Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving

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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving
If you own a piano, whether youre planning a
short or long distance move, youre likely to run
into a few obstacles with your plans. Whether you
perform beautiful music on the instrument daily
or let it collect dust in a corner, you
definitely dont want to leave it behind or see
it damaged during transit.
There are multiple factors to take into
consideration when it comes to moving piano.
Dont assume you can just roll it from one place
to the next without endangering it.
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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving

• Know your Instrument
• Your piano is certainly the largest and most
  complex mechanical device in your home. A
  standard piano has 230 strings and about 10,000
  separate moving parts.  This is why tuning a
  piano can be such an involved process. Moving it
  from one home to another without the utmost care
  can easily cause unforeseen problems.
• When it comes to acoustic pianos, there are two
  major types on the market
• Grand Piano
• Upright Piano
• Grand Piano
• Grand Pianos are the type most often seen in
  classical amphitheaters. They have a large,
  harp-shaped soundboard and typically roll on
  caster wheels. These pianos can weigh more than
  1,200 pounds, while baby grand have the same
  shape in a smaller frame, usually weighing around
  half as much.

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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving
Upright Piano Upright Pianos are smaller, more
portable instruments commonly seen in clubs,
studios and homes that cant accommodate a more
massive option. Portable is a relative term here,
since even a small spinet piano can weigh more
than 400 pounds.
If you have an upright piano, its compact shape
will help you let it fit through most door
openings. An experienced team of four or five
movers should be able to transport the instrument
safely. Moving a grand piano, however, can
require making sweeping changes to the property
or even lifting the instrument through a large
window using a crane.
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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving

• Basic Considerations when Moving a Piano
• Do consult with professional piano movers
  beforehand. Even if you feel like you cannot
  afford their services, the quote may bring
  important considerations to your attention.
• Do move any furniture and other objects out of
  the pianos traveling path before starting. It
  will be much harder to do this after you start,
  especially if the path involves stairs.
• Do cover the piano in non-slip blankets, folding
  the edges beneath the instrument and securing
  them with moving cords to protect its finish.
• Do place packing desiccants inside the piano
  before packing it up. If its loaded into a truck
  that stops in a humid environment overnight, the
  wood can warp and crack later on.
• Do secure the packed piano in the truck during
  loading. Any movement during transport can result
  in a damaged instrument, including damage that
  isnt immediately visible.

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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving

• Basic Considerations when Moving a Piano
• Dont leave the lid unlockeda bumpy ride or
  mistake can damage the instruments ivory keys.
• Dont try to leverage the weight of the
  instrument in one direction or another. Tipping
  the instrument over a set of stairs, for example,
  can put stress on the instruments midsection and
  permanently warp its frame.
• Dont use typical cargo straps for the piano when
  securing it. Buy or rent heavy-duty furniture
  straps that can reliably hold the instruments
  weight during transit.
• Dont pack the piano last. Put the piano in the
  very back of the moving truck, right up against
  the wall. If the interior of the truck isnt
  level, place some wood planks on the floor so
  that the weight is evenly balanced.

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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving
Safety Tips What youre wearing? It might not
seem like a big deal, but when dealing with a
heavy, cumbersome and awkward item like a piano,
a pair of baggy pants or the wrong shoes can make
a major difference. Dont wear anything that can
get caught on the instrument while its in
transit and be sure to wear the most slip-proof
pair of shoes you own. One wrong step can cause a
dangerous accidentyou dont want to take any
risks.
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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving
Safety Tips The pianos exact traveling path
This one is touched upon above, but you want to
make sure you know every detail of pianos path
to the loading truck. For instance, if you have
four movers helping out, who takes the lead when
the piano reaches the stairs? Who supports the
instruments weight from the back and who guides
it by directing its midsection? Leave nothing to
chance and discuss this before anyone puts on a
pair of moving gloves. Once youve arrived at
your destination, youll want to perform this
step all over again as well. Your pianos exact
measurements Once youve dissembled the pianos
legs and placed it on the moving dolly, take out
a tape measure and figure out whether it will
actually fit through the doorways you need it to
travel through. Make sure to accommodate the
instruments length as well, or you may find
yourself stuck at an angle in a small hallway the
piano cant clear.
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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving
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Dos and Donts for Piano Moving
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