Summer thunderstorms and heavy rain on moving day: furniture boxes and safety
Rain in summer
When the thunderstorm arrives in the middle of the move
Stay dry
A hot summer's day quite often ends with a thunderstorm – and precisely when half the household is still standing on the pavement. Heavy rain soaks boxes through in a few minutes, mattresses and upholstery soak up water, and wooden furniture gets water stains. The German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst) warns of heavy rain from 15 litres per square metre in one hour. At Beste Umzug Unternehmen we keep an eye on the weather on moving day and plan covers and short routes between the front door and the van.
If a thunderstorm is brewing, whatever is standing outside is loaded first, and the rest waits in the stairwell. We interrupt outdoor work while thunder and lightning are close; indoors, packing and dismantling continue. We quote the fixed price after the survey; your belongings are covered by liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB) (§ 451e: €620 per m³), and additional insurance is possible. That way your household goods stay dry even in a summer thunderstorm.
Request a moving day with a weather plan
Clarify covers and routes during the survey
During the survey we clarify how far it is from the front door to the van, whether there is a covered entrance and where boxes can wait briefly in the rain. That way even a summer thunderstorm is no reason for wet boxes. Call us on 01625978461 – the quote is non-binding.
Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.
How we respond to a thunderstorm
Cover, load, pause briefly
A summer thunderstorm often arrives quickly, but usually passes quickly too. What matters is that nothing unprotected is standing outside then. We first load whatever is waiting on the pavement, cover upholstery and mattresses and lay cardboard on wet walkways in the stairwell. While thunder and lightning are close, we interrupt outdoor work and carry on inside the building. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and work at a fixed price after a survey – more on the private move.
Packing service
Office move
Senior moves
Cover up
A rain plan for the day
A summer thunderstorm cannot be postponed, but it can be well prepared for. These six rules help if the forecast for your moving day shows showers or thunderstorms – whether you move with us or hire a van yourself and ask friends.
Check warnings
Do not overfill boxes
Have covers ready
Protect walkways
Pause for lightning
Let wet items dry
Part load in rainy weather
With a part load, your belongings travel on a route together with other orders. In summer, a thunderstorm can briefly delay collection. Keep furniture and boxes well packed and ready in a dry place, and agree the delivery window in advance.
Thunderstorms
after hot days
In summer, thunderstorms often develop in the afternoon or evening of hot days. They sometimes bring heavy rain, gusts of wind or hail. The German Weather Service warns of heavy rain from 15 l/m² in one hour, and of very heavy rain from 25 l/m². For the move this means: do not leave boxes standing outside for hours, have covers to hand and interrupt outdoor work when there is lightning. Tips for rain and winter can be found in the article Moving in rain and winter.
Forecast and preparation
Protecting boxes and furniture
Files, technology, small quantities
Questions about thunderstorms and rain
Protecting boxes, mattresses and wood from rain
Boxes lose their stability as soon as they get wet – boxes that are soaked at the bottom tear when carried. So do not overfill them, tape them well and never put boxes on wet ground. Mattresses and upholstery go into covers, wooden furniture under blankets or tarpaulins.
Film is useful for a short time in the rain. Afterwards it should come off again so that no moisture builds up underneath. Wipe furniture that has got wet in the new flat and let it air-dry.
In a thunderstorm: pause, secure the walkways, carry on
If a thunderstorm is close, work outdoors, on ladders and on external lifts should be interrupted. Whatever is standing outside is quickly loaded beforehand or brought into the stairwell. Inside the building, packing and dismantling can continue.
Wet stairs are slippery. Lay cardboard or painter's fleece on the walkways and wear sturdy shoes with a good tread. Most summer thunderstorms move on quickly.
What does a move cost?
Moving costs vary greatly depending on the size of the flat and the distance. As a rough guide: 1-room flat from €369, 2-room flat from €609, 3-room flat from €915, 4-room flat from €1,269. Larger properties such as houses or villas receive an individual quote. For long-distance moves, an additional €3.95/km is calculated. For exact figures we recommend a free survey.
Calculating your moving price
For an exact price, the moving volume, the number of kilometres (from €3.95/km) as well as the floor and lift play an important role. We also take into account whether a parking restriction zone has to be set up. On request we also handle furniture assembly or a part load.
Services for weatherproof moves
Packing, covering, quick loading: these services help when a thunderstorm threatens on moving day.
- Furniture transport: professional transport for your furnishings. Furniture transport
- House clearance: fast and clean household clearance. House clearance
- Part load: an affordable alternative for smaller transports. Part load
- Private move: a worry-free move to your new home. Private move
- Move with assembly: a complete service including furniture assembly. Move with assembly
- Company move: we organise your office move efficiently. Company move
Moves from Berlin
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and carry out moves to all German states and back – in the rain with covers and short routes. More under long-distance moves and in the locations overview.
Related Articles