding, and wrapping, and label everything by room and content. Unpacking at your destination is available on request.
Partial packing: You handle most of your home yourself, and the professional crew packs the items you identify as fragile, high-value, or too complex to pack safely without experience. This is a practical middle option for most Marietta moves.
Loading blanket: A thick, padded blanket used by moving crews to wrap furniture, appliances, and fragile items during transport. Reduces contact damage and shifting inside the truck.
Packing Fragile Collectibles: Plates, Glassware, and Display Items
The most common mistake with fragile collectibles is using a box that is too large. A big box allows items to shift during transport, regardless of how much padding surrounds them.
Use boxes sized close to each item. Pack plates vertically, not flat. Flat-stacked plates transfer the full weight of each piece onto the one below, which is how chips and cracks happen in transit. Vertical packing distributes weight along the plate edge instead.
Each piece needs its own individual wrapping. Packing paper works well for most ceramics and dishware. Bubble wrap adds a second layer of protection for higher-value pieces. Avoid using newspaper directly against collectibles or painted surfaces. The ink transfers onto glazed and painted finishes during transport.
Fill every gap inside the box with crumpled packing paper. A box that rattles when you pick it up has room inside to damage its own contents.
Label the box "fragile" on all four sides, not only the top. Moving crews work quickly, and a label on one surface gets missed.
Packing Artwork, Mirrors, and Framed Pieces
The standard approach for art and mirrors uses a combination of bubble wrap, corner protectors, and flat picture boxes. For pieces with significant monetary or sentimental value, custom crating is the more reliable option.
Bubble wrap the entire piece first, starting with a layer directly against the glass or painted surface. Secure the wrap with tape, but never apply tape directly to a frame, canvas, or artwork surface. Tape adhesive can lift finishes and damage frames on contact.
Use corner protectors on anything framed. Corners are the first point of impact during loading and unloading, and they are the most common source of frame damage.
For pieces too large for standard picture boxes, a professional packing crew will build or source a custom crate sized to the item. This is not a DIY project for anything irreplaceable. The material cost alone is manageable, but the construction requires tools and experience that produce a meaningfully different level of protection.
Store framed pieces flat and keep other items off the top during transport.
Packing Antiques, High-Value Furniture, and Heirlooms
Antique furniture presents challenges that standard furniture does not. Aged joints are more fragile than modern hardware. Finishes can scratch or chip under loading blankets that are not secured correctly. Pieces with inlay, marquetry, or decorative hardware need additional preparation before they are wrapped.
Disassemble what can be safely taken apart. Remove drawers, detach legs at joints that allow it, and wrap all hardware separately to prevent scratching surfaces during transport.
Use loading blankets for the main structure of the piece, but place a layer of packing paper between the blanket and any polished or lacquered surface that is prone to friction marks. Blankets alone can leave visible marks on high-sheen antique finishes.
For items with a significant appraised value, photograph the condition clearly before packing begins. This creates a record that supports any insurance claim if damage occurs during the move.
Moving Pianos and Large Musical Instruments
Pianos cannot be boxed or treated as standard furniture. They require specific equipment, a crew trained in piano handling, and a moving company with direct experience moving pianos safely.
The risks with an untrained piano move are not only cosmetic. A piano tipped at the wrong angle or dropped even a short distance can shift internal components in ways that affect sound quality and tuning for years afterward. Grand pianos, upright pianos, and digital stage pianos each have different handling requirements.
When evaluating Marietta movers for a piano, ask specifically: "Do you move pianos, what equipment do you use, and have your crew members moved pianos before?" A company that hesitates or gives a generic answer is not the right choice for an instrument.
Wirks Moving offers piano moving as a specialty service in Marietta. Confirm piano type, size, and access conditions at both addresses when requesting your quote, since these factors affect pricing and crew requirements.
When Specialty Crating Is the Right Choice
Specialty crating is a custom-built wooden box designed to fit and protect one specific item during a move. It is the right choice when:
The item cannot be safely contained in a standard box without movement risk. Sculptures, fragile glass pieces, and irregularly shaped antiques fall into this category.
The item has a high appraised value and cannot be replaced. Custom crating provides a level of structural protection that no amount of bubble wrap inside a cardboard box can replicate.
The item is part of a long-distance move or will be in storage for an extended period. Longer transit time and more frequent handling increase damage risk. Crating reduces both.
Wirks Moving provides specialty crating as part of their Marietta packing services. Third-party crating services are also available for items with specific shipping requirements. Request details when getting your quote.
What Professional Packing Actually Includes
For Marietta residents moving specialty or fragile items, professional packing is worth understanding before deciding what to handle yourself.
A full-service packing crew from Wirks Moving supplies: all boxes and materials, packing paper, bubble wrap, furniture covers, corner protectors, and tape. They pack every room, label boxes by destination and contents, and load everything onto the truck. Unpacking and setup at your new Marietta address is available on request.
Partial packing is also available. If you are comfortable handling your own clothes, books, and everyday items but want a professional crew to manage your collectibles, artwork, and fragile pieces, that is a practical and cost-effective approach. Identify the items you want professionally packed when requesting your quote.
Get a free quote that covers the specific specialty items and service level that fits your move.
Why Marietta Residents Trust Wirks Moving & Storage for Specialty Moves
Wirks Moving & Storage has completed 20,000+ moves from its Marietta base since 2009. FMCSA Motor Carrier license MC 699457, DOT 192465, and Georgia state license GDPS 500873 are all publicly verifiable. The company is AMSA-certified, BBB-accredited since June 2010, and fully insured for cargo and liability on every job.
"A huge gigantic THANK YOU to the fabulous moving team of Roy, Tamir, and Kody! Many of us know about the work and stress involved with moving. These gentlemen, however, made the task so very easy. They showed up on time and were quick and efficient. All of my belongings were handled safely and not one item was damaged including the walls in my new condo." (Verified Customer, LinkedIn)
Specialty crating, piano moving, and professional packing are available as part of a full Marietta move or as standalone services. Request a moving quote and confirm the specific items and service level you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I pack my collectibles myself or hire professional packers? For items with significant monetary or sentimental value, professional packing reduces risk substantially. A trained crew uses materials and techniques matched to each item type, which hold up to the conditions inside a moving truck far better than standard consumer packing materials. For general household items, self-packing is reasonable. For collectibles and specialty pieces, the cost of professional packing is usually less than the cost of replacing what breaks.
Q: What is specialty crating, and when do I need it? Specialty crating is a custom-built wooden box designed to fit and protect one specific item. It is the right choice for artwork, mirrors, sculptures, fragile antiques, and any item that cannot be safely contained in a standard cardboard box without risk of movement or damage during transport.
Q: Does Wirks Moving offer piano moving in Marietta? Yes. Wirks Moving offers piano moving as a specialty service for Marietta residents. Confirm piano type, size, and access conditions at both addresses when requesting your quote, as these factors affect crew requirements and pricing.
Q: Can I pack most of my home myself and have the crew handle only the fragile items? Yes. Wirks Moving offers partial packing for customers who want professional handling for specific items while managing the rest themselves. Identify which items you want the crew to pack when requesting your quote.
Q: How do I document my specialty items before a Marietta move? Photograph every fragile, high-value, or specialty item before packing begins. Capture the condition clearly, including any existing chips, cracks, or wear. If the item has a current appraisal, keep a copy with your moving documents. This creates a clear record that supports any insurance claim if damage occurs during the move.
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