The stress of moving a couch through a slim doorway is a popular issue that lots of people encounter when relocating to a new home or after they’ve bought a new sofa. Whether you are transporting or just rearranging furniture pieces, hauling a couch from one location to another can be so demanding.
A sofa is usually the heaviest furniture item in a home. It is oddly shaped and can be hard to move even with so many people. To determine the best way to move a couch, you must make some preparations and take your time.
In this article, we will share tips to move a couch like a pro without breaking your back.
Tools and Supplies required to move Furniture
Moving a couch to a new location is not a simple job, but with the appropriate moving equipment, your stress is reduced. Before you plan for ways to transport a couch, get the following tools to make the job easier:
- Measuring tape
- Notepad and pen
- Cordless drill and driver bits
- Nail or another sharp item
- Hammer
- Safety glasses
- Utility knife
- Pry bar
- Pliers
- Work gloves
- Large towel
- Lifting straps
Step-By-Step Guide to move a Couch
Whether your couch is to travel to another room or another country, you should prioritize safety. Heavy couches and recliners can cause severe injuries when you use the wrong methods.
You will better understand how to move a couch with this step-by-step guide safely:
1. Measure and plan
Your couch fits well into your living room, but it will suddenly appear larger when in a hallway—or when it gets stuck between narrow doors. When you measure your couch, ensure you add the spaces with the heaviest padding and largest corners, such as the armrests.
Take measurements of the couch’s width, length, and depth. Organize the path you will take to move the couch outside your home and remove barriers or big, heavy stuff. You may find it necessary to disassemble doors to give more space to fit the couch through narrow doorways.
2. Disassemble it
Another step will be to get the sofa ready for a move, which includes removing as many parts as possible. Remove legs and cushions, and remove all of the sections if your couch is sectional. Remember that you don’t want to force any part that is not detachable.
For instance, if the legs cannot be unscrewed from the base, don’t attempt to remove them, and also, don’t try to find some other way to remove them (as your couch may end up broken). If you remove any screws, nails, or other small parts when you are disassembling your couch, keep those inside their small bag and ensure you remember where you keep them.
3. Wrap the couch
It is important to protect your upholstery from sharp objects and dirt and grime. First, remove cushions and loose pillows. You can pack these in a separate box. Then, remove the arms, legs, and any removable sectional pieces.
If you are transporting a sleeper sofa, remove the mattress to reduce its weight. Wrap the whole couch in plastic wrap and seal all loose ends with tape.
4. Move the couch
Regardless of your plan for moving the couch, get ready to keep all your helpers safe. Prioritize communication so that everyone is set to lift on your signal and take breaks when needed. If there is a furniture dolly on site, vertically tip the couch and nicely slide it on the dolly. Hold it in place using tie-down straps.
Move the couch gently towards the planned pathway. Narrow doorways and tight corners can be hard may need you to angle, pivot, or change the way you carry the couch to pass through a narrow path. Be patient and get the best solution by communicating with your helpers. This will not only keep your helpers safe, but it will also serve as protection to your hardwood floors.
5. Load the couch
Some couches can be loaded into an SUV, a moving van, or a pickup truck; you should probably consider a moving truck. If you are going for a moving truck, there is possibly a loading ramp with it. With one helper on each side, roll the furniture dolly into the moving vehicle. Position the furniture dolly in a way that balances the couch and gently remove the tie-down straps holding it.
Let two people slide the couch from the dolly and place it for safe moving in the relocation truck. If you are not using a dolly or loading your couch into an SUV or a van, repeat the same technique of lifting with a minimum of one person on every. Load the couch and place it there for the move. Prevent shifting during the journey using tie-down straps.
Extra Tips for Moving a Couch
- Understanding your limits: Avoid pushing them. If you find something too heavy for only you to lift, then proceed to the second plan. Do not strain your body to move something.
- Squatting, not bending: When you want to lift something and you bend down like the base of your couch, make sure your knees are in a squatting position instead of bending your waist. This will be able to protect your back during lifting.
- Lift with your abs and legs: Your back should not be carrying the weight of heavy lifting. Concentrate your weights in your legs and your core, and if you begin to feel strain in your back, release the item and change your position or find someone to help you with it.
- Removing carpet: If your house is fully carpeted and you need additional vertical height, you can remove carpeting towards the door area. You first need to remove the baseboards. You may also need to part carpet seams.
- Seek help: Usually, you can have a mover or a furniture technician to help you with partial or complete disassemble of the sofa, relocates it, and then reassembles it in the designated room.
- Measure: Make sure you measure the entire hallways and other passages. Usually, the doorway is just the number one obstacle. You often pass through the doors to the hallways, leaving you limited space immediately you pass through the door. Try to picture how the couch will fit through the door and the space after it.
- If your couch is too heavy, let professionals handle it for you.
Having a third person available to clear the path as you and another helper move the sofa is helpful
FAQ about Moving a Couch
What is the amount I will spend to move a couch?
In general, the median cost of local movers is around $60 to $80 for every hour for two movers. Extra payment may be needed for disassembling furniture and the additional charge for taking care of large items too.
How do you transport a couch yourself?
Push a dolly under an elevated end of the sofa. Perform this for the second end also. Strap the couch to the dollies. Roll the couch over the floor.
Can you hire a couch mover?
Yes. When you need assistance to move your piece of furniture, visit TaskRabbit to hire helpers. You can select from taskers with their moving trucks, vans, and equipment. This saves you the normal rental cost and defines the movement.
Is it possible for two people to move a sofa?
Lighter couches and loveseats may only need 2 people; larger sectionals however may need 4 people to carry each side. If you don’t plan to hire a professional moving company, this is the best time to get friends and family to help.
Conclusion
The possibility of moving your sofa to another house might get you wondered if moving it is even worth it in the first instance, or if you should get professional state to state movers instead. However, immediately you rightly find out the way to transport a couch, the job is not as tough as it appears and you can save money on the cost of your move. The ability to load your sofa can reduce the whole furniture moving process, as well. Always remember to appreciate helpers for a good job and be ready to give them a cold drink when you are done with the heavy lifting.
