If you’re planning an upcoming move, you’re likely taking inventory of your items. What will you decide to keep and what will you get rid of beforehand? For those who have a piano, there might be stress about how to safely transport it from one location to another.
Pianos are wonderful musical instruments that instill creativity and produce beautiful music. It’s no wonder that many people have them in their homes! However, consider that moving a piano can be stressful and even dangerous, particularly if you do so on your own. It’s always highly recommended to call on professional piano moving services to take care of this on your behalf.
Equipment and Preparations
Taking the proper preparations and compiling the equipment is the first step in how to move a piano. It’s never ideal to have amateurs transport such a heavy, important item.
Here is some equipment that you should have on hand to safely move a piano:
- Tape
- Work gloves
- Dolly straps
- Heavy-duty dolly
- Plastic wrap or cloth
- Van ramp
- Weightlifting straps
- Cardboard pads
- At least four people
If you are not able to get at least four people together to help move the piano, it might be worth it to consider hiring a professional. Whether you need to transport a piano long-distance or locally, simply getting it onto the dolly can be a difficult task in and of itself.
Get Helpers
Once you have the moving supplies, begin to coordinate with those who will be helping you move your piano. As we mentioned above, you’ll ideally have at least four people for the job. If your piano is particularly heavy or if you’re going to need to move it through awkward spaces, you might need to enlist the help of even more people. Call on family, friends, and neighbors who have experience moving heavy items. Ideally, these individuals will be in good shape. They should all be wearing the appropriate moving clothes in addition to sneakers with good traction.
Take Measurements
Before you start the moving process itself, make sure to take the time to measure any place in your home through which the piano will pass. Always measure all doors, staircases, and hallways to determine if the piano will be able to maneuver through them.
As additional precautions, make sure that all of the doors are propped open and that you’ve taken measures to protect the floors. Also, consider if there is surrounding furniture that could get in the way of you and the move. In the case that you’re worried about the piano becoming scratched from the walls or sharp corners, make sure to wrap those corners with extra towels or baby-proof bumpers.
How to Move a Grand Piano
How to move a piano successfully starts with the right preparation. Start by lowering and securing the lid so it doesn’t become damaged in the process. You can also take a screwdriver to take apart the pedals and legs. Carefully remove the legs from the piano, but make sure that your team is in place to prevent the piano from tipping onto its side and hitting the ground.
Next, wrap all of the legs and pedals in different moving blankets ensuring that they are secure. Then, gently tilt the piano into the piano board and secure it with straps. As you are moving the piano board, it’s always ideal to use multiple team members to avoid accidents. Once you have successfully moved the piano into your new home, make sure to reassemble the pedals and legs.
Moving an Upright Piano
If you need to move an upright piano, you’ll want to make sure that you do the right preparation. Start by protecting the piano keys and the piano pedals. Use a blanket or sheet and use tape to secure it. Next, use moving blankets to cover the piano. Place the blankets on all areas of the piano including the front, back, and sides. You will likely need tape to secure the blankets in place.
As soon as the piano is fully covered in moving blankets, use your team to hoist the upright piano onto the dolly. As you are lifting the piano, make sure that there is someone on all sides of the instrument to avoid both injuries and damage. Always bend the knees to avoid hurting your back. As soon as the piano is loaded onto the dolly, you can move it to your moving truck.
Why You Should Hire Piano Movers Instead
As you can see, how to move a piano yourself requires a lot of time, preparation, muscle strength, and patience. Before you attempt to move the piano on your own, make sure that you have a good understanding of the costs and potential risks of your decision.
Hiring professional piano movers is often worth every penny. Although the cost will depend on how far you move the piano and the sheer size of it, there are undoubtedly fewer risks if you opt for this route. Hiring professional movers means that you don’t run the risk of becoming injured. Plus, professionals have the experience and equipment necessary to pull off moving a piano. Save yourself the time and stress and hire professionals instead.
Alliance Movers Can Help!
At Alliance Moving, we have the extensive piano moving experience to give you peace of mind. Don’t trust just any moving company with such an important task, make sure you do your research to find a reputable company with years of experience. We know that pianos are incredible assets to any home and we take pride in helping you safely transport your piano from one location to another. If you’re looking for a free quote for a piano mover, this is an excellent way to help you better understand how much your piano move will cost.
Please reach out to us to learn more about piano moving in addition to our other moving services!
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