Wood

The do's and don'ts of handling wooden objects

Handling wood objects with care and commonsense helps to prevent damage. It is best to handle items as little as possible. It is also important to fully support objects when handling them.

Examine each object carefully to find the strongest, most stable part—and handle it there.

Avoid lifting wooden items by their handles or other weak points such as the backs of chairs, table tops and damaged areas. Lift them by holding the legs, or the lowest, strongest structural member such as under the seat rail of a chair. Pick up and carry furniture, rather than pushing or pulling it. Pushing and pulling furniture puts severe strain on the structure. Secure all drawers and doors before moving furniture, and check for loose decorations and members before moving it.

If objects are painted, avoid touching these areas.

Don't try to carry furniture alone—you risk damaging the furniture and injuring yourself.