Whenever the Out of Chaos team executes a Stress-Free move, we use moving boxes or plastic totes. While we have plenty of experience packing fragile items, sometimes we find objects that need more protection than standard moving boxes can provide. In these instances, we arrange for custom crating. It is a specialized service that protects valuable, delicate, or unusually shaped items during a move. It involves designing and building wooden boxes to secure items from damage during the move.

Items That May Need A Custom Crate

When examining a home’s contents, we look for fragile, heavy, or oddly shaped items that won’t fit into a standard moving box. I also consider the value (financial and emotional) and any challenges the owner would face if damage occurred during the move. Typically, these are the types of items that require custom crating:

• Rare, expensive, large, or oddly shaped artwork (e.g., paintings, statues)
• Large, heavy, flat pieces of glass or pool table slate
• Marble, granite, or stone furniture or home décor
• Valuable, antique, or bespoke furniture (e.g., Tiffany lamp, antique cabinet with glass doors, etc.)
• Glass or crystal chandeliers
• Musical instruments (e.g., harps, tubas, xylophones, etc.)
• Taxidermy
• Expensive bicycles, motorcycles, boats, and other motorized vehicles
• Wine collections (especially rare or valuable vintages)
• Scientific, photographic, or other sensitive equipment

The Custom Crating Process

Once the Out of Chaos team identifies items needing extra protection, we call a contractor to provide a quote. The price can be high, but building a wood container may be the best way to ensure the items arrive at the destination without any damage.

The crate designers consider the item’s size, weight and durability/fragility. Generally, they use softwood lumber to build a frame and oriented strand board or plywood for the walls (sides). They also consider the types of padding and cushioning they need. Depending on the item, they may install anchors on the frame to attach strapping further to stabilize the object within the crate during shipping. Heavy objects like marble tables or stone statues are often built on pallets so that movers can use hand trucks or forklifts instead of lifting them.

Sometimes, carpenters build the crate or parts of the crate in their shop and haul them to the location to pack the object. Other times, they bring tools and materials and build the crate on-site. If the object is large or oddly shaped, they may take it outside and construct a crate around it to avoid damaging the building.

In most cases, movers remove large items from their crates before they take them into the home to avoid getting splinters and sawdust on the floors and carpets. However, to keep smaller items safe, they may take the entire crate into the home and remove the items inside – especially if there are lots of staircases.

Moving teams will typically keep the crating materials to reuse in other projects. (That’s the great thing about wood – it’s reusable!). However, they may leave the wood with the owner on request.

Although expensive, custom crating is worth the investment to ensure the safety of fragile items during a move. Crates are essential to protect irreplaceable items and those with sentimental or financial value.

Do you need help planning your household move? The Out of Chaos team offers a Stress-Free move management service. You don’t have to lift a finger. We build a customized plan for your move and manage all the details, including unpacking and organizing your new home. For more information, contact the Out of Chaos team today.