A piano is one of the most challenging items in any home to move, and it is also one of the easiest to damage if it is not handled properly. Whether you have an upright or a grand, the preparation that happens before the move matters as much as the move itself. While the actual lifting and transport should be left to professionals with the right equipment, there are things you can do to prepare your instrument and your space for a smooth move. Here is what to know.
Understand Why Pianos Are So Difficult to Move
A piano is not just heavy, though it certainly is that. An upright can weigh between 400 and 900 pounds, and a grand can exceed 1,000. The greater challenge is that a piano’s weight is distributed unevenly, and its internal components are both intricate and fragile. The combination of extreme weight and delicate internal structure is exactly why pianos require specialized handling rather than the approach you would take with a dresser or a couch.
This is also why preparing a piano for a move is not a do-it-yourself job in its entirety. The preparation is something you can help with. The moving itself requires proper equipment and trained movers.
Do Not Attempt to Disassemble It Yourself
For grand pianos, disassembly is part of the moving process. The legs, lyre, and lid are removed before the instrument is moved on its side on a specialized board. This is not something to attempt on your own. The disassembly and reassembly of a grand piano requires knowing how the instrument comes apart and goes back together, and doing it incorrectly can damage the piano or cause injury. Leave this to the movers who handle pianos.
What you can do is make sure the area around the piano is clear and that the movers have a clean, unobstructed path to work in.
Clear and Measure the Route
Before move day, walk the full path the piano will travel, from its current location to the truck, and from the truck to its destination spot. Measure doorways, hallways, and staircases, and note any tight turns. Share this information with your moving company in advance so they can plan the approach and bring the right equipment. A piano that does not fit through a doorway is a problem far better discovered before move day than during it.
Remove any obstacles along the route. Rugs, furniture, wall decorations, and anything else that could get in the way or create a tripping hazard should be cleared before the movers arrive.
Protect the Surroundings, Not Just the Piano
Professional movers will wrap and pad the piano itself, but you can help by protecting the surroundings. Floors, doorframes, and walls along the route are all at risk during a piano move. Mentioning any particularly delicate flooring or tight spots to your movers in advance helps them plan to protect those areas.
Consider the Timing and Climate
Pianos are sensitive to temperature and humidity, both of which affect the wood, the strings, and the tuning. While a single move is unlikely to cause lasting harm, extreme conditions are worth avoiding when possible. Moving a piano on the hottest or most humid day of the summer, or leaving it sitting in a hot truck for an extended period, is not ideal. If you have flexibility on timing, a moderate-weather day is easier on the instrument.
Plan to have your piano tuned after the move as well. The combination of movement, vibration, and any change in climate at the new location will almost always knock a piano slightly out of tune. Wait a couple of weeks after the move for the instrument to settle into its new environment before scheduling a tuning, so the adjustment holds.
Keep the Keys and Lid Secured
Before the move, make sure the keyboard lid is closed and, if your piano has a lock, secured. This protects the keys during transport. Do not place anything on top of the piano or inside it thinking it will save a trip. Loose items can shift and cause damage to the instrument’s interior or finish during the move. The piano should travel empty and closed.
Leave the Move to Professionals
The single most important thing you can do to protect your piano is to hire movers who specialize in it. A piano should never be moved by a general crew without piano equipment and experience. In the Virginia Beach area, Tidal Town Moving handles piano moves with the proper boards, straps, padding, and trained crew that these instruments require. The preparation you do beforehand sets the move up for success, but the move itself belongs in experienced hands.
A well-prepared piano move is uneventful, which is exactly what you want. Do the prep work, hire the right movers, and your instrument arrives at its new home in the same condition it left.
