7 Mistakes To Avoid When Shifting Your Grand Piano

Most people wouldn’t think of lifting a grand piano by themselves. It’s an intimidating piece of active furniture, and unless you’re Hercules, it will be pretty tough to move it on your own. But even if you have help, you still need to watch out for a few things when shifting your grand piano.

Of course, you don’t want to damage the smooth and weighty keys or the fragile strings inside. You also don’t want to scratch or dent the beautiful woodwork. Here are a few mistakes to avoid when shifting one of the most precious pieces in your home.

1. Pushing the Piano:

The tires used in the form of casters at the bottom must have given you the impression that you can just push the grand piano around like a shopping cart. But be very careful with this one. Pushing a piano can put a lot of strain on the frame and can damage its legs – if not, mar your hardwood floors. The casters are primarily decorative and may be brittle; pushing can cause them to break easily.

2. Tilting the Piano:

It is a big no-no. You might think that tilting the piano will make moving around corners or through doorways easier, but it’s very dangerous. The piano’s weight can cause it to topple over, which would not only damage the piano but also injure anyone nearby.

3. Not Using a Piano Dolly:

A grand piano is a huge and heavy object, and it’s not easy to move around without some help. You’ll need at least two people to lift it, and it’s also a good idea to use a piano dolly. It is a special platform with wheels that helps you move the piano without lifting it.

4. Not Securing the Piano:

Once you have the piano in its new location, it’s important to secure it so that it doesn’t fall over. You can attach it to the wall or floor using special straps or brackets. It is imperative to do this if you live in an earthquake-prone area.

5. Removing the Lid:

Not everything is removable on your gorgeous and melodious friend. While you can remove the leg panels, the keyboard lid is there for a reason. It protects the delicate strings and hammers from damage. So please, leave it on!

6. Not Detaching the Lyre:

A lyre is the name of the big, cast-iron plate that sits on top of the soundboard. It’s there to protect the soundboard from being damaged by the hammers. So when you’re moving your piano, make sure to detach the lyre and put it in a safe place. Removing it will reduce the weight of your piano and make navigating easy.

7. Not Padding the Piano:

The stunning wood exterior of your piano is one of its best features. But it’s also susceptible to damage. Make sure you wrap your piano in furniture pads or blankets to keep it safe from nicks and scratches.

Wrapping Up:

Planning the move and hiring the right people is essential to a successful piano move. You must also pay extra attention to getting it tuned once it’s in its new home.

PianoCraft, in Washington DC NW, offers tuning and servicing for all types of pianos. We deal in multiple brands of grand and upright pianos. Our services include piano tuning, refinishing, and restoration. You may book an appointment with us.

Contact us today for a sweet deal on your next piano purchase!