Your upright piano may be one of your most cherished possessions. You may be worried about its welfare during your upcoming move to another state. Yet with some preparation and some expert help, all that worrying could be in vain. What do you need to consider?
It's best to ensure that your moving company has some experience in this area. They will need a sufficient amount of help in order to lift this item, as they definitely weigh a lot. So what's the procedure?
Preparation
First of all, you must check the lid and make sure that it is locked. For an upright piano, plenty of packing materials will be needed. You will need to wrap it securely, using pad moving blankets and securing tape. It's a good idea to remove the metal casters from the bottom, as they can easily be damaged.
While you are awaiting the movers make sure that the piano is in an area where there are no drafts and the humidity and temperature levels are stable. It should not be placed in any direct sunlight. A piano is very prone to wood damage caused by swelling in poorly air-conditioned areas. In addition, should the temperature drop very far it will go out of tune quite quickly.
How to Move
Generally speaking you will need two people to move an upright piano. It's best not to try and cut corners by bringing in some friends to help augment your moving company's team. Consult with them well in advance, to ensure they bring only specialised removalists.
Whenever an upright piano is moved it should only be placed on its end and not on its side. Due to the way that the delicate "harp" structure is configured within, damage can occur if lateral forces are applied.
If due care and attention is not engaged it's quite easy to break the legs off a piano. Never apply any strain to the front legs on an upright piano and it's best to tilt it slightly backwards, as it is moved.
Specialist Gear
Professional movers will likely bring a heavy duty-piano dolly, equipped with at least four and sometimes six wheels. This is used to move the instrument up ramps and over the odd step or two. If it is necessary to move across uneven ground such as a cobblestone or gravel driveway, then plywood sheets should be used to crawl the instrument along.
On the Road
Once the piano is in the truck, it will be placed with the keyboard facing the truck side and protected by pads on the side of the wall. A specialist mover will also keep the piano in as controlled a temperature/humidity environment as possible, during the entire length of your move. This will include the avoidance of direct sun as much as possible and parking the vehicle in a temperature controlled environment, where available.
For more tips or assistance, contact resources such as Aussiemove International Movers SA Pty Ltd.
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