It happens on almost every moving day somewhere in North York: the sectional reaches the condo door and stops. Or the king bed gets halfway up a townhouse staircase and won’t turn the corner. The good news is that most of it can be solved with a tape measure and a screwdriver.
Measure Before You Move
Measure your biggest pieces (sofa, bed, dresser, dining table) and then measure the path at your new home:
- Every door the piece has to go through
- Hallway width and any tight corners
- The stairwell, including the ceiling height at the turn
- The elevator, if you’re in a condo: door width, depth and height
Measure the diagonal depth of a sofa too. Tilted on its side, a sofa can sometimes get through a door that seems too small.
What Usually Needs Taking Apart
- Bed frames: almost always. Headboards and rails come apart easily.
- Bunk beds and cribs: always.
- Dining tables: most legs unscrew, and many tables have removable leaves.
- Sectionals: most split into sections, and some have removable legs and backs.
- Large wardrobes and shelving units: usually, especially flat-pack (IKEA-style) pieces.
- Desks and office workstations: yes, especially L-shaped desks.
The #1 Rule: Don’t Lose the Hardware
Put screws, bolts and brackets for each piece in its own zip bag. Label the bag (“Main bed”, “Dining table”) and tape it to the furniture. Take a quick photo with your phone before you start taking things apart. It makes putting everything back together much easier.
Flat-Pack Furniture: Handle With Care
Particleboard furniture doesn’t love being taken apart and rebuilt. Every time screws go in and out, the holes get a little weaker. If a piece is already wobbly, it may be cheaper to replace it than to move it. If you do move it, wrap the panels flat so they can’t bend.
When to Leave It to the Pros
Taking furniture apart yourself is fine for a simple bed frame. For anything heavy, complicated or valuable, it’s usually faster to let movers do it, because they do it every day and have the tools. Our furniture assembly and disassembly service is $120/hour, or it’s simply part of your move when we’re already there. We also assemble new flat-pack furniture, even if you’re not moving.
Moving Somewhere Tight?
North York condos and townhouses can be tight, and we plan for that. Read our North York condo moving guide for elevator and loading dock tips, or our guide to moving into a North York house. All our services are on the North York movers page.
Not sure who to trust with your furniture? See what customers say in our 289+ Google reviews.
Need a hand with your North York move?
N&N Brothers Moving Company is based at 200 Gateway Blvd in North York. We are licensed and insured, open 7 days a week, and rated by 289+ customers on Google. Call 647-534-8479 or get a free quote online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will movers take apart my bed?
Yes. Bed disassembly and reassembly is part of our moving service, and we bring the tools.
Do you assemble IKEA furniture in North York?
Yes. We assemble new flat-pack furniture from IKEA and other stores, even if you are not moving. It is $120/hour.
What if my sofa does not fit through the door?
Many sofas can be turned on end, have legs removed, or be split into sections. Measure first, and ask us before moving day.
