Tips For Moving a Baby Grand Piano
Moving a baby grand piano without specialized help is risky and highly discouraged. Proper movement requires a lot of strength and many pairs of hands.
It’s recommended that the piano be padded on all floors it will be moved on, including the truck walk-board. Removing the lid and disassembling the lyre are also good preparations. Contact Charleston Baby Grand Piano Moving now!
A little preparation makes a big difference when moving a baby grand piano. If you’re going to take the DIY route, be sure to disassemble the instrument as much as possible to facilitate maneuvering through doorways and navigating stairs. Also, lay down protective paths inside your home using cardboard or old rugs to protect floors from scratches and scuffs. Lastly, clear the path through your house to your truck or container and remove any furniture that might block the piano.
Generally, it takes three or more people to move a grand piano. If your home has multiple stories, have one person hold the piano steady on each level while another moves it through doors and up or down staircases. When lifting, remember to bend your knees and not your back, communicate with your partners clearly, and lift in unison. If you’re not comfortable with this kind of work, consider hiring a professional team to do the job for you.
Once all the parts have been removed, make sure to wrap them in blankets and secure with tape. This will protect the delicate components from any damage during transport. It’s a good idea to remove the lid and pedals as well. If you’re shipping the piano internationally or to a country that doesn’t allow ivory, remove any components made of it.
The next step is to secure the instrument to a piano board or skid board, which will distribute the weight of the piano evenly and prevent any sagging during transit. For this, you’ll need at least two or three heavy-duty buckle straps. Place the straps over the body of the piano and secure them to the handles or indentations on the piano board.
Finally, wrap the entire piano in thick moving pads and fasten them securely to the board with straps. This will help prevent any movement or sagging during transport and reduce the risk of damaging the piano’s finish. This is an important step for any DIY mover to follow, but it’s essential if you’re working with professional movers. Be careful not to cut corners when it comes to this step, as damage to a piano can be costly and time-consuming to repair.
Lifting
A typical household furniture move can be accomplished with a two-man team, but moving a grand piano requires three people at minimum. For safety reasons, a larger crew is preferable. A heavy-duty furniture dolly rated for the weight of your piano and a piano skid board will be needed to safely lift the instrument. Professional piano movers will also use lifting straps.
The first step is to remove the lid and pedals from the piano. Next, the legs can be removed to make it easier to maneuver through doors and hallways. It is important to pad all floor surfaces throughout the moving process. Finally, the piano will be lifted onto the dolly and secured with ratchet straps. It will be carefully rolled out of the house and transported to the truck.
During this phase, a professional moving company will take special care to protect the piano from damage, and they will plan out the route ahead of time so that any obstacles can be dealt with before the move begins. If a piano is being moved up or down stairs, a professional will prep the staircases by removing any doorways, clearing away obstacles, and sometimes even creating a ramp.
Once the piano is on the truck, it will be secured with ratchet straps and carefully rolled to its destination. Once at the new location, a professional will help reassemble the piano, which involves putting back on the lid and pedals, and attaching the legs. This is a challenging task that is better left to professionals.
If you are attempting to move your own baby grand piano, it is critical that you prepare your home for the move. Clear out the space and remove any items that will be in the way of the piano, and place protective flooring over your carpet or hardwood floors. If you are planning on taking your piano into storage, it is a good idea to lay down some plywood or a truck walk-board to assist with the loading and unloading. It is also a good idea to protect the piano with moving pads and stretch wrap.
Transporting
A baby grand piano weighs between 600 and 1200 pounds, making it an extremely heavy and cumbersome object to transport. As such, it requires plenty of manpower to move. In general, two people are sufficient in household furniture moves, but if the piano must be moved up or down stairs, you’ll need at least three people to lift it. A fourth person may be needed for maneuvering the piano over obstacles such as threshold ramps or curbs.
Before attempting to move a grand piano, you should disassemble the legs and pedals. This will make the piano lighter and easier to move, and it will also reduce the risk of damage during transit. You’ll also want to prepare a piano board, a special platform designed to carry the body of the instrument. It has an elongated base with straps that are specifically designed for moving pianos. Once the body is wrapped, it’s time to load the piano onto the piano board. To do this, you’ll need to remove the wheels from the keyboard side of the piano. Once the piano is loaded, you can secure it to the piano board using ratchet straps.
Once the piano is loaded, you’ll need to prepare the truck for the ride. A padded piano cover should be used to protect the instrument from scratches, dirt, and moisture during transportation. If you’re unsure how to properly cover the piano, consult your local piano moving company for assistance.
The most important thing when it comes to a grand piano move is proper preparation. You should plan out the route before you start, and prepare for any obstacles that might arise. For example, if you need to take the piano down stairs, you should lay a piece of plywood on the stairs before you begin. This will help protect the piano from damage and will prevent the instrument from slipping off the stair.
When it comes to moving a grand piano, the best option is to hire a professional piano moving company. They’ll have the tools and experience necessary to get the job done quickly, safely, and without damaging the instrument. Most piano movers charge by the hour or offer a fixed rate, which includes both labor and tool costs.
Unloading
It is never a good idea to move a piano on your own or with minimal assistance. It takes a lot of work, equipment, and experience to successfully move a grand or baby grand piano without causing damage to the instrument and the people working on it. Piano movers come fully equipped with dollies, a truck, and special tools that help them relocate the piano quickly, efficiently, and safely. They understand the incredible sentimental and monetary value of these instruments, and they will take every precaution to protect them. If you are unable to afford a professional piano moving service, here are some tips for a successful DIY relocation.
Before you begin, it is important to prepare the piano for transport by covering it with heavy-duty blankets or padding. This will protect the instrument from scratches and other damage during transit. You should also remove the lid from the piano and disassemble the legs and pedals if possible. This will make it easier to maneuver the piano through tight spaces and narrow doors. Once the piano is completely covered with padding, it’s time to load it into the truck.
Loading the piano into the truck can be a difficult task, so it is best to have at least three people help you. One person should hold the piano steady while the other two walk behind it, pushing and pulling slightly to keep it in motion. It’s also a good idea to have someone stand in front of the piano to guide it down stairs and into tight spaces. Lastly, you should secure the piano in the truck by wrapping it with ratchet straps that connect to the slats on the walls of the truck.
Once the piano is loaded into the truck, you should cover it with more blankets or padding to protect it from any movement during transportation. You should also wrap it in stretch wrap to ensure that it is protected from moisture and debris. Once you arrive at the new location, you should carefully unload the piano and place it against an interior wall away from sunlight and vents.