Marble is an extremely beautiful and versatile material that’s used in a variety of artistic and functional applications – from statues and sculptures to kitchen countertops and dining room tables.
Marble countertops and marble tables are both practical and stylish, so they make a great addition to a home. When the time comes to move house, however, marble items present a big challenge – they’re extremely difficult to move. For one thing, they’re very fragile and can break easily if handled incorrectly. For another, they usually come in one solid piece that is quite large and heavy.
So, if you have a marble table and plan to relocate, you will be facing a rather difficult task.
Moving a marble table to another home requires special care – specialized moving equipment, proper packing and handling techniques, and professional expertise. The job is best left to the experts – experienced movers who have the necessary equipment and the technical know-how to complete the task in the safest and smoothest way possible.
However, you may have no choice but to move your marble table yourself – or you may just prefer to perform a DIY move. In such cases, you need to know how to do the job right, so you don’t damage your expensive table, don’t hurt yourself, and don’t cause damage to your property.
Read on to find out how to move a marble table in a safe and efficient manner.
How to pack a marble table for moving
Marble tables are not cheap, so when moving yours, you will want to protect your investment – and in order to provide your table with the best possible protection during the move, you need to know how to best pack it for moving.
Step 1. Remove the marble tabletop
Marble tables can easily break if moved in one piece (with the base attached).
Both the table top (a large marble slab) and the table base (usually made of cast iron) are extremely heavy, so lifting the furniture as it is puts great stress on the joint(s) between the top and the base of the table. These joints are not intended to support the hanging weight of the base, so they can easily break under the pressure.
To avoid such an unfortunate scenario and make your marble table easier and safer to move, you’re advised to remove the tabletop before the relocation – all you need to do is unscrew the nut(s) that keep the marble top attached to the base.
Step 2. Pack the marble table top
While the table base should also be properly protected during the move, of course, it is the fragile and valuable marble top that needs special care. To ensure that it doesn’t sustain any damage during the relocation, you need to provide it with utmost protection.
So, how to pack a heavy marble table top the right way?
- Wrap the marble top in moving blankets and secure them in place with stretch wrap;
- Place the wrapped marble piece in a wooden crate, custom built to fit the dimensions of the tabletop and lined with soft padding (foam sheets, old towels, etc.) See also: How to build a moving crate;
- Fill any remaining empty space in the crate with cushioning materials – packing peanuts, old clothes, etc. Make sure the marble top is completely immobile inside the crate, as any movement during transport can jar the marble and cause cracking or chipping;
- Seal the crate tightly (screw it, don’t nail it, so it can be easily opened upon arrival) and label it “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE”.
If you’re moving a smaller – and lighter – marble table top, you may not need to crate it:
- Wrap the marble top in packing paper and bubble wrap. Secure the protective wrappings with packing tape;
- Place the wrapped table top in a padded picture box of appropriate size. Adjust the sides so that they fit tightly around the marble piece;
- Add some wadded paper or bubble wrap to ensure sufficient cushioning and prevent the tabletop from shifting during transportation;
- Place the second section of the telescopic box over the marble piece and adjust it to fit well. Run packing tape in full circles around the picture box to ensure that the two separate sections are kept together at all times;
- Write “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE” on at least three sides of the box.
Step 3. Pack the marble table base
To keep the marble table base safe during the move, you need to wrap it in moving blankets and plastic wrap.
Now that your marble table is properly packed for moving, it’s time to find out how to safely take it to your new home.
How to move a heavy marble table
When it comes to moving a marble dining table, the challenge is once again the marble top – heavy and easily susceptible to damage, the large marble piece needs to be handled and transported with great care.
Here is how to move a marble table top safely and without a scratch:
1) Ensure moving help
Moving a marble top is not a one-man job – the marble piece is large and heavy, so if you try to move it on your own, you can easily drop it and break it, hurt yourself, and/or damage the floor, walls, stairs, or railings in your home.
In order to safely move your marble table top, you need help – the job requires several people, so be sure to ask at least 2-3 reliable, physically strong friends to give you a hand on moving day.
If you don’t have anyone to help you, consider hiring moving labor – though you may be better off hiring professional movers to take care of everything, including your marble table.
See also: How to get moving day help
2) Keep the tabletop in a vertical position
The most important thing to remember when moving a marble table top is that stone pieces should always be moved vertically, not flat.
If you try to move a marble top horizontally, the weight of the piece will cause it to crack in half. To evenly distribute the weight, you need to keep the piece upright at all times – turn it on its side when you lift it, carry it vertically, and transport it in an upright position.
Good to remember: Never lift a marble top alone – work with a partner:
- When removing the marble top (already unscrewed from the base), stand on one side of the table and have your helper stand on the other – lift the marble top simultaneously, turn it on its side, and set it upright against a strong wall. Pack the marble top as detailed above;
- When the time comes to take the marble piece to the moving truck, you and your helper should once again stand on the opposite sides of the packed table top and lift it simultaneously (bend your knees and lift with your legs, not your back). When carrying the marble piece, make sure your dominant hand is supporting the bottom end while your other hand is balancing, guiding, and supporting the upper end.
3) Use an A-frame dolly
Unless the distance to the moving vehicle is very short, you should not try to carry the heavy marble top all the way to the truck by hand – use a dolly, preferably an A-frame dolly cart (a four-wheel dolly with a metal frame, shaped like an A, attached to it).
An A-frame dolly will allow your marble top to be transported vertically and on an incline, which will keep the weight evenly distributed. Be sure to strap the marble piece securely to the A-frame.
If your marble top is crated, an A-frame dolly may not be necessary – you should be able to secure your crated table top upright on a standard furniture dolly and take it safely to the moving truck.
4) Secure the marble top in the moving truck
When wondering how to transport a marble table, remember that the marble top needs to stay in a vertical position and to be well secured in place.
Place the safely packed marble piece upright against the wall of the moving truck. Secure it with ratchet straps and put some sturdy items against it to help keep the tabletop stable and immobile during transportation.
Be sure to get appropriate insurance for your valuable marble table – just in case.
Knowing how to move a marble dining room table the right way will greatly increase your chances of a safe and successful relocation. Yet, there is always a risk – the only way to ensure that your valuable furniture arrives intact and in perfect condition at your new home is to use the services of an experienced and reliable mover. Good luck!
