Overview

Whether your next move is a short or long distance, if you’re the owner of a piano, you may be wondering how you’ll get it from your current home into your new space without damaging it or any of its surroundings. In this blog post, Help Moving And Storage’s specialty item movers will tell you everything you need to know about securing your piano for a move. We’ll go over navigating challenges like stairways and tight corners to ensure your piano’s safe arrival.

Highlights

• Common piano moving challenges
• Preparing your piano for transport
• Navigating stairs and tight corners

Introduction

Moving a piano requires more than just strength—it demands precision, the right tools, and specialized expertise. Your instrument needs proper care, protection, and consideration to weather the relocation without a dent or scratch. After all, pianos are heavy and bulky and can sometimes be awkward to hold onto.

Let’s take a close look at common piano moving challenges, as well as some piano protection and transport practices so you can take your beloved instrument with you, no matter your destination.

What Are the Challenges of Moving a Piano?

Moving a piano to your new home is no small feat and comes with unique challenges.

First, there’s the sheer size and weight to contend with. Pianos can weigh anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand pounds, making them difficult to lift, balance, and maneuver. Their irregular shape adds to the complexity, especially when navigating tight spaces like staircases, narrow hallways, or door frames.

Even minor bumps or miscalculations can cause significant damage to your instrument or your home. Home damage might include scratched floors, dented walls, or broken banisters. Pianos are also incredibly delicate, with intricate internal components that can be damaged by jarring movements or improper handling.

Moving a piano requires specialized equipment to ensure its safety, and not everyone has access to these tools. In the absence of these, pulling off a successful piano move is a lot more complicated. If your new home involves stairs or elevators, the difficulty increases exponentially since these spaces demand careful planning and coordination to avoid accidents.

Without proper expertise, you risk injury from lifting incorrectly or losing control. These challenges make it clear that moving a piano is a task best left to moving specialists who understand how to protect your instrument and your surroundings.

How Do You Prepare Your Piano for Transport?

Preparing your piano for transport starts with cleaning it to remove dust or debris that could scratch its surface during handling. Once it’s clean, you should lower and secure the lid to prevent it from opening during your move. For grand pianos, carefully disassemble the legs and pedals using proper tools, labeling each part for reassembly.

After that, you’ll want to wrap your entire piano in thick, padded blankets to shield it from scratches, dings, and temperature fluctuations. Be sure to secure the padding with heavy-duty packing tape or straps. It also pays to make sure your moving route is clear of obstacles.

You should measure doorways, staircases, and hallways in advance to confirm that your piano can pass through without issue. Plan for additional hands or equipment for easy maneuvering when stairs or tight corners are involved.

Don’t forget to communicate with your moving team about any fragile areas or special concerns. Proper preparation minimizes risks and helps ensure your piano arrives at its destination in perfect condition.

What Padding Should You Use To Protect a Piano During Your Move?

Thick, quilted moving blankets are ideal for padding to safeguard your piano’s surface from scratches, dents, and other potential damage during transport. These blankets should be secured with heavy-duty straps made from durable materials like nylon or polyester, designed to keep the padding and piano firmly in place without causing pressure marks or slipping.

Quality moving equipment makes relocating heavy, bulky, specialty items a lot easier, so don’t be afraid to ask your prospective moving company about these and how they plan to use them to transport your piano.

How Do You Navigate Stairs and Corners During a Piano Move?

Navigating stairs and tight corners during a piano move requires careful planning, teamwork, and the right tools.

Take the measurements we discussed above, then remove any obstacles, including rugs or furniture, and protect your walls and railings with padding to prevent accidental scrapes or dents.

Using a piano board and heavy-duty dollies is a good way to overcome issues with bringing your piano upstairs, but you’ll also need multiple people on hand, with one or more guiding the piano from above and others supporting it from below to maintain control.

Communication between your moving team is another vital aspect, especially when making tight turns or adjusting your piano’s angle. Tight corners may require tilting your piano to avoid bumping into walls, so precise coordination and slow, deliberate movements are essential.

Experienced movers anticipate these challenges and use techniques to distribute weight evenly, preventing strain on the instrument or those handling it.

What Is a Piano Board and How Does It Make Moving Easier?

A piano board, also known as a skid board, is a specialized moving tool designed to transport the body of a grand piano. Made from durable, heavy-duty materials, it provides a stable, flat surface to support your piano during your moving process. The board has padded edges to protect your piano’s finish and heavy-duty straps to hold your instrument firmly, preventing shifting or tipping.

Once the legs and pedals of your grand piano are carefully removed, your movers will tilt the body onto the piano board and then strap it down. The board’s design makes it easier to maneuver your piano through tight spaces, staircases, and doorways by allowing your movers to distribute the weight more evenly and control the angle of movement.

The board’s smooth underside reduces friction, making it easier to slide or transport your piano over various surfaces without damage or injury.

Conclusion

Relocating a piano isn’t simple, but with the right preparation, tools, and expertise, you can look forward to playing your undamaged instrument in your new home.

Help Moving And Storage takes pride in offering professional, stress-free piano moving services. We deliver your prized instrument in perfect condition. Whether it’s navigating tight spaces or safeguarding intricate components, our team handles every detail with care and precision. Trust us to make your piano’s journey as smooth and secure as possible so you can focus on settling into your new space.