If you’re planning on moving to your new home, you’ll need to start thinking about how you’re going to pack and move your special items such as your piano. Moving a piano is very difficult, you might want to consider hiring professional movers to do the job. Especially if you need to move the piano down a flight of stairs, into an elevator, or have tight spaces to navigate.
Pianos shouldn’t be moved carelessly as it could damage the piano’s wheels. To move a piano, we would recommend getting help from a licensed and insured local moving company that specializes in piano moves.
Protect the Keyboard
The first thing to do in moving a piano is to close and lock the keyboard lid. This will prevent it from opening during transportation. The keys are delicate and need to be protected.
If the keyboard lid does not lock, make sure that the lid is shut when you wrap the piano. Don’t use tape to keep the lid closed as this will damage the wood surface.
Ask for Help
Pianos are incredibly heavy and are made up of complex keys, hammers, and strings that are easily damaged. Therefore, it is easy to damage your floor as well as your piano if you attempt to move your piano without advice or help.
It’s highly recommended to get help from a reputable moving company to move your piano.
Create an Easy Access Route
Before even attempting to move your piano, you must create an easy access route for the movers or for yourself if you’re doing it without a professional.
Look out for possible obstacles, such as small doorways that you will struggle to get your piano through, in your current house, and in your new house. If you hire a professional moving company, you need to discuss these issues with them before the move takes place so they can plan accordingly.
Packing Your Piano
If you hire a professional moving company in Poughkeepsie, NY to help you move your piano, then they’ll provide the packing equipment. If you’re not hiring a moving company, you’ll need to gather your packing materials and equipment in advance.
You will need:
• Measuring tape
• Packing tape
• Moving ramp
• Non-slip gloves
• Protective covers or old bedsheets/blankets
• Moving van
Wrap the Piano
With the blankets or padding, wrap the piano. Make sure the edges are protected and secure the blanket with packing tape. Keep the tape from contact with the piano’s surface.
Make sure that the blanket or padding is thick enough to keep the piano protected from any impacts during the move.
Lifting the Piano
When lifting the piano into position, whether that’s onto the furniture dolly, onto the truck, or to another location within the house, you must remember to not lift it by its legs. Also, keep the piano in an upright position.
1. Position two people on each end of the piano and place the moving straps under the piano’s bottom, with a strap on each end.
2. With one person holding one each end of each strap (you should now have four people helping, each supporting the four corners), lift the piano onto the furniture dolly.
3. Now secure it, ensuring that the piano legs are sitting flat on the dolly.
4. If the piano has casters, you need to either lock the casters in place (if possible) or ensure that the piano is well secured.
Securing It in the Truck
The piano should be placed at the back of the moving truck next to the back wall, the wall that separates the truck’s interior cab from the cargo space. It will be one of the first items you pack and one of the last you unload at your new home.
Many piano movers suggest using wood planks to ensure a level of flooring for the piano since most truck spaces are not level. This helps reduce pressure on the casters and piano legs which will strain to support during the move.
Moving In
Before you move into your new home, make sure you know exactly where to place the piano. It should be against a wall or an inside wall where it will be protected from the cold and moist.
Professional Piano Movers
Your Hometown Mover is better equipped to transport delicate objects such as pianos at affordable rates. Your Hometown Mover has the equipment and experience to get the job done. Call us at (845) 419-3808 and get a free moving quote.
