How to Separate a Sectional Sofa: Easily Moving Heavy Furniture

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Furniture can be tough to move. Whether it’s that pesky piece that won't go through the door frame, or you’ve realized your furniture might be too big for your space, there’s always something that comes up.

Moving heavy furniture pieces, like a sectional couch with a chaise, also proves to have its own obstacles. Maybe there are too many pieces and you’ve accidentally misplaced one somewhere from all of your stuff. Or you accidentally broke a piece of the sectional when trying to separate it. 

Even though moving heavy furniture can be tough, it does not have to be. A sectional sofa can be easy to move with the proper precautions taken, like learning how to properly remove each piece from the body. 

There are many Furniture stores in Ottawa that have moving services readily available, like La-Z-Boy! So, how do you properly remove sectional pieces from one another, and what are some common mistakes you should avoid? 

Here is everything you need to know for moving your heavy furniture, one sectional modular piece at a time!

In This Article…

1. Before You Begin
2. Separating a Stationary Sectional Sofa
3. Separating a Reclining Sectional Sofa
4. Separating Alligator Clips
5. Problems to Avoid While Moving Heavy Furniture

Before You Begin

Before we tell you how to properly separate a sectional when moving, it is important to take the following factors into consideration.

According to the delivery team at La-Z-Boy, they advise movers to give themselves as much space as possible before moving a large furniture piece. Whether it is a 3 piece sectional sofa or a 6 piece modular sectional, the more space you can allow yourself to take it apart, the better. “If it is the last furniture item you have to worry about, that is an ideal scenario,” says Jason Nurnberg, one of the deliverymen from La-Z-Boy Ottawa.

It is also important to remember to disconnect all power cords from moving paths to prevent your furniture from getting damaged, or any tripping hazards. Disconnect all power cords from your power furniture as well!

If you do not unplug your power furniture, you may be at risk of breaking the connections, resulting in your reclining sectional becoming functionless. 

Lastly, when moving heavy furniture, always have someone else help you to avoid any potential injuries. 

Separating a Stationary Sectional Sofa

Now that we have the precautions out of the way, let’s discuss the reason why everyone is reading this article: moving sectionals!

It is important to note that we will be covering three different ways to remove sectionals from each other. The first one is stationary sectionals, the second is reclining sectionals and the third is sectionals with alligator clips.

Starting with stationary sectionals, these modular pieces are the easiest to remove as they have a simple metal slot that needs to be inserted vertically. 

To connect a modular piece of a sectional simply place the right-sitting arm piece on the ground, and lift the following piece slowly into the joining side. As you work your way to complete the configuration, you’ll only need to raise and lower one piece at a time, which makes things very easy.

According to La-Z-Boy’s delivery team, the proper way to assemble a modular sectional sofa is to always start on the right side. This is because each side will have either a connecting side or a releasing side. Connecting sides are traditionally always on the left side of a module and hold the modular pieces together so they don't slip out or go anywhere.

If you do start on the left side, the process would still be simple initially, but after a couple of modular pieces are connected, you would have to lift the whole configuration to connect another piece each time, resulting in more stress on your body and furniture.

To disconnect modular sectional sofas, do the same process you would connect pieces, but in reverse. This means starting on the left side instead of the right, otherwise, you would be facing the same problem as before.

Separating a Reclining Sectional Sofa

Separating reclining furniture, like a sectional sofa, is still fairly easy, but requires more steps than stationary assembly. Similarly, reclining sectionals are connected by starting on the right side and disconnecting on the left.

The connecting side of a reclining modular piece has two connectors instead of one. One end has to be lowered vertically while the other one is pushed horizontally. On the disconnecting side, two pegs are extended to keep the pieces in place.

The best way to connect these sectional pieces is by starting with clipping the horizontal piece first and then raising the front part of the item and lowering it in the vertical slot. 

Jason Nurnberg says this type of sectional would be better for two people to assemble and disassemble since the horizontal pieces can be a bit tough on your own. “One person can hold the back of the pieces in place while the other works to bring the vertical slots together.”

These pieces are also heavier than stationary furniture items since they hold reclining mechanisms and other metal parts. It is also important to remember that reclining sectional sofas should be placed at least 6 inches away from a wall, so you can recline fully.

Separating Alligator Clips

The last type of sectional La-Z-Boy has is sectionals with alligator clips. These newly introduced connectors are used by other furniture manufacturers, but this is the first time that La-Z-Boy has had them on a sectional. 

Alligator clips, unlike the stationary and reclining connectors, are located at the bottom of a furniture piece, instead of being on the sides. 

To connect these modular sectional sofa pieces together, start from the right side as always and slide the alligator clips into the respective metal poles. Once you hear a clicking sound, this means the modular pieces are in place and will not separate unless the left side is lifted.

The only sectional available with alligator clips is the Montrose Sectional, which is the only furniture frame from La-Z-Boy Ottawa and Kingston that has modular pieces that work cooperatively or independently. To avoid being seen, the alligator clips can rotate towards the bottom of the frame, so no one can see them unless flipped over. 

You can learn more about the Montrose Sectional by checking out this article.

Problems to Avoid While Moving Heavy Furniture

As we’ve discussed in certain sections, there are some things people should avoid at all costs when moving heavy furniture pieces like a sectional.

Firstly, it is important to give yourself as much space as possible to move sectional pieces from their place. Give yourself at least 2 to 3 feet of space when configuring your sectional. In La-Z-Boy’s instance, we have sliders underneath each sectional frame, which makes it easier to move around on the floor.

A small sectional sofa is easy to give yourself space, but if you are dealing with a larger configuration like a 6 piece modular sofa, try moving it away from other furniture pieces fand walls. Having a second person present, especially with reclining furniture, makes taking apart a sectional couch much easier.

It is also important to never force sectional pieces to fit, otherwise, it could be difficult to remove them when rearranging your furniture.

Another important factor to remember is to make sure all modular pieces are secured properly in your sectional configuration. Jason notes that if one piece looks loose, it’ll make the entire sectional look awkwardly placed, with one side looking higher or lower than the other. 

“This is especially true with the stationary clips. It is best to always make sure each piece is placed perfectly, or else you’ll be fighting back and forth on each side,” he says.

What's Next?

You now have the knowledge you need in order to properly disassemble and assemble your La-Z-Boy Sectional. These helpful steps will allow you to move your power furniture or stationary sectional more easily, without worrying about your furniture feeling too heavy.

Now that you know everything about moving heavy sectional pieces, you might be interested in learning more about how to disassemble our other furniture frames.

Make sure to check out How to Disassemble Your La-Z-Boy Recliner, for more information on that subject. You can also learn more about How to Take Apart Your La-Z-Boy Sofa and Loveseat, with this article.

If you’re looking for a new stylish and comfortable sectional sofa to add to your living room, why stop by today? You can start shopping by visiting one of our local showrooms located in Ottawa or Kingston. You can also schedule a visit online before coming in.

Our design consultants are always eager to lend a helping hand. Take advantage of our interior design services to see how our furniture can fit in your home. 

Related Articles:

Paxton vs Alani: Sectionals at La-Z-Boy

Cuddler vs. Chaise: Which Modular Sectional Piece is Right for You?

Top Considerations for Arranging a Sectional Sofa