How to Safely Move Heavy Teak or Ipe Furniture Without Causing Damage

Moving a heavy hardwood chair or table requires more than just effort. Teak and ipe weigh more than pine or cedar and are often expensive. One slip can leave deep gouges in your floor or hairline cracks in the furniture’s wood.

At Teak Master, we move heavy outdoor sets every week, so we’ve refined a process that works in both backyards and high-rise condos. Follow this guide to learn how to safely move heavy teak or ipe furniture without the mistakes that cause expensive repairs.

Understanding the Challenges of Moving Heavy Teak and Ipe Furniture

Teak’s natural oils make it resistant to moisture. Ipe, often referred to as Brazilian walnut, is harder than other types of wood, with a Janka rating exceeding 3,600 pounds. Its dense grain adds weight. While that level of toughness is ideal for your patio, it also raises the stakes whenever you pick up the piece.

Furniture with thick legs and tabletops offers fewer handholds, which means most homeowner drag their furniture into place. A casual tug on stone can break a joint or scrape off a protective finish.

Many clients invest thousands in a single dining set. Repairs increase costs and time and can alter the appearance of the wood. Our team observes the consequences during expert teak restoration projects. Smart planning prevents most problems.

Common Risks and Damages During Moving

Lifting mistakes can lead to more than just a sore back. Dragging a chair over travertine may cause the tile to chip. Squeezing through a doorframe could create dents in both the furniture’s wood and the wall. Even a minor drop can loosen hidden dowels inside the frame. Surface scratches often don’t appear until later as the finish weathers.

Furniture with older varnish cracks more easily as the coating loses its flexibility. Unfinished teak can splinter at the corners, and ipe can conceal micro-cracks that later appear in the heat. Plan your route before lifting any furniture, as tight paths raise the risk of damage.

Gathering the Necessary Moving Tools and Equipment

If you want to know how to move heavy furniture without causing damage, consider starting with the right gear:

• Furniture blankets or moving pads: Protects wood surfaces from scratches, dings, and pressure marks during the move
• Bubble wrap: Adds cushioning around corners and edges to prevent chipping
• Packing tape or stretch wrap: Secures blankets and padding tightly to prevent shifting during transit
• Furniture sliders Allows you to slide heavy pieces safely without gouging your hardwood floors
• A hand truck or four-wheel dolly: Makes transporting large or heavy parts more manageable across flat surfaces
• Lifting straps: Distributes weight evenly and reduces strain on your back and joints when two people carry the piece
• Screwdrivers or hex keys: Helps remove legs, supports, or attachments, making each part easier to handle

Most professional crews rely on these items. We ensure they are on every truck that leaves our shop. If you need advice on brands or sizes, send us a message through our contact page.

Disassembling Furniture Safely

Many teak and ipe sets have removable legs, inserts, or umbrella mounts. Disassembling them reduces weight and stress on the joints. To prevent stripping screws, use the proper driver bit. Placing all hardware in a labeled bag and taping it to a panel will ensure you can find it later.

Wrap each piece as soon as you remove it from the frame. If a loose teak arm slides in transit, it could dent another board. Smaller parts wash and dry faster, and reducing the bulk keeps workers safe.

Wrapping and Protecting Your Furniture

After you’ve separated and cleaned the components, lay a blanket on the ground, arrange the wood on the padding, and then fold the sides up. Add bubble wrap only to sharp corners. Ensure you tape the blanket tightly, but avoid sticking it directly to the bare grain. Tape glues can peel off the finish or cause dark stains when the residue is exposed to sunlight.

Use sliders to simplify short indoor moves. Place one with the smooth side down under each leg. To keep the piece stable, push from the base, not the top. If you must lift, wear gloves with a rubber grip and tighten lifting straps around the frame. Remember to keep the weight of the furniture close to your body.

Place the heaviest items on the floor inside the truck and use ratchet straps to prevent them from shifting. Good padding ensures each piece arrives scratch-free.

Caring for Ipe Wood After the Move

Inspect the furniture immediately after unloading. Search along edges for hairline cracks. Wiggle legs to spot loose tenons. Feel the surface for rough patches where straps may have rubbed. Because ipe is so dense, tiny flaws can remain hidden until heat causes the grain to expand.

If you notice dull spots, a wood brightener can restore color. Very fine sandpaper, followed by a fresh coat of outdoor oil, can often smooth minor scratches. Regular touch-ups are crucial for maintaining the condition of ipe wood. When deeper work is required, our crew can seamlessly integrate repairs into the existing tone during a full-service appointment.

Where Experience Comes In

Teak Master has served Southern California for nearly 30 years. We have refinished pieces from Gloster, Summit, Brown Jordan, and many boutique brands. Clients appreciate that we manage pickup, treatment, and delivery in-house.

We schedule complimentary transport for qualifying jobs. On-site service is available for furniture that never leaves your patio. To maintain joint integrity, off-site projects are transported in custom cradles. Once we complete the work, all surfaces will meet the same high standard we expect for showroom displays.

Move With Confidence

Dense hardwood furniture deserves respect. Plan your moving route, use proper gear, and wrap each surface with care. Following these steps will ensure you safely move your heavy teak or ipe furniture without causing the type of damage we fix every season.

If your teak or ipe set needs extra care after your move, contact us for cleaning, repair, or full refinishing. Our crew is ready to safeguard your investment so it can host many more dinners and late-night chats under the stars.