The piano is not only a piece of furniture but is considered one of the most expensive musical instruments, which carries a strong signature of social status. Moreover, it has a great role in every home by bringing together families and friends with the power of music. Some people considered it the easiest instrument to play since you just need to press a key to produce a beautiful sound. But it is the total opposite if you want to move one.
Pianos are awkwardly shaped, heavy, and fragile furniture that many people are having a rough time moving. If you are planning to move your piano, you have two options; you can hire professional piano movers or you can do it by yourself. But if you are really determined to move the piano on your own, then here are some helpful tips for you to do it safely.
Getting Measurements and Clear Paths
Remember, a piano is not only heavy but also awkwardly designed and fragile, so you need to cautiously get the proper dimensions of the piano as well as the path you’ll move it along. Measure your staircases, doorways, and hallways to assess how easily you can move your piano. In addition, clearing and removing all decorations and possible obstructions is also important for an easier move. Of course, you don’t want to be stuck on the staircases during your moving day.
Getting the Right Equipment
Once all the measurements are acquired, getting the right equipment is important. You need to prioritise the safety of the piano and of course the piano movers. Scratched furniture, dented railings, smashed toes, fingers or even pulled muscles are usually possible problems of the move. To make sure everything is prepared, please consider getting the following equipment:
- Work gloves
- Heavy-duty tape
- Moving blanket/pads
- Four-wheel dolly
- Dolly straps
- Ramp
- Weightlifting straps
- Moving straps
These are easily available at hardware stores or you can borrow or rent these items. Now, you are one step closer to your piano move.
Getting Help
The right number of people plays a vital role in moving the piano. A minimum of 4 people is required - maybe more, but it depends on the size and the complexity of the move. Usually, 2 or 3 people do the heavy lifting and others may guide them to and from the moving truck. This is a good time to ask for help from friends, families or neighbours who have moving experiences and are physically fit. Make sure that they wear proper moving clothing for a safe and comfortable move.
Protection for the Piano
This step is one of the vital steps you need to do carefully to avoid any unnecessary damage to the piano. There are 2 types of piano: upright and grand piano. For a grand piano, you can disassemble its legs and pedals while for an upright piano, it remains intact.
For both types of piano, you need to secure and protect the keys - make sure to put the lid down over the keyboard and lock it into place. However, if it doesn’t have a lock, avoid using tapes directly in contact with the piano since it can cause damage. Instead, just wrap the lid in a way that it should always be closed shut.
Next, you need to make sure that the whole piano body is secured, especially the corners. For a grand piano, disassemble its legs and pedals and separately wrap it with moving blankets or paddings. Make sure to prevent the side of your piano from hitting the ground once the legs are removed. Now, wrap the piano with moving blankets or paddings secured with heavy-duty tapes. Blankets or paddings should be thick enough to keep protect your piano from any bumps, dents, or scratches during the move.
Move the Piano
Once the piano is all safe and secured, you can easily and carefully move the piano onto the dolly. Considering its inner mechanics, it’s not good to set it on its side. Remember to keep the piano in an upright position. Once it is already positioned in the centre of the dolly, secure it with dolly straps or ropes and move slowly along the cleared path. If you’re moving it down a staircase, prepare a ramp prior to the move to lead it downwards. Lastly, push the piano up the moving truck ramp and secure it up against the back wall with moving straps. Just follow these steps once you arrive at your destination.
DIY piano moves can be a lot of hard work and stress. You not only worry about the safety of the piano, but the people moving it. Now, if you feel unsure and intimidated about moving a piano on your own, it is best you seek help from professional piano movers. They are fully equipped and have enough experience to do the job. You sure can say that you are moving your piano the right way!
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