Moving a Dining Table, Chairs and China Cabinet in Jeddah: Disassembly and Wrapping Guide

Why a dining table deserves special care

A dining table combines two things that rarely meet in one piece of furniture: a big size that is hard to pass through doors and lifts, and a polished, glass or marble surface that shows every scratch and knock. In many homes it is the most valuable item in the living or dining room, and it usually comes with a set of chairs and a display cabinet or buffet holding plates and crystal. That is why it is worth a calm plan before moving day.

The key idea is that a table is not always moved the same way. Some are taken apart and wrapped, some are carried whole with great care, and some need the top separated from the base. The decision depends on the type of table, its design and the building's entrances, and it should be made from measurements and a quick survey rather than guesswork.

Table types and how each is handled

• **Solid or engineered wood:** fairly heavy and sensitive to scratches and humidity, wrapped in a soft layer, then foam, then an outer cover, and its legs are removed if they detach.

• **Glass:** the top breaks and the edges are sharp, so the top is separated from the base, taped in an X pattern when needed, and carried upright between two padded boards by a trained team.

• **Marble:** among the heaviest types and hard on backs and legs, so it needs more than one person, suitable carrying equipment and thick edge protection; marble is never supported on a single edge.

• **Extendable tables:** the extension leaf is removed or secured, and moving parts are taped so nothing slides while carrying.

• **Round and oval tables:** hard to grip, so carrying straps or strong grip points from below are used.

Measure doors and corridors first

The most common problem is discovering midway that the table will not pass through the door or the lift. Before the date, measure the longest side, the width and the height of the table both assembled and taken apart. Then measure the apartment door, the narrowest part of the corridor, and the width and height of the lift, and note any turns in the stairs. If the table will not pass, the legs or the top can be separated, or an exterior lift can be used for higher floors if the balcony opening allows it. That calls for coordination in advance.

For large tables that are built up inside the room and only come out when taken apart, the answer is to remove the main parts only and reassemble them in the same way on arrival. You may need special wrenches and screws, so keep any tools that came with the table.

Taking the table apart and sorting small parts

We start by removing extra leaves, then the legs or side supports, then the bases. Small parts such as bolts, screws, nuts and keys go into a small bag labeled with the table's name and taped to the main piece so they cannot get lost. Photographing the parts before and after dismantling helps with reassembly. For similar legs, mark the position of each one, because some tables have holes that differ from one side to the other.

For more detail on taking furniture apart, see furniture disassembly and assembly in Jeddah, which covers most household furniture, and furniture packing and wrapping for ways to protect delicate surfaces.

Wrapping surfaces and edges

Edges and corners are the parts most likely to chip or crack. We start with a soft layer such as cloth or acid-free paper, then foam or reinforced cardboard corners on each edge, then an outer wrap for the whole table. We do not put tape straight onto varnished or glossy wood, because it can leave marks or lift the finish; tape goes onto the wrapping itself.

Glass tops need double protection, marble tops need protection from side impacts, and polished wood needs protection from rubbing more than from knocks. Make sure the wraps are clean and dry, because small grains between the wrap and the surface act like sandpaper.

Table: type of table and main precaution

Chairs: do not ignore the details

Dining chairs look lighter than the table but are easily damaged when stacked without protection. We protect upholstered backs with soft covers, wrap wooden legs in foam, and do not stack chairs on top of each other unless padded layers go between them. Chairs with light fabric are covered in a clean wrap to keep dust and dirt away. For leather chairs, we avoid plastic wrap pressed directly against the leather in hot weather because it can stick.

China cabinet, buffet and fragile tableware

A dining table often comes with a glass display cabinet or buffet holding plates, glasses and crystal. We empty it completely before moving, wrap each piece in soft paper, and pack items into dividers boxes marked fragile with the correct side up. The glass front of a cabinet is covered with a stiff cardboard sheet and carried upright, and glass shelves are removed and wrapped separately. A cabinet is never moved with its contents, however stable they may look, because vibration sets them moving again.

Heat and humidity in Jeddah and what they do to wood

Wood reacts to sudden changes in heat and humidity, so we avoid leaving a wooden table for long in a very hot truck, and prefer loading and unloading at a suitable time of day. After arrival, the wrap stays on for a few minutes before it is removed so moisture does not condense on the polished surface. In summer we avoid placing hot objects on surfaces until the room has settled to a steady temperature.

Truck loading order

The dismantled table stands against the wall between pillows, glass and marble tops travel upright with the edges protected, and everything is strapped. Chairs go in divided boxes or covered in a fixed spot, and nothing heavy sits on top of surfaces or edges. Usually the table is loaded after the heavy furniture so it is among the last pieces off the truck, but the first into the room if it will be reassembled there.

Reassembling at the new home

Decide where the table will stand before it arrives, and leave enough space around it for chairs to move. Put protective pads under the legs if the floor is wood or marble. Reattach the legs, turn the table over carefully, and check that it is steady with no wobble before putting anything on it. Then bring in the chairs and the cabinet and fill it gradually with tableware.

Preparing the building, the lift and the truck spot

Before moving day, speak with the building management or neighbors if necessary, and ask about lift hours and where the truck can park near the entrance. A large table needs a completely clear corridor with no bags, shoes, bikes or plants, and a dry, non-slip floor. If the lift has padding, ask to use it; if not, the crew can place cardboard or covers on walls and floor. These simple steps reduce knocks and speed up loading.

Small, folding and children's tables

Not every table in the house is a big dining table. Folding tables are closed and strapped before lifting, and coffee and side tables have their tops wrapped and travel with sofas and chairs. A small children's table usually goes inside another box after its edges are protected. Tables with thin, elegant tops or mother-of-pearl and mosaic inlay need double wrapping and nothing placed on top of them. Tell us when you call what kind of table you have, how big it is and whether it has brass edges or raised decoration.

Priorities for the dining room on moving day

Start by emptying the cabinet and shelves and removing the dishes, then take the chairs apart and group them, then carry the table once the corridor is ready. At the new home, bring in the table before the chairs and the cabinet because it is the largest, then place the rest around it. If you are moving a whole apartment, leave this set for a time when the corridor is less crowded, not when several large pieces are being carried at once.

When should we survey the table beforehand?

We suggest a survey or photos and measurements on WhatsApp in these cases: a very large marble or glass table, a table where it is unclear how to take it apart, a narrow entrance, a spiral staircase or high floor without a lift, or a big china cabinet that will be hard to turn. Photos and measurements let us decide the number of people, the equipment and the wrapping materials, and save you surprises at the lifting stage.

Mistakes to avoid

• Trying to push the table through a door without measuring first.

• Putting tape directly on glossy wood.

• Carrying a glass table flat without edge protection.

• Lifting a table by its top instead of its base.

• Moving a china cabinet with plates and glasses inside.

• Leaving bolts and screws unpacked or unlabeled.

Quick checklist

• Measure the table, doors, lift and corridors.

• Collect tools and screws into a labeled bag.

• Empty the cabinet and pack tableware in divided boxes.

• Protect edges and corners before any lifting.

• Decide where the table will stand in the new home.

How Al Forsan Al Thalatha helps

We measure the entrances with you when needed, take apart tables that can be dismantled and reassemble them, wrap surfaces, edges, chairs and cabinets with the right materials, and carry heavy pieces with enough people. If you are moving a whole apartment, see furniture moving in Jeddah, and for careful planning see moving quote and pre-move survey. Call us or message us on WhatsApp to arrange a time.