Mirrors and pictures seem sturdy until they aren’t. A knock in transit, a careless stack in the lorry or a sharp bend on the road can ruin pieces you’ve had at home for years. If you’re preparing a move, spending a little extra time protecting these items can make the difference between arriving with everything intact and finding an unpleasant surprise when you unpack.
At Mudanzas Trallero we’ve spent years watching the same mistakes repeat themselves with mirrors and pictures. That’s why we’ve gathered the most practical tips here, so they reach their destination without a scratch.
Why they get damaged more than other objects
The flat, rigid surface of a mirror or a glazed picture acts like a lever when it takes a lateral impact. Unlike a chair or a box of books, they don’t absorb the blow: they transmit it from one end to the other. The corners take all the strain and are the most vulnerable point.
If you carry them flat in the lorry, anything placed on top can create pressure the glass can’t withstand. Canvas paintings aren’t spared either: even without glass, the frame can warp and the fabric deteriorate if it isn’t packed carefully.
How to pack a mirror step by step
Protecting mirrors in a move calls for a specific order:
- Protect the corners first. Use cardboard or foam corner protectors. If you don’t have any, roll several layers of bubble wrap and tape them in place. The corners are where most breakages begin.
- Cover the whole surface. Wrap the mirror in bubble wrap or moving blankets. Go round it at least twice and make sure no areas are left exposed.
- Use double-walled cardboard. Place the mirror between two sheets of corrugated cardboard. It’s far stronger than single-ply and cushions minor knocks.
- Always transport it upright. Glass withstands impacts better upright than lying down. In the lorry, lean them against a wall or between mattresses; never flat.
How to protect pictures by type
Here the size and type of picture change the approach. Packing glazed pictures is not the same as handling a canvas with no glass protection:
- Small glazed pictures: wrap them individually, secure the corners and put them in boxes made specifically for pictures. Don’t mix several together without dividers.
- Medium or large canvases: cover them with tissue paper or anti-static film to avoid damaging the paint, then add cardboard around them. If it has significant artistic value, consider a custom-made crate.
- Very large pictures: wrap them in moving blankets and transport them upright, firmly secured so they can’t shift.
Common mistakes that cause breakages
Although they seem obvious, these slip-ups are very common:
- Stacking pictures directly on top of one another with no protection in between.
- Taping over the glass in the belief that it “won’t break as much”. It doesn’t prevent breakage, it just shatters the glass in a different way.
- Keeping mirrors flat in the lorry.
- Failing to secure items inside the vehicle, letting them move during the journey.
- Packing with damp materials that can damage the frame or the canvas fabric.
Move your most delicate pieces without a scare
Some objects have a value that goes beyond their price. If you have large mirrors, glazed pictures or any fragile piece you’re worried about, having professionals with the right materials makes a real difference. Mudanzas Trallero offers dedicated services for transporting delicate items, with professional packing and glass protection measures tailored to each case. Sometimes the cost of that level of care is far lower than repairing or replacing what gets damaged along the way.
Find out how to better protect delicate items and request a quote from Mudanzas Trallero.
