If you haven’t noticed yet, people Shrink-Wrapping valuable personal possessions is taking over as the go-to method for keeping our favorite things clean, protected, and ready for use. Especially for those seasonal items that enjoy heavy use for a time every year and are then stored until the weather turns again next year. When the question is “How should I store my _____ (boat, bicycle, lawn furniture, vintage automobile, etc.)”, the right response is almost universal: Shrink-Wrapping is the answer!

Believe it or not, Shrink-Wrapping can even help when you move to a new home. And it is available in many thicknesses, colors, and degrees of opacity. Moreover, many types of Shrink-Wrap are recyclable and environmentally friendly!

What Is Shrink-Wrapping?

Shrink-Wrapping is the process of covering an item with plastic film (commonly polyolefin, PVC, or polyethylene) and applying heat, which shrinks the plastic tightly and securely around the item. This protects the item from damage by the elements, including UV light, wind, rain, and airborne abrasion. It also provides protection from pests, whether animal or insect, and from both nesting or nibbling.

What Can Shrink-Wrapping Be Used For?

Let’s leave the commercial and industrial uses of Shrink-Wrapping for another day and concentrate on the many realistic uses that a homeowner such as yourself might have.

• Outdoor Furniture and Appliances: of course, including tables, chairs, and chaise lounges; not so obvious may be furled umbrellas and their stands, barbecue grills, and children’s toys and playsets.
• Boats, Cars, and Motorcycles: foreign or domestic, Harley, Indian, or Yamaha, or just inactive for a time, Shrink-Wrapping delivers the protection you need for your prized possessions. Beyond protection from nature, Shrink-Wrapping can add protection from prying eyes, too.
• Statuary and Architectural Features: the things that add character to our homes deserve protection, especially in the offseason.
• Whole House, Storm Damage, and Leaky Windows: Mother Nature can be a tough adversary. That’s why Shrink-Wrapping can provide such valuable and versatile protection.

Why Is Shrink-Wrapping So Popular?

Shrink-Wrapping has quickly become popular, especially for homeowners. The benefits of shrink wrapping is endless

• Shrink-Wrapping provides outstanding protection
• Shrink-Wrapping delivers cost-effective protection
• Shrink-Wrapping is very versatile in use, form, and application

On top of those aspects, Shrink-Wrapping as a service is becoming available more widely, offered by a variety of providers using a wide range of methods and equipment. But, as always, homeowners should use care when they select a provider, as not all are equally capable or well-equipped.

Can Shrink-Wrapping Help With My Move?

Absolutely! Relocating your entire household can be a draining and complicated process. One of the key objectives during a move is to keep our valuables protected so that when we arrive at our new home, they are ready for us to use and enjoy. “Movers’ Blankets” might be okay to cover your couch, or to keep some items from banging into each other during transport. But protecting your piano, or your grandfather clock, or your drum set, or your heirloom dollhouse, or… you get the picture, is a different matter altogether. And more and more people are finding that Shrink-Wrapping is the answer.

Is Shrink-Wrapping A DIY Project?

After reading this you might say “Okay, I’m convinced. Shrink-Wrapping could be good for me in a bunch of new ways. Can I do it myself and save some money?”. The easy answer is, “Yes, you can do it yourself”. In fact, there are more and more equipment options available to the homeowner and, let’s face it, there is no rocket science involved. Applying the plastic film and the shrinking heat are not all that difficult – few people would be unable to complete the process given enough time, energy, and a couple or three trial-and-error attempts.

And there’s the rub. Few of us, particularly when we are in the throes of moving our entire household to a new and unfamiliar location, have the bandwidth needed to undertake a successful Shrink-Wrap project. Between selecting and procuring the equipment and familiarizing ourselves with its use, while organizing people, packing possessions, and coordinating the move, it may be best to leave this job to a professional.

Selecting A Provider

Yes, thankfully there are professionals who will perform the actual wrapping for us. And when the time comes that you decide Shrink-Wrapping is the answer for you, you will want to choose a provider with a reputation for delivering high quality service at a fair price. The best way to select someone is to get estimates from three providers; they are easy to find nowadays online.

The criteria many people use to choose a provider include three keys:

Response to the estimate request. The handling of your inquiry will give you a very good indication of the quality of service that will be provided to your actual job.

Reputation of the provider. Get at least three local references of their customers. Contact them.

Price Comparison. Speaks for itself, but in most cases should not be the determining factor unless there is a large disparity between providers. In that case, use your judgement about the intangible factors.

When you decide to evaluate your Shrink-Wrapping options in Monmouth County, New Jersey be sure to include All Clean Exteriors, the premier provider of Shrink-Wrapping and Power Washing services.