Moving thin granite slab -- looking for advice

[Max Fracas]

I'm about to move from California to Louisiana.  We're using a company called "U-pack" to move, and their trailers are not the sort of "air ride" trailers used by commercial movers.  They are cheaper though. 

We're using a local company to load the trucks.  During their walkthrough they noticed the piece of granite we have on top of a credenza.  The piece is 15mm x 465 x 2065.  When we moved from Germany to California we left it in place on the credenza.  Now we're being advised to crate it so it can travel standing up instead of on top of the credenza.  The argument is that the non air ride trailers will be a rougher ride and the granite is likely to crack.  I'm not convinced but would like to know if anyone has any experience or thoughts on it before I build a crate.

 

[Tinker]

How lucky are you?  You shipped that thin piece of granite all the way from Germany to California without breaking it. Wow!
With it supported in place on the credenza, it was probably the safest method of transport.

I have never handled a piece of granite, marble or glass that long and so thin.  I have handled some pretty thin pieces of marble for fireplace facings many moons ago.  I always crated  solidly them with plywood and styrofoam protection on all sides.  The stone was as immobile as anything Bob Marino has sent to me.  If the transporter recommends that you package so it can be shipped vertically on edge, if you try any other way, I think you might take the hit insurance wise if the stone does break.  If you cannot stand on the crate without flexing it, it is not crated strong enuf.

Make sure the package is well supported on all sides, probably with 3/4 inch ply on all four sides and both ends with screws to hold together.  Banding around.  I don't think you can overdo the packaging.
Good luck
Tinker

 

[Max Fracas]

Thanks, Tinker.  To be honest, when we shipped it from Stuttgart, I never gave a thought to taking the granite off the credenza.  Maybe the only thing more amazing than getting it here intact was what we had to pay for the long thin slab. [eek]. The only damage to the credenza was occurred when the movers dragged it off the truck.  That broke the right rear leg. 

 

[Wooden Skye]

If you can remove it, I would go to harbor freight and buy a couple moving blankets one for the top and bottom, then see if you can find 90 degree (like angle iron) cardboard to protect the edges.  Then put it back on the credenza and use some ratchet straps to secure.

 

[Max Fracas]

Thanks, Bryan.  Padding it is a good idea.  I'm sure it'll end up with lots of boxes stacked on it.

 

[Tinker]

If you can remove it, I would go to harbor freight and buy a couple moving blankets one for the top and bottom, then see if you can find 90 degree (like angle iron) cardboard to protect the edges.  Then put it back on the credenza and use some ratchet straps to secure.

The blankets are probably a good idea.  The cardboard not so good.  The outer frame, the box, needs to be un-bendable. That granite is over80 inches in length and only 5/8 inch in thickness.  There is absolutly no supporting strnght and it is very brittle.  The cardboard would protect from scratching or chipping, but it is no where near strong enough to support any load.  If the cardboard frame is damaged in any way, even with blankets protection, the slab will crack. It a crate can be built for  support and somehow strapped onto the  credenza, that is a good idea as well. 

I still recommend the box be constructed with plywood.  I would still recommend the styrofoam inside of the box.  I am not confident in the blankets. I have not handled thin pieces of marble or granite for over 39 years, but I only needed one breakage experience to learn that stone may be hard, but thin sheets (slabs) are like glass, AND far more expensive. That piece of granite that [member=18240]Max Fracas[/member] is moving can break if he looks at it wrong way.  The movers are going to be lifting and possibly handling in a rough way.  The packaging should be absolutely un-bendable. The supporting back on he credenza is a good  plan, but it cannot come loose in transit. To replace the slab------------- let's just say it will be a lot of hastle and even more of an expense. Don't skimp on protection.
Tinker

 

[rvieceli]

[member=18240]Max Fracas[/member]

I used to do this stuff full time a life time ago. [eek]

The key here is to not allow the stone to flex, any flexing stress and it will break. The reason it made it from Germany was that the stone was fully supported by the furniture top and probably well padded ON THE TOP when it made the trip. DO NOT pull it off the credenza, wrap it in soft blankets and then replace it flat on the top. The soft material will allow the stone to flex and break.

Should you decide to crate it, the crate must be substantial enough to not allow the stone to flex.

Ron

 

[Max Fracas]

Thanks, [member=3192]rvieceli[/member].  Good input.  I'll let you know in a couple of weeks when we take it off the truck.