Josee Lajoie

How do you move a piano? Very carefully. 

Okay, I'm being a little sarcastic, however transferring a piano is a critical endeavor. 

I'm a big advocate of hiring a professional mover to maneuver a piano. Pianos are heavy and it's easy to damage a piano whereas shifting it. I'm speaking from experience. I own a Kimball piano my parents bought model new for me once I was a child. That piano was a giant deal to me after having performed on an previous "clunker" of a piano for several years. I played that new piano each day. 

When I bought married it was time to maneuver the piano to my own home. My husband and his brothers moved it themselves. It wasn't a straightforward job even with the transferring dolly they used (pianos weigh a number of hundred pounds - grand pianos can weigh 1,500 kilos). The newbie move of my piano resulted in each of the piano legs being broken (a common occurrence when folks transfer a piano themselves) and some unplanned inner work (some pins wanted repair and a string broke). I ought to have hired a piano mover. Then I wouldn't have had these issues, however my husband and I believed we'd get monetary savings by doing it ourselves. It was a lesson I ought to have remembered, however I was silly a second time. 

A few years in the past my husband and I constructed a new house. When it got here time to move the piano again, my husband was reluctant to hire someone to maneuver it professionally as a result of our pocketbook was already feeling empty from the expense of constructing the house (he referred to as our new home a "money-sucking black hole.") In his mind, transferring it wasn't a big deal. Our new home was less than two miles from our previous one; and he had a dolly, a trailer, and a brother who was prepared to help him. 

The whole lot went okay until my husband turned into the driveway of our new home. The sharpness of the flip strained the ropes holding the piano on the trailer and they broke. The piano tipped over and sustained loads of injury (the entire "guts" of the piano are ruined and the case is chipped and scratched). I haven't had it fixed but, but I've gotten an estimate. It's going to take numerous time and money to fix the piano. It must be completely rebuilt. Due to the labor involved, it might be cheaper to purchase a brand new piano than have it mounted, but the piano has a whole lot of sentimental value to me so I'll have it fixed. This is the reason I say, "Rent knowledgeable!" 

What does an expert piano mover do to ensure a secure and successful move? With upright pianos, they nearly always strap the piano on a skid referred to as a piano board. They also cover the piano with blankets to help defend it. The whole bundle is then typically placed on a dolly and taken to its destination. If steps are concerned, the piano is taken off the dolly and slid up or down the steps on the piano board. 

Transferring a grand piano is a bit more involved. The lid, lid hinges, pedal lyre, and leg on the straight facet of the piano are normally all removed. The piano is then put on the piano board, on its aspect, with the straight side down. The other legs of the piano are then removed. The piano is then lined with blankets, strapped to the board, and put on a dolly. 

Some movers don't like to maneuver a piano up or down stairs. If it's feasible, they like to hoist it to the suitable ground by way of a window that's large enough to accommodate the piano. 

So what do you do for those who simply wish to move your piano from one part of a room to another? First, determine if it's really important to maneuver it as a result of there's always the risk of damaging a piano even with a short move. Piano legs are the most definitely factor to get damaged or broken. 

Be very cautious to avoid placing an excessive amount of weight on the legs. Get a number of robust folks to assist if the piano is an upright; and get a minimum of 5 people if it's a grand piano. With an upright or spinet, tilt the piano again slightly to take the pressure off the front legs, but be careful not to tip it back too far and tip it over. With a grand piano, carry the piano up enough to get the pressure off the legs earlier than you attempt to move it. It's not crucial (and not really helpful) to carry the piano off the ground entirely. 

In the event you're going to move a piano usually, think about having it fitted with special casters that will let you transfer the piano pretty easily. Or, have the piano placed on a piano truck. 

The way you do you find a good piano mover when you've decided to not try and move it your self? My suggestion is that you just call your local piano store and ask them for recommendations. They should be capable to provde the title or names of respected movers in your area. 

Okay, so you've determined you're undoubtedly going to maneuver your piano and you've selected a method. Now it's a must to work out the place you're going to put the piano. The place should it go? 

Try to put your piano in an space of a room the place there are little or no drafts, the place it's out of direct sunlight, and the place the temperature and humidity are stable. It's because pianos are delicate to humidity and temperature. Plenty of temperature and humidity swings cause a piano to go out of tune sooner than normal, can damage the wooden case, and if they are severe they can even eventually cause structural failure. 

Don't place your piano over or subsequent to a heat vent and keep away from putting it close to a fireplace. Don't put in front of a window because that's typically a drafty place in addition to one with direct sunlight. Attempt to discover a room in your house or apartment that has constantly stable temperature and humidity. That is the finest room in your piano. 

In case you can't find a place in your condo or dwelling that's out of direct sunlight, free of drafts, and doesn't have massive temperature swings, you could want to consider having a local weather control system put in in your piano. 

Moving and putting your piano appropriately will help ensure you could have a stunning instrument to play for a very long time slightly than having what I now own - an oversized paperweight that must be dusted.