Access, storage, loading requirements and booking lead times all affect how furniture rental goes on the day. Here is what to think through before placing your order.
Access, storage, loading requirements and booking lead times all affect how furniture rental goes on the day. Here is what to think through before placing your order.
Furniture rental makes up a large part of our daily deliveries at Expo Hire. Whether it is Chiavari chairs for a wedding, three-seater Chesterfields for a product launch or basic folding chairs and banqueting tables, rental furniture is in one of our vans most days.
While our drivers are experienced at delivering furniture, there are things customers can do to make the delivery and collection go as well as possible.
One of the most common problems with furniture delivery is access to where it needs to go. Getting larger pieces through narrow doorways takes patience, and stairs create a genuine risk of injury when moving heavy furniture.
When placing an order for furniture, think carefully about access. We include dimension details on product pages wherever possible to help you check whether furniture will fit through doorways and around corners. If you are unsure, contact our team via live chat before ordering. The last thing we want is to arrive and be unable to deliver what you need.
Our drivers can only deliver up to 50 metres from their vehicle and cannot go up or down stairs. If your event is above ground floor or more than 50 metres from the roadside, you will need your own staff on hand to move furniture from where our driver can reach.
Having the right people and equipment on-site at delivery time makes a significant difference. For large orders, coordinate with your venue to confirm that someone is present and able to direct our driver to the correct unloading point before the van arrives.
If furniture needs to travel any distance from the drop point to the event space, arrange trolleys or sack barrows in advance. We do not supply trolleys, and hiring them locally is straightforward. For banqueting tables and folding chairs in quantity, you may need two or three people to move a full load in a reasonable timeframe.
At collection, furniture must be returned to the drop-off point ready for loading. Our drivers will load the vehicle; your responsibility is to have the furniture stacked and consolidated in the right place. For stacking guidance on specific items, check the product page or contact us before the event.
Another factor to consider is where the furniture will be stored outside of the event itself. Most orders are delivered at least a day before the event and collected the day after, which means a minimum of one night's secure storage is required.
Storage needs to be protected from both theft and the elements. Our wooden banqueting tables can be used outside if under cover, but they must also be stored where they are completely sheltered from rain and away from wet ground. Water damage ruins these tables quickly and will result in a replacement charge.
We have worked to ensure that as much of our rental furniture as possible is stackable to help reduce storage requirements. Where furniture stacks, we make this clear on the product page. We cannot lend trolleys for moving furniture around, so if they are likely to be needed, arrange them in advance.
Do a rough calculation before your event. Banqueting tables fold flat and stack, but 20 tables still occupy a considerable floor area. A stack of 50 Chiavari chairs takes up less floor space than you might expect, but needs to be stable and secure against a wall or post.
For outdoor events, if furniture is delivered to a venue the day before setup, check whether the venue has a lockable indoor space available. Leaving furniture outside overnight exposes it to weather damage and theft, both of which result in charges to the hirer.
Availability for popular furniture items is finite. For weddings and large events at peak times, stock can be reserved 12 months in advance. For most corporate and private events, a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks notice is a sensible buffer.
For events in summer (June through September) and around bank holidays, availability fills faster. If your date falls in this window, placing your order as soon as you have confirmed numbers and venue access details will give you the best chance of securing the pieces you want.
Last-minute orders can be accommodated when stock is available, but delivery routing may affect what is possible at short notice. Contact our team before placing an order if you need a tight turnaround.
Before your delivery date, make sure the following are confirmed: the delivery address and precise access point, any venue-specific instructions for the driver (loading bay codes, time windows, parking limitations), the name and mobile number of the person on-site to receive the delivery, and where the furniture should be placed or stored on arrival.
Expo Hire provides delivery tracking on all orders so you can monitor your van's progress and have someone ready when it arrives.
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