What equipment do I need to move a baby grand piano?
What equipment do I need to move a baby grand piano?
To properly move a grand piano or baby grand piano you will need to have various sized screw drivers to disassemble parts of the piano, moving pads to cushion and protect the piano, stretch wrap to secure the moving pads, moving straps to allow proper handling of the piano, and a piano skid to safely transport your … While baby grands are easier to move than other types of pianos, they are still incredibly heavy and need special knowledge and tools to be able to move properly. If you have experience and tools, then you can move it yourself. Otherwise, you’re likely better off calling a mover to help you out. Although it is possible to move a piano on your own, we highly recommend hiring piano movers. For an item as complicated and valuable as this, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. The average upright/vertical piano weighs anywhere from 200 to 1,000 lbs. or 91 to 545 kg. The average baby grand piano (under 5′ 6”) weighs around 700 lbs. or 317 kg. A full concert grand pianos can weigh up to 1,200 lbs or 544 kg.
What is the average cost to move a baby grand piano?
On average, moving a piano in the U.S. costs around $400—give or take about $100. Some companies could charge as low as $150, while for longer distance or more complex moves, the price can rise as high as $2,000 or $3,000. Worth the Cost Moving a piano from one place to another may seem expensive, but it’s well worth the money. You won’t have to ask friends to help you and you won’t have to waste your time moving the heavy piano all day long. Instead, you will have a professional taking care of it for you while you sit back and relax. The average price to tune a piano ranges from $65 to $225, and the cost can increase by several hundred dollars if the piano requires multiple tuning sessions or repairs. Piano tuning is a skill that only experienced professionals should do. Before moving a piano yourself, take in mind that it is a dangerous task and think about calling for help. It’s highly recommended to call a professional mover if you think you won’t be able to move the piano by yourself, even though the removals service prices are not low for piano removals. Important! Most upright and grand pianos have built-in casters, which make the instruments easier to move. However, these small wheels are only intended for short moves; they’re not meant to be used in place of moving dollies. You can load the legs and pedals on a hand truck to make moving easier and more efficient. Next, with one person on each side of the piano, lift the piano on its side and slide it onto the dolly. Make sure everyone is still holding their side of the piano as you secure it to the dolly with tie down straps.
Where is the best place to put a baby grand piano?
It should be placed in a spot facing out into a room to make for better acoustical sounds. It should not be placed too close to a window, where sunlight could have negative effects both on the finish and acoustics of a baby grand. If the piano is near a window, the window should be covered with curtains or a shade. It should be placed in a spot facing out into a room to make for better acoustical sounds. It should not be placed too close to a window, where sunlight could have negative effects both on the finish and acoustics of a baby grand. If the piano is near a window, the window should be covered with curtains or a shade. Avoid placing a piano in front of a window Direct sunlight and exposure to temperature fluctuations or wind can damage your piano’s finish, dry out the soundboard, and cause it to go out of tune more quickly. Avoid placing a piano in front of a window Direct sunlight and exposure to temperature fluctuations or wind can damage your piano’s finish, dry out the soundboard, and cause it to go out of tune more quickly. It’s best to use or design a room in which the short and long wall lengths and ceiling height are in ratios of 3 or 5, not 1 or 2. Avoid square rooms. Do not position a vertical piano or the tail of a grand in a room corner. Place a vertical piano along the short wall, one-third or one-fifth of the way from a corner. Ideally, a piano player should play piano on a bare floor—not on a rug or carpet (unless they live in an apartment building and need to dampen the sound). The natural way to listen to orchestral instruments, including a piano, is on a hard floor. The ear simply wants to hear the reverberation off hard surfaces.
How many people do you need to move a baby grand piano?
Baby Grand Pianos It will take three or four people to move once the legs and pedals have been removed. Parlour Grand pianos are a little bigger but can usually be moved by a crew of the same size. Given a piano’s value, the instrument must be handled with the utmost care, making professional movers all the more necessary. However, if hiring professional movers isn’t in your budget or timetable, it is possible to move most pianos with the help of friends. Pianos are so large, that to dispose of them you have to get specialist movers to take them away (for a price). This is the reason you see Upright and Grand pianos so cheap on eBay. The seller can sell the piano for next to nothing, just so they don’t have to spend any money on the removal companies. Some piano manufacturers may classify their grand pianos into just three size categories: baby grand, grand and concert grand. Within these categories, a baby grand piano will typically be any piano under 6″ long, a grand will be between 6″ and 7″ and a concert grand will be any grand piano longer than 7″. Piano Specific Moving Dollies Dollies are basically wheeled platforms designed to move heavy objects, those that are typically too heavy or bulky to carry by hand simply. It doesn’t take a lot of movement to knock a piano out of tune, which is the least damaging thing to expect when moving it. Inexperienced movers often cause significant damage to the piano’s inner workings, which can cost quite a bit of money to repair.
What equipment do piano movers use?
Piano Dollies Once movers secure the lifting and tying straps, they can lift the piano carefully onto its dolly. The dolly can then slowly roll the piano into or out of the space. Dollies are an essential piano moving tool because: They make it easier for movers to transport pianos that often exceed 500 pounds. To move a piano using a skid board, you strap the body of the instrument to it. Then, you put the board on a piano dolly and the body is moved. Movers pads or blankets: These blankets or pads will protect the finish of your piano during the move. A grand or baby grand piano takes a little bit more effort to move. First, lower and secure the top of the piano’s lid. Then, disassemble the piano pedals and legs and carefully wrap them in the moving blankets. Next, wrap the piano’s lid, keys and sides in moving blankets and secure with packing tape. Before moving a piano yourself, take in mind that it is a dangerous task and think about calling for help. It’s highly recommended to call a professional mover if you think you won’t be able to move the piano by yourself, even though the removals service prices are not low for piano removals. Important! It takes at least four people to efficiently move a piano, with two to three people doing the heavy lifting, and the others guiding them to and from the moving truck or van. You may need more, however, depending on the size of the piano and the complexity of the move. Do not try to move a piano without specialist help. The risk of damage is increased if your keyboard instrument is handled by people who do not have experience in piano removals. So when you get quotes for your move, ask for assurance that your piano will be handled by someone with the relevant expertise.