Protecting your property during clearance: Specialist techniques to avoid scuffs and scratches
When tradespeople are moving furniture, materials, or waste in and out of your home, the risk of scrapes, dings, and scuffs is surprisingly high. Professional removal and clearance specialists take proactive steps that homeowners can replicate to ensure maximum moving damage prevention and keep your property looking great.
The floor is our priority: Protecting floors during renovation
Floors take the brunt of the traffic and dropped debris. Protecting floors during renovation is essential, as floor repairs are expensive.
- Temporary floor protection for moving: Forget old sheets. Professionals use specialised, heavy-duty floor runners (often padded or self-adhesive plastic films) to create non-slip pathways. For carpeted stairs, they use durable carpet film.
- Plywood paths: For heavy traffic areas, especially over delicate wood or tiles, they lay down sheets of plywood or hardboard to distribute weight evenly and prevent cracking or deep gouges.
- Doorway mats: Use a thick rubber or synthetic mat outside the entrance to remove dirt and grit before entry, preventing it from being tracked through the house.
Keeping walls and doorways flawless
The simple act of carrying a box or sofa through a doorway can result in costly damage to the architrave or paintwork.
| Protection target | Specialist technique | How to DIY It |
| Door Frames & jambs (vertical sides of a doorway) | How to use door jamb protectors (or ‘door socks’) | Buy reusable foam or plastic door jamb protectors. Failing that, securely tape thick layers of foam pipe insulation along the edges of the frame. |
| Corners & banisters | Foam padding or furniture blankets secured with tape. | Wrap vulnerable corners and banister posts with thick cardboard or moving blankets to cushion inevitable bumps. |
| Walls | Moving blankets draped over walls or large furniture sliders. | Protect walls when moving furniture by draping blankets or using sheets of cardboard over the lower 1m of the wall in high-risk areas. |
Specialist moving damage prevention
Beyond covering surfaces, specialists manage the process to minimise risk.
- Clearance: They ensure the path is clear before attempting the move. Every tradesperson should plan the route and identify pinch points.
- Wrap everything: All furniture and items being moved are wrapped in thick padding or stretch-wrap, so if it touches a wall, it’s not wood hitting plaster.
- No dragging: Items are lifted or placed on sliders/dollies, never dragged, which is the main cause of floor scratches.
Find property-conscious removal specialists
When you hire a removal specialist or tradesperson through Rated People, you are choosing professionals who understand that their job is not just about the task but about respecting your home. Our platform attracts people who are committed to a high standard of work, which includes leaving your property exactly as they found it.
With Rated People, you have the power to get it done. Find a trusted, local tradesperson today.
