Doors and door frames need to be protected from scratching, gouging, broken windows, broken returns, etc. during a move. Just properly bracing the door open when moving can prevent a whole lot of this kind of damage because each person making a trip through the door doesn’t have to bump it to open it.
But an open door lets heat or cold in or out and allows for pets to escape (and to maybe disappear forever) or for bugs and big hairy spiders to get in. Sometimes, if there are enough people moving you, one person or a teenager can be stationed as a doorman at the outside door to open and close it for the movers.
Some people take doors off of hinges and place them out of the way to protect them. Sometimes it’s easier to just pad the door while it’s mounted on its hinges. Expensive doors need to be removed or covered with pads or blankets to protect them from scuffs, scratches and bruising. Do whichever is easiest and best for you because people moving furnishings, especially large furniture pieces, might not be able to avoid banging the door or its frame.
Pads will not stop gouges to the door from carelessness but they are a layer of protection that can prevent minor damage. Use painter’s blue tape to secure the pads to the door (Shurtape CP – 27 is one brand). If taping, you must in no way touch the doors finish. Mover’s packing tape will leave unsightly residue on the door’s finish so don’t use it. Use painter’s blue tape instead.
However, if you drape a pad over the door and then surround the lower part of the door with another pad to fully protect the entire door, then use mover’s packing tape to secure the bottom pad to the top one draping the door. Mover’s packing tape is what should always be used to secure one pad to another because it’s stronger. Just never let it touch the door’s finish. Its residue does not stick to pads, blankets or towels.
You may also want to tape some flat cardboard over or under the pads for additional cushioning protection. Use painter’s tape if it’s secured to the door under the pads. Use mover’s packing tape if it’s secured over the pads.
To hold the door open and not mess up an automatic return mechanism, only use door stops on the ground. Rubber stops are best. Wood stops are good too. Double-folded cardboard under the door works well too. Sometimes a door stopper and also some cardboard under it works best. Cheap dollar store plastic door stops don’t always work on all surfaces.
Do not use a screwdriver in the mechanism to hold the door open because it can ruin it. Don’t use a screwdriver on the floor because it can drag and gouge the floor. You may want to disassemble the rod from the mechanism but that may lead to potential mechanical problems so we don’t recommend it.
When opening doors, be careful not to throw them open because the inside doorknob can hit the wall and put a hole in it. So, if you’re really worried about damaging your doors and door frames when moving furniture, then get a free quote from top-rated furniture movers and see how much they will charge you to move your large furniture without any damage to your doorways.
