18Nov

Reasons to Hire a Professional Piano Mover to Transport Your Piano

Moving is never easy, but when there’s a large, bulky, and unusual item like a piano, the task becomes an even more complicated challenge. Hire a piano mover to eliminate stress and enjoy a plethora of additional perks that simplify the entire move. Read below for more information regarding professional piano movers and the importance of having them on your side when relocating this precious item.

1. Avoid Damage

Some inexpensive pianos cost thousands of dollars, a price many consider anything but cheap. Other piano brands and models, like the expensive Steinway piano, may come with an $80,000+ price tag. Damaging this kind of possession is a devastating experience for any owner, though it’s one that is easily avoidable if professionals handle the removal process. They have all the necessary equipment, including piano moving knowledge, to avoid such a mishap.

2. Avoid Injury

Without proper tools, equipment, and a team of 4 – 6 men, moving a piano may result in a variety of types of injuries that send you to the emergency room for treatment. Did you know that a piano may weigh as much as 1,000-pounds? That’s a considerable amount of weight to pick up and move! Why spend your time in a hospital when there is a new home out there for you to enjoy? Professionals ensure you’re at the new house without any painful or life-altering injuries.

3. Save Time

Moving is a job you want to finish as quickly as possible. Piano movers certainly alleviate some of the time that it takes to relocate to the new home or business since they provide all of the items needed to complete the job. They have trained movers to move a piano and know how to safely strap and place it in the moving truck to prevent damages. Professional movers save an abundance of time when you want nothing more than to relocate and enjoy life at your new location.

4. Moving Truck

Maybe you have a team of family and friends assembled to move the piano. Where will you put it to transport to the new location? Don’t expect this item to fit inside the back of a pickup truck or a traditional rented truck. According to Imperial Movers, pianos need specialized containers and protective equipment to move to their new location safely, and piano movers provide you with everything you need for the move.

5. Peace of Mind

Moving experts know how to relocate you from one location to the next without the frustrations you’d experience attempting to move it yourself. You deserve that comfort at this time in your life. Moving is a big deal that offers many new exciting days in your life. With the help provided by a moving company, you’re sure to get that satisfaction.

Find a Professional Piano Moving Company Today

The advantages of hiring a piano mover are extensive, although there’s far more to appreciate than what’s listed above. No matter the size, brand, or style of the piano you’re moving, don’t do it alone or with a friend and take unfortunate risks. Professional piano moving service is reasonably priced and designed to eliminate those moving headaches you’d otherwise endure.

14Aug

How to Properly Disassemble a Grand Piano for Moving

Grand pianos are large and delicate, so its essential to know how to properly disassemble it when moving it to a new location. These instruments may weigh as much as 800 pounds, so moving them in separate pieces makes the move safer and protects the piano from damage. Here are tips on how to properly disassemble your grand piano for a cross-country move:

moving-a-grand-piano

Assemble the Tools

Before you start the process of disassembling the grand piano, you will need to assemble the proper tools for the job. These include:

  • Non-abrasive gloves
  • Furniture pads
  • Rubber Mat
  • Screwdrivers with both flat ahead and Philips’ heads

Remove the Piano Lead

First, Cheap Movers Boston (cheapmoversboston.net) indicates you will remove the piano lead by unscrewing the hinges, and this will help you separate the lid from the rest of the body. You should leave the straps of the piano attached to the cover as this will make reassembling of the keyboard much easier.

Remove the Music Stand

The second piece you need to remove is the music stand. You do so by pushing it forward towards the piano bench to separate it from the body of the piano. Using a furniture pad, you need to wrap the stand to secure it from any damage.

Take Off the End Blocks

For you to remove the end blocks (which are pieces of wood on the left of the lowest key and the right of the highest key) you will have to unscrew the bolts at the bottom of the piano since these blocks are attached at the bottom. Make sure to place all the bolts and pieces into a plastic bag, so they don’t get lost.

Detach the Front Board

This piece is either attached to the bottom by wooden pegs or by screws. If it is by the bolts, then you will grip it up and lift it straight up considering that you shall have removed the end blocks. If they are attached to the bottom by screws, by the use of the screwdrivers, unscrew and lift up from the body.

Remove the Keys

The piano’s action or keyboard is the board that contains the keys and their matching hammers. Disassembling this part is especially critical. First, you will need to lift off all the keys of the piano carefully by releasing the hammer. This is achieved by removing a couple of bolts and screws which hold the keys to the body of the piano. Wrap the screws and bolts in a non-abrasive cover for to keep them safe during transport.

To finish removing the action, you will need an extra person so that you simultaneously slide it out from the right and the left in an even manner so that the hammers do not interfere with any of the keys. Cover a table with non-abrasive material, so you have a place to set the action once it is removed.

Now, your grand piano is disassembled and ready to load onto the moving truck.

piano

07Aug

Five Things to Avoid Doing When Transporting Your Piano Cross-Country

Your piano may be one of the most precious items you own, so you definitely want to use caution when moving such a large, but delicate instrument. The piano is probably one of the most commonly moved large instruments. A piano is not something people wish to part with just because they are changing locations, but moving one isn’t as simple as loading it and taking off across the other side of the country. It requires detailed and unique planning, unlike other household furniture.

piano

Because of the risks involved with moving such a large instrument, there are five important mistakes you should avoid when transporting your piano:

1. Don’t Underestimate the Weight

The weight and dimensions of a piano can be deceiving. Most pianos weigh between 500-1200 pounds, depending on whether it’s an upright or a grand piano. Never try to move one by yourself. If you are using long distance piano movers, be sure to get as accurate of a weight as possible, so they ensure they have the appropriate number of moving crew. Moving a piano requires a lot of help, which leads to the next thing to avoid:

2. Not Recruiting Enough Help

It is always recommended that you use a professional moving company. They are experienced with larger items, and knowledgeable in how to handle and transport them. Even for a smaller piano, it requires at least 3-4 adults, which may not be readily available to you. Professional piano movers are also insured, protecting themselves and your prized possession.

3. Using the Casters for Moving

You have probably noticed the tiny wheels on the legs of your piano. These are the piano casters, and mostly for decoration, not function. If you have an older piano, the casters have aged with the piano as well and are even more unreliable. Even if your piano is brand new, the casters were not meant to support the entire weight of the piano and using them to do so should be avoided.

4. Using the Wrong Moving Equipment

Utilizing the proper equipment will ensure your piano arrives safely and damage-free. It also reduces the risk of injury to you and your helpers. Many people think just using a standard dolly cart will do the job when instead, a four-wheeled piano dolly is recommended. It’s also a good idea to invest in piano padding and straps.

As mentioned before, professional movers are always a good idea. They have the appropriate equipment to move large, heavy items such as this.

5. Not Allowing Enough Time

You’re excited to move to your new home, and you may even be on a time limit. But rushing during the move of a large object like a piano can be dangerous to you and your helpers. Plan ahead to allow plenty of time, so injuries, damage, and mistakes can be avoided.

moving-a-piano

Moving can be a stressful time, especially when dealing with huge pieces of furniture, equipment or instruments. Taking the safest approach to moving these items will result in a successful move, so when it’s over, you can relax and enjoy your new home…and your piano.

 

30Jul

What to Know Before Moving and Storing Your Upright Piano

One of the most popular gags in slapstick comedy is that of a giant piano (grand or upright, cartoonists often aren’t picky) falling from three stories onto a person. In this article, you’ll learn safe methods of moving and storing upright pianos so that this doesn’t happen to you.

piano1

Supplies You’ll Need for Moving

A couple of things to establish: first, if you call professionals to move your piano, they will usually have supplies necessary to do so. Second, you should never try to move a whole piano by yourself, because that could potentially result in injury to yourself and the piano. In case the movers are short some supplies or you do need to perform the move solo, West Coast Piano recommends these items:

Most upright pianos come equipped with wheels, but in instances of moving your piano over uneven terrain (such as grass, stairs, or changes in floor level), the dolly will give you that extra leverage and the sturdy wheels you’ll need.

Experts at the UK’s Fantastic Removal Services also recommend using tape (such as regular painter’s tape) to outline your path. Clear the way and measure everything out beforehand, so you don’t run into anything, but still use the blankets to cover your piano and ensure your walls or piano aren’t damaged.

You will also want multiple people present; at least 2-4 should be moving the piano itself, while one or two should be watching your path and making sure it’s safe.

Moving the Piano Up or Down Stairs

If you are navigating a staircase, this part of the move might require a professional hand. Moving straps are a necessity here, as well as the cardboard. Place the cardboard rectangles on each of the stairs (to avoid them sliding around, you may want to tape them down with your painter’s tape). Each person moving the piano should have a hold of one strap apiece. Now, slowly, carefully, move the piano down one step at a time and maintain clear communication between movers.

The method is the same for moving upstairs, but be aware that this will tire you out a lot more. Make sure to let the other movers know if you need to stop to catch your breath.

Once the piano is in the vehicle of choice, strap it down with the moving straps and get ready to do this all over again at the new location.

How to Store the Upright Piano

If moving the piano into a storage unit or other place where it will simply exist unused for a while, here are a few tips.

StorageFront recommends a climate-controlled storage space, as wooden pieces of furniture can be easily warped under the wrong conditions. Cheap Movers Charlotte (http://www.cheapmoverscharlotte.com/) also recommends polishing the wood before covering it with a light cotton sheet (but don’t polish the keys! take a damp cloth to them to dust them off).

upright-piano

Pianos may look big and sturdy, but they’re incredibly delicate instruments at heart. Be as gentle and smooth as possible when moving, even if just across the room. Give the piano some time to adjust once it has moved before getting it tuned, as the environment can play a critical role in a piano’s tone.

16Jul

DIY Piano Moving vs. Hiring Professional Piano Movers – Pros and Cons

Let’s be honest; a piano is a beautiful-sounding musical instrument, but when it comes to its physical dimensions and structure, a piano is a special kind of cargo. Depending on its unique design, a piano can weigh anywhere from a 300-pound spinet to a 1,000-pound concert grand, and when you want one moved properly, it’s truly a process that involves some physics and a team of seasoned professionals.

You can always attempt the do-it-yourself piano move, so let’s look at the pros and cons before that extremely bulky instrument heads out the door.

piano

Considering The Piano’s Internal Mechanism First

A piano’s intricate frame will tell the story; its heavy cast iron plate (harp) sits above the soundboard and holds the massive tensions of the strings. The cast iron frame is the heaviest component of the musical instrument.

Due to their size, uprights and grands have a larger harp than a spinet or vertical piano, for example.

A mammoth-sized piano will be more difficult to move to another place than a smaller one. The instrument is awkward when you’re trying to maneuver a tight corner or get up a steep staircase.

Non-Pros Will Need Four Essentials For Safe Moving

The experts at MyMovingReviews.com agree that a DIY piano move is not easy in any shape or manner because you risk injury to your body, harm to the piano itself, lost time if problems arise and more money to shell out if you end up with a busted piano.

A DIY move of a small piano can be achieved, but professionals recommend a team of able assistants and four essentials even to begin the process:

  • A moving dolly/hand truck with 4-heavy duty wheels
  • Furniture straps for security
  • Furniture blankets that are thick and protective
  • A moving vehicle with a loading/unloading ramp

diy-piano-moving

Piano Movers Are Experts Trained In Proper Technique

Professional piano movers exist because it’s a very tough job when a large piano is involved. The extreme weight of the piece is the main reason and trying to keep the bulky piece in balance is a major challenge. A lot of skill is required.

ResidenceStyle.com explains that it’s much more than just trying to mount a piano onto a dolly. Take, for instance, a grand piano; this exquisite instrument must be “broken down” first.

That technique involves taking off the three legs, the pedal box, and the music rack and mounting them on their long side onto a piano skid board.

Staircase or Crane, It’s A Heck Of A Climb Or Descent

The most dangerous part of piano moving is while carrying the bulky cargo up and down stairs. Take a look at three professionals heading upstairs here on YouTube.

Sometimes a crane is involved when the physical logistics just won’t cooperate. Either way, hiring professional piano movers makes sense. DIY piano moving is a lot harder, more exhausting and dangerous than it would appear.

10Jul

How to Ship a Piano You Bought in Another State

Moving isn’t easy. It’s made even more difficult when you have to move a piano across state lines. You can’t just throw it in the back of your car. Instead, you need to devise a plan for shipping it. This guide will help you determine the best way to ship a piano you bought in […]