How to Move a Piano Safely
Many people want to know how to move a piano safely
when they are planning to move because pianos pose a unique
challenge in the moving process. Pianos are usually bulky and
fragile and because the doors in many buildings are not wide enough,
it takes a professional mover to get the piano in or out of the
house safely.
In some cases, the move is into or out of an apartment building and
since many of such buildings can only be accessed through stairways
or elevators, pianos cannot be accommodated. In such a case, there
is need for professional movers with specialized equipment such as
cranes to lift the piano into or out of the building.
You can move the piano yourself, but this has some pros and some
cons that have to be weighed against each other. Cost is the major
advantage and this is because you can have family and friends help
in the moving – movers can be very expensive. The major advantage is
convenience since it is possible to move day or night.
When moving the piano yourself, it is wise to call on friends and
family to assist. You should find a truck that is big enough for the
piano and the piano should be wrapped well to prevent scratches and
other physical damage. It is important to note that you can only
move the piano by yourself if you are moving to a house that does
not require cranes to move bulky things through windows.
When moving the piano using professional movers, safety can be
enhanced by entering into an agreement with the moving company that
if the piano is scratched or broken, or even stolen, the company
will bear all the costs.
A standard upright piano weighs anywhere between 200 and 450
kilograms and a grand piano can weigh anywhere between 350 and 650
kilograms. The cost of a piano can be as much as 500,000 dollars,
depending on the piano’s make, age, model and condition among other
factors. In some cases, the piano might need to be disassembled to
move it in or out of the house. These are some of the reasons why a professional mover should be contracted to move the piano.
Irrespective of who is moving the piano, wrapping should always be
done. The process for doing this is to close the piano, to get
thick, soft blankets for wrapping up the whole piano and then
securing the blankets with tape. It is important to avoid getting
any tape directly on the surface of the piano as it might spoil it
during unwrapping. This wrapping minimizes the risk of scratches and
other damages.
When the piano is being moved, it is important to create space along
the path to avoid bumping the piano into anything that might cause
damage. This should be done in the house you are moving from and in
the one you are moving into.
When doing the actual moving, it is important to ensure there are
enough people to lift the piano safely, to use large rolling carts
if they are available, to lift from the knees so as to avoid
straining the back, to avoid moving it sideways and to move it
slowly.
