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To move a piano – you either have to be lucky or very good. Let us take away the slim chance of luck and show you how its really meant to be done.
Many people consider moving to be one of life’s most stressful events. After all, it’s hard not to imagine becoming a victim of one of those unfortunate moving accidents.
If you’re planning to move soon, you’re likely worried about moving certain delicate or difficult to transport items. Hiring a moving company can take some of that stress away, but what if your movers need to move a piano? Moving large and fragile items like a piano requires special equipment and a careful approach.
Learn what it takes to move a piano and why you should consider leaving such a delicate job to the professionals.
What Type of Piano Do You Have?
Before you should even consider moving a piano, you need to know how much it weighs. Depending on the style, you may need specialized equipment or a few more hands to help you move it.
Break out the measuring tape and get the dimensions of your piano. Knowing this information ahead of time can also help your movers get an accurate assessment of the situation.
For reference, a small upright piano measures around 43 inches (109 cm) tall and weighs anywhere from 300 to 400 pounds. A large upright can weigh up to 1000 pounds.
There are also a variety of grand piano styles from a baby grand piano to a professional grand piano. Knowing the piano style and weight helps you and your movers determine which equipment you’ll need.
Having the Equipment to Move a Piano
Pianos have a lot of delicate internal parts, and you don’t want to damage your instrument by dropping it or banging it around. Antique pieces, in particular, need special care when moving.That’s why you’ll need specialized equipment when moving a piano.Make sure to cover the piano with moving blankets or padding to prevent scratches and dings during transport.
A piano dolly or piano skid board helps you or your movers transport the piano to and from a moving truck.You’ll also need enough straps to hold your piano in place during transit. This ensures that the instrument won’t tip or tilt off balance, which can cause damage. Make sure to get the right type of straps meant for moving a piano.
Getting Extra Help to Move Your Piano
Moving a piano is not an easy task and requires more than one person if you want to do the job right. You should at least have four people to help with this big job. Two or more to carry it, and at least one or two to direct the lifters around obstacles like stairs and corners.
Not only are pianos heavy, but trying to maneuver such a large instrument around corners or up the stairs is a daunting task. It can seem even more unnerving if you’re the one at the bottom of the piano.
It’s all too easy to feel the strain when you’re unaccustomed to carrying such a heavy load. If you lose your grip on it, you could cause injury to you and your team. You could also damage your hallways, floors, or stairs if you’re not careful.
Even with the help of specialized equipment, you could still injure yourself. Heavy lifting is one of the most common causes of lower back strain.
Think about it, do you want to tackle lifting a 1000-pound instrument when you could seriously hurt yourself in the process? Your friends and family probably don’t either, which is why you need to take certain precautions first.
Precautions Before Taking a DIY Approach
If you’re set on moving your piano yourself, make sure you know which steps to take to prevent injury and disaster. Follow proper lifting techniques to avoid straining your spine and back.
You should obtain all the necessary equipment to move your instrument and also know how to use it before the big day. Make sure you buy or rent equipment designed for moving pianos, such as the right size dolly and straps meant to hold the weight of your instrument. Piano casters can weaken over time or get stuck while moving, which is why you shouldn’t rely on them too much.
The Benefits of Hiring a Moving Company
There are certain benefits to hiring a piano moving company since they have all the expertise and equipment needed for the job. It can take a lot of stress off of you during your move if you place your piano in a professional moving company’s care.
Before the move, knowing certain information about your piano can help expedite the process. This makes everything easier for you and your movers.
Knowing about obstacles like stairs or narrow passageways helps your movers plan the route. It also helps your moving company prepare the right number of lifters and movers. Imagine doing it yourself, and finding out the piano was too large to fit around a hallway corner or up a flight of stairs. When you hire a moving company, they can determine any issues and obstacles before the move to ensure a smoother moving experience.
A moving company that deals with pianos have all the equipment necessary to move your instrument. This means that you don’t have to find the tools and materials on your own.
You also won’t need to worry about whether you could cause damage to your piano while tilting or moving it around. Your movers know how to prepare the instrument beforehand and how to transport it safely.
Preparing to Move a Piano
Knowing how to move a piano doesn’t mean you should attempt this tricky job on your own. Even with insurance, you could damage or destroy your investment.
Hiring piano movers to move your instrument for you can take some of the stress of moving off your shoulders. It’s the best course of action for those that are unaccustomed to carrying heavy loads and managing fragile items.
When it comes to making the moving process stress-free and straightforward, you can rely on Metropolitan Movers. Our trained crew members will ensure your piano gets to your new home safe and sound.
Contact us to talk to one of our representatives today.
