St. Louis is a city rich with architectural history. From the ornate stained glass windows of South City homes to the World’s Fair houses north of Forest Park, our neighborhoods are filled with beautiful properties that require special care during a move. At All-Star Moving, we’ve spent years mastering the art of moving in and out of historic homes across Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Tower Grove, Soulard, Benton Park, Lafayette Park, and beyond.
If you’re planning a move involving a historic property, here are some tips from our team, along with the unique challenges we’ve learned to navigate.
Understanding Historic Home Challenges
Historic homes in neighborhoods like Shaw (particularly Flora Street), St. Louis Hills, the Pershing area, and Richmond Heights weren’t built with modern moving trucks and oversized furniture in mind. These beautiful properties often feature:
● Narrow staircases and doorways
● Arched doorways with thick brick walls
● Delicate old plaster walls
● Ornate stair railings and woodwork (that you don’t see in new builds)
● Tight entryways that make furniture disassembly crucial
Protection Is Everything
Here’s our philosophy: if you pad and protect the furniture properly, then the items you’re carrying won’t damage your home. And that’s what it boils down to. But it does require the right training and materials that a St. Louis moving company like All-Star Moving provides.
Our crews use professional protective measures including:
● Door jam protectors and door protectors for all entryways
● Furniture pads wrapped carefully around stair railings to preserve original woodwork
● Special attention to arched doorways, which are particularly challenging due to the thickness of brick walls
We understand that old plaster walls are irreplaceable. Our teams are specifically trained to be mindful of these St. Louis artifacts, avoiding bumping or leaning against delicate surfaces that modern drywall could withstand but historic plaster cannot. Along with historic homes, come antiques and family heirlooms. We also pack those items with great care and precision.
Creative Problem-Solving for Unique Spaces
Historic homes often require us to think outside the box. Or in some cases, outside the window. We’ve handled some memorable challenges:
● Moving items off balconies and through windows when doorways or stairwells won’t cooperate
● Disassembling and reassembling furniture to navigate the notoriously tight doorways in Soulard homes
● Moving items to a second-floor over a balcony from the ground because the narrow staircases made traditional moving impossible
Beyond Household Moves
Our experience with St. Louis history extends beyond residential moves. We’ve even been hired to move old rails from the Lafayette Park’s city’s historic trolley system. If it’s a piece of St. Louis heritage, we know how to handle it.
Why Experience Matters
Moving in historic neighborhoods like Benton Park, Soulard, Lafayette Park, and the areas surrounding Forest Park requires more than muscle. It requires knowledge of architectural features that aren’t found in modern homes. Intricate stained glass, original hardwood details, plaster walls, and unique construction elements demand a team that understands what they’re working with.
At All-Star Moving, we lean into our crews’ training and experience with St. Louis’s architectural treasures. We treat your historic home with the respect and care it deserves, ensuring both your belongings and your property are protected throughout the moving process.
Ready to Move?
If you’re moving into or out of a historic St. Louis home, don’t trust just anyone with your irreplaceable architectural details. Contact All-Star Moving for a team that understands the unique needs of Webster Groves Victorians, Kirkwood bungalows, South City stained glass beauties, and every historic treasure in between!