July 28, 2021
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A piano is one of the important but delicate instruments. Moving a piano long distance can be quite the task. Many important things need to be considered, and even more than the many how-to guides that you will come across during your research. This article is intended to give you a comprehensive guide on how to move a piano when  moving long distance without damaging it or yourself.

Moving a Piano Long Distance Bellhop Blog

How much do pianos weigh?

The weight of pianos varies depending on the make and model, but they can have an approximate weight of between 400 to 600 pounds. The instrument has enormous weight because of its solid harp made out of cast iron as well as a sound board that comes in either hardwood or soft wood. Although there are many parts inside the intricate machine-like contraption such as strings, hammers, dampers, pins, and keys – those just add up to more weight.

Spinet piano: This is a smaller, upright version of the traditional grand and baby grand pianos. Some models can weigh up to 400 lbs! They are beautifully crafted with intricate detail in each component such as strings for producing a sound that only adds to their appeal.

Upright pianos: An upright piano can have varied weights. The weight of a typical upright piano can easily reach 800 lbs. or even more.

Grand pianos: Grand pianos can weigh up to 1000 lbs., and sometimes even more for some specialized models, are exceptionally heavy, and difficult to move.

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The challenge in moving a piano long distance

Because pianos are some of the heaviest objects in a household, moving them can be one of the most difficult tasks to do. There’s no way they’ll just slide right out for you like other items; instead, it requires careful planning from every angle possible with multiple people involved to keep things steady on their sides so that nothing gets damaged or break.

Upright pianos tend to be rather tall, while grand pianos are notorious for their odd shapes. One troublesome problem in particular, even when moving a piano across the room is that it’s impossible to distribute evenly the extreme weight of such an instrument.

As a result, slight shifts in any direction can lead to much larger and unpredictable shifts in the overall balance and weight of the piano, thus making it extremely difficult to turn and maneuver the instrument around tight corners and steep stairs without personal injuries, property damage, or costly structural damage to the piano itself.

To avoid any mishaps, if you’re not well-prepared for the piano moving challenge then your precious instrument could be put at risk of being damaged forever (even when repaired). You need to have some proper guidelines on how to safely move it by yourself, therefore safely moving a piano long distance.

How to move a piano long distance by yourself

A valuable instrument such as the piano can difficult to move to long-distance, and while moving a piano by yourself is doable, there are hidden risks involved in the complicated process. People often damage some parts (such as the piano lid, piano board) of their piano while moving them. If you want what’s best for your prized musical instrument, then you must take all precautions when moving the piano by yourself, to prevent the accidental damage of both the entire piano casing and the delicate components. Below are useful tips that will help you move your piano safely:

Ask for help

Pianos may be heavy, but they can also be awkward to move. Uprights have their weight in the top half of the piano and fragile legs which make moving them require a few extra hands. Be sure you plan on at least four people who will help properly lift an average upright piano with ease when needed by calling for favors from friends and family members as well as offering something back like lunch or another favor in return after they’re done helping out.

Get the right equipment

Purchase heavy-duty piano straps that will hold the piano better. You will also need a dolly to help move the piano. Pianos can also be strapped to dollies and moving trucks. It’s always better to ask others for advice before deciding for yourself. They’ll guide you to the best tools and offer advice for different kinds of pianos. Moving blankets and padding are required to protect the piano from getting damaged. Walls will be protected, too.

The Better Way to Move

Protect the keyboard

The first step in moving a piano is to close and lock the keyboard lid. This will prevent it from opening during the move, but make sure that you don’t use tape on this fragile surface as this can damage both your wood or avoid closing the keys entirely if they are not able to be locked with a key attached at all four corners of each side of tune mechanism (the part where pianos’ strings come out).

Wrap the piano

For protection, use blankets or padding to wrap the piano. Ensure the corners are protected and tape the blanket down. Wrap the tape tightly around the piano. The blanket or padding should be thick enough to protect the piano from damage.

Lifting the piano

Keep the piano in an upright position when lifting it onto a furniture dolly or truck. Lifting the entire piano usually demands heavy lifting. If possible, lock the casters in place or ensure that the piano is well secured before you move it to another part of the house. Do not lift the piano by its legs.

Securing the piano in the trunk

Musical instruments movers that deal with giant instruments, suggest using wood planks to ensure a level of flooring for the piano. Most truck spaces are not level, so use planks along the back wall if you’re using wooden planks instead of metal. To protect the piano during movement in the pickup truck:

  • Lifting from the piano dolly, lower the piano onto the wood planks, and not on the trunk’s floor.
  • Secure the piano to the truck wall. You can use the moving heavy-duty straps to do achieve this step.
  • Ensure that the piano is unable to roll around or tip while the truck is moving.

Moving in and getting it tuned

When you move into a new home, make sure to take time and plan where the piano will go. You must know the dimensions of the doors the piano will have to pass through with care. The piano should be against an inside wall for protection from cold or damp weather conditions and certain stairs need more consideration when it comes to moving pianos up them because of their tightness in space (especially if they have elevators). Moving a piano necessitates tuning. The inner workings of pianos are extremely sensitive to movements and bumps. An expert technician that deals with musical instruments can tune it to sound like a new piano.

How much does it cost to rent a truck and move a piano?

If you are using the renting method, remember that renting a truck affects the overall cost of moving. During the moving process, it is important to remember that an expert piano shipping company, for instance, may have hidden moving costs. They may also charge the Day rate based on vehicle size, mileage, and fuel costs. Additional fees include extra supplies, equipment, and insurance. For smaller trucks, daily fees start at $19.99 per day and go up to $39.99 per day. Mileage often falls between $0.69 to $0.79 per mile during the week, and it can be higher during peak moving season. Additional fees for moving your rented vehicle to a different city may be required if you’re doing so long-distance. Get the accurate price and average prices of renting an entire truck.

Do I need to hire piano movers?

Moving a piano can be an incredibly complicated process, fraught with risks that are too many to count. While it may seem tempting to tackle the Herculean task yourself and save money on a professional piano mover, you’ll need extensive experience to get your precious instrument where it needs to go without damaging or losing any part of its sensitive construction – which not even years worth of training will adequately prepare you for. The safest bet, in some situations, is leaving this tough job up to those who have done them before: specialty movers dedicated exclusively towards handling pianos so they’re transported safely from one location and securely delivered at another. This often proves to be a convenient step to take in moving a piano.

The Piano moving companies specialize in safely moving large, heavy, and expensive pianos & organs with special equipment, dollies, and harnesses. Piano movers have specialized training and know-how to properly secure, transport, and set up the instrument with care and precision. They should be qualified to move the piano from a home, apartment, or business and safely maneuver the stairs. Additionally, interstate piano movers (moving state to state) need to be properly licensed to do nationwide moves across state lines. This is not the time to get help from friends and try to strong-arm this heavy move.

Even if you’ve waited until the last minute, our movers can help ASAP! Your piano might be a priceless antique passed down through the family for generations, or you might own a beautiful walnut Steinway grand that’s worth close to six figures. No matter what type of piano you own, it’s likely a cherished item that you want to preserve and protect. Moving a piano is nerve-wracking for any piano owner – a mishap could spell disaster for your beloved instrument. When transporting these behemoths, it’s essential to have the proper tools and training to ensure the piano stays intact and that no one gets injured. Piano movers have specialized knowledge and know the correct handling techniques to ensure smooth disassembly, transport, and set-up. They also have the equipment (i.e., dollies, blankets, and straps), to make sure no one throws their back out during the move.

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How much does it cost to move a piano?

Moving a piano can be a difficult task due to its weight and size. However, if you are moving an upright or baby grand down the stairs it is easier than with other pianos because they have fewer parts for dirt to get into when being moved. The average cost of transporting an upright piano will range from $400-$600 depending on factors like whether there are extra charges for going up any sets of stairs, what type of piano it is (grand), how old it is etc., but expect in general that this price isn’t likely much more than half as expensive as hiring experienced piano movers (or in some cases regular household movers) who ensure delivery of new instrument all over town.

The larger the piece, the more difficult and costly the move.” It is cheaper to move an upright piano than you’d expect. Piano moving costs also depend on age. An older piano is more delicate, and requires more attention to its assembly, crating, and reassembly. To move a piano, movers will typically charge an additional fee for each set of stairs they encounter. Moving costs increase as distance increases. For out-of-state moves, the costs are much higher.

Other Long-Distance Moving Guides

Long-distance moves are undeniably tricky. We’ve put together a few guides to help you manage some of the thornier points of a long-distance move. And of course, if you need help with your long-distance move, just give us a call. 

 
Harrison Stevens
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