Pianos are expensive. And they’re heavy too …
This makes them a dangerous and expensive item to move. You could easily suffer personal injury or damage the piano. If you own a piano and are planning to move, it is important to consider how you intend to move it to your new premise. Often times, you should consider hiring professional movers to ensure that your piano is moved safely. This is especially important if the moving process involves bringing the piano down a flight of stairs, through small spaces, or into an elevator.
Here is how to safely move a piano.
Ask for Assistance
Pianos carry their weight mostly in the top half. The bottom part and the legs can be fragile. Therefore, you will need extra pairs of hands to be able to move the piano. Make plans to have at least 4 people for the piano move. Moving companies such as www.matcocalgarymovers.com can make arrangements to send in the number of movers needed to ensure that your piano is moved safely.
Get the Right Equipment
You will need to buy or rent heavy-duty straps. These provide a better hold on your piano when moving it. You will also require a furniture dolly with the ability to carry the piano’s weight. The straps will come in handy when securing the piano to the dolly and also after it’s loaded into the moving truck. You can get these supplies from a convenience store in your location.
Secure the Keyboard
The piano keys are fragile and need the best care during a move. The first thing you should do before moving the piano is to lock the keyboard lid. This ensures that it does not open during the move. This will protect the keys damage. In case the piano lid does not lock, you can still prevent damage by closing the lid before wrapping the piano. Avoid using tape to hold the lid down as this will damage the surface of the piano.
Wrapping the Piano
Once the lid is closed and locked, you need to wrap the piano using padding or blankets. The corners of the piano should be protected and the wrapping material secured using packing tape. The tape should not come into contact with any part of the piano surface. Ensure the padding layer is thick enough to cushion the piano from bumps and stress.
Lifting Your Piano
When lifting the piano, never lift it by its legs. The legs are the weakest part and cannot hold the weight of the piano. Make sure to lift the piano in an upright position. Letting it tilt and rest on the sides is not ideal for the inner mechanics of the piano.
When lifting, position two people on either end of the piano and ensure the moving straps are secured underneath the piano. With each end of the piano strapped and held by one person, you can securely place the piano on the furniture dolly. Ensure that the legs of the piano are flat on the dolly. If the dolly has casters, ensure that you lock them in place.
Once you’ve loaded the piano into the moving truck., strap it in place to avoid movement during transportation. Ideally, the piano should be packed at the back of the truck.
