Shrink wrap is a useful tool to use for securing outdoor furniture. For moving, rolls of film are used. For protecting them from cold weather conditions, industrial sheeting is used with a heat gun to shrink and tighten the wrap. Furniture pieces can be wrapped separately or be stacked together and wrapped in a bundle. The shrink wrapping process can take some time, but it’s worth it if it helps keep your items lasting as long as possible. Here’s a complete guide on how you can shrink wrap your outdoor furniture.
Arrange furniture for wrapping.
It’s important to have room to walk around your furniture whenever you’re applying the wrap. You’ll need at least 10 to 15 feet to move around. If your patio or porch is large enough, you can clear all the items to work in that area. All flowerpots, garden fixtures, outdoor rugs, and other items should be out of the way. Keep in mind that if you plan to use a roll of shrink film for packaging the furniture for moving, a heat gun won’t be required. In fact, you’ll be able to do the work inside if that’s your preference. If you’re planning on using industrial shrink wrap to work on it outside, be sure to heat the wrap on a non-windy day to avoid the risk of fire.
When stacking tables and chairs together, put a blanket on top of your table and have the chairs stacked upside down. If you’re just stacking chairs, stack them on top of each other. If your table happens to have a patio umbrella, lower the pole as far as it can go down. You can wrap rubber bands or bungee cords around the umbrella to prevent it from opening as you work. Smaller outdoor items you want to be protected can be left under a table or under stacked chairs. Bungee cords or zip ties should be used to secure items that were stacked together. Armrests can be tied to other armrests, and furniture legs can be tied to other furniture legs. You want to tie things together enough to where your furniture won’t slide around while wrapping it or fall during any turbulent weather.
Using moving shrink wrap
You can buy a roll of moving shrink wrap at a moving company, big-box store, or construction supply store. The wrap will usually come in rolls with 1 to 2 handles at either end. Think of it as a thicker version of plastic wrap used to store food in a refrigerator. The cost for this item is usually around $20 to $50 based on the amount of roll you get. Be sure to get an amount that will be enough to cover the furniture you’ll be packing.
After you’ve bought your wrap, you’ll first need to place a blanket over the furniture. The blanket will help secure the outdoor furniture and keep it from bumping against other items. If another item or box rubs against the furniture, the blanket will also keep it from getting scratched. Next, peel the edge of the moving film off of the roll and press it on the flattest surface of your furniture item. An example would be a leg of your table, a platform for a cushion, or the back of a chair. It’s best to wrap every furniture item with a single, continuous length of the wrap. Avoid using multiple sheets unless it’s necessary. You should always start at either the top or bottom of the furniture.
When wrapping, once the first edge gets stuck to the surface, grab the handles of your roll, and start walking the roll around your furniture. Release the film in your roll as you move. Let the film peel off the roll as you’re walking, and pull tight against the side of your furniture as you’re turning each corner. If you have no handles on your roll, stick your fingers into the hollow center of the roll as you’re walking it around your furniture. You can skip wrapping the legs if they’re really thin and spread far apart. Continue to wrap all the way up or down your furniture until it’s completely secure. Make sure the film is applied to uncovered surfaces or loose film. Every section of your furniture should be wrapped. Then, you can rip off the film with your hand or some scissors, and press it into any part of the film that’s stuck to the furniture.
Using heated shrink wrap
Measure the dimensions of your biggest item or your bundled furniture to know the amount of industrial shrink wrap you’ll need. Add the height, width, and length of the area to determine the width of wrap you’ll need. Once you’ve purchased your sheet of shrink wrap, spread it out over the top of the furniture. Take a knife and cut vertically at each side where the wrap is hanging. Trim off any excess material that’s hanging on the ground.
Next, you’ll tape the vertical sides that you cut to hold your wrap in place. The tape shouldn’t be pressed into the wrap, as you’re going to remove it eventually. Use clear or masking tape as it won’t leave any residue. Then, use a woven cord to secure the fabric at the bottom to keep your shrink wrap secured. Utilize the woven cord’s buckle to keep it in place. Most DIY industrial shrink wrap kits will come with these kinds of straps. You can also purchase these from a shrink wrap company.
The material should be folded around the strap, and then, you should heat it with your heat gun at the lowest setting. Make sure you’re wearing heat-resistant gloves, holding it six inches from the surface, and moving back and forth to shrink wrap. Then, remove the tape and get the cut edges heated together. The cut edge should be folded over, and the seam should be heated where the two pieces meet. Heat all other sections of the heat wrap to have it completely tightened.
Whether you’re protecting your outdoor pieces or getting ready to move, shrink wrap can be effective in helping you gather your furniture. Keep all of this information when using wrap on your furniture. If you’re interested, here’s more information you can learn about patio furniture.