An upright piano can weigh from 130 to 400 kg, and moving such a load requires the intervention of several people. It is important to work taking your time and to be very careful not to damage the instrument, other furniture, walls and floor. Injuries represent a further potential problem of a poorly executed lift; however, by taking basic safety measures and having enough helpers available, you can move the piano without any problems.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing for the Move
Step 1. Organize a team
Call friends, neighbors, and relatives and ask them to help you move the piano. At a minimum, you need a group of four people in good physical shape who can dedicate an hour or two to work; the more manpower there is, the better it will be. Five adults with average physical fitness are more efficient than three less robust individuals.
- Do not seek help from people who have suffered a back, leg, hip or arm injury in the past.
- Children shouldn't help out.
Step 2. Wear the right clothing
Spend some time choosing clothes that are comfortable and loose enough to give yourself some flexibility; for example, pants that are too tight may tear as you squat to lift the piano. Wear athletic shoes or work boots with a tread pattern that ensures good grip indoors and outdoors. Put on a pair of work gloves with rubber palms for a firm grip.
- Do not use dangling jewelry, such as necklaces and bracelets, as they may get caught in small spaces when moving.
- Avoid clothes that are too loose, as they can prevent you from moving.
Step 3. Cover the keyboard
To protect it from possible damage during movement, lower the lid and lock it in place. If there isn't a lock, use duct tape that won't remove the paint or finish, such as paper tape or electrical tape.
Step 4. Protect the instrument with moving blankets
Ask at least two people to move it about 6 inches away from the wall by pulling it by the front legs. Use electrical tape or paper to secure blankets or other padded fabric, covering all painted or lacquered surfaces; this way, you prevent the piano from getting dented or scratched while taking it to the van and during transport.
Some vertical models are equipped with cylindrical handles on the back, connected to the supporting structure; be careful not to cover them with blankets, as you have to grab them to lift the tool
Step 5. Clear the path to the exit
Move any furniture or carpet that may be in the way as you slide the floor towards the door; if this doesn't stay open by itself, ask someone to hold it still. Make sure children are supervised during these operations and that they stay away from the path.
Step 6. Arrange the ramps
If you have to haul cargo down the porch stairs, you need metal ramps; you can rent them from a moving company and sometimes from the same company that provided you with the van. Fit all ramps in place, including the one in the van compartment, before starting the move.
To find a flight of stairs, do a search online or in the yellow pages
Part 2 of 3: Moving the Piano to another Home
Step 1. Assign positions to the helpers and prepare the trolley
Use a platform with four wheels that is at least half the length of the instrument; place it under it, in the center, about 5 cm from the pedals. Make sure that there is a helper on each side of the table and another in front to keep it stationary on the trolley; there should be a fourth person watching the work, to avoid any collisions with the walls or furniture and to keep the doors open if necessary.
Step 2. Find a firm grip
People on each side of the piano should grab it by the edges under the keyboard using one hand, while with the other they grab the handle on the back. The helper in front should stay just behind the carriage and keep their hands under the keyboard.
If there are no handles on the back, there should be a horizontal board towards the center or top of the structure; if this board is at the top, push it up with the palms of your hands to lift the tool
Step 3. Move it to the cart
People standing on the sides should start lifting it by squatting; in this way, most of the effort is transferred to the leg muscles and back damage is avoided. Coordinate the team by counting to three and then lift the tool all together, just enough to slide the cart under it. The person in front should support and guide the piano once it has been raised, stepping back and helping others to place it perfectly in the center of the platform.
Be careful that the weight does not transfer to one or both of the thin front legs of the piano; to do this, tilt it back slightly as you lift it
Step 4. Secure it to the cart
Use moving straps or ropes to tie it to the platform; pass them under it, over the piano and then fasten them with buckles or knots on the back of the instrument. They should be taut enough to be able to drag the cart with them when the table is raised.
Step 5. Push it to the exit
Helpers on either side should guide him slowly across the room to the exit door; make sure it is always stable when you face rough terrain. At this point, the person in front can help the observer during the movement.
Step 6. Clear the way out
When you are on the threshold, lift the upper part of the tool slightly, pushing it from behind at the same time until the first pair of wheels of the trolley have cleared the obstacle; afterwards, the assistant who is still in the house lifts the rear part a little, while the one who is already outside pulls the top until the second pair of wheels also crosses the threshold of the house.
Step 7. Guide him down the flight of stairs
If the porch has steps and you are using ramps, ask two helpers to stand in front, while the third stays behind the floor; those in front bear the weight on the way down, while the individual behind guides the piano from above.
- Proceed slowly taking small steps at a time as you pull and push the load down to the ground.
- Ask observers to report any cracks or openings in the ground as you drive the truck up the van ramp; if possible, avoid these irregularities or overcome them slowly.
Step 8. Push the floor onto the ramp of the van compartment
The two strongest helpers must stand behind the trolley, one person must remain in front, while the fourth is positioned along the side of the ramp, near the rear of the instrument. While the helpers at the rear push the load onto the ramp, the one in front guides it into the van. The person on the side stabilizes the floor in case it starts to lean perpendicular to the ramp.
Step 9. Secure it inside the van
Push it until it rests against an internal wall. Using moving straps, tie it lengthwise to the support bars that are inside the means of transport; check that the straps are tight to prevent the table from moving more than 2-3 cm.
Part 3 of 3: Bringing the Piano to a New Home
Step 1. Take it out of the van
Once you arrive at your destination, untie the safety straps that secure it to the interior walls of the vehicle. Place the two strongest helpers at the base of the ramp, one inside the van and the fourth along the edge of the ramp near the back of the piano; then slide it slowly down the inclined plane.
Step 2. Bring it to the new home
If the porch has steps, use the stair ramps and have the two helpers push the piano upwards while a third one, positioned in front, guides it along the path. Slowly lift the cart, one pair of wheels at a time, to make it cross the entrance threshold.
Step 3. Put it in the final location
Move it with great care in the new home to the final room; remove the straps or ropes securing it to the platform and push it close to the wall. Arrange the team of helpers, so that there is one person on each side and a third person in front, near the keyboard, holding the cart; raise the latter by crouching and pull out the platform. The people on the sides can now place the piano on the ground very slowly.
Advice
- Pianos can be forgotten during transport; it is therefore worthwhile to grant them again once the final seat has been reached.
- Avoid bumpy roads, especially tarmac holes when transporting the piano to its destination; jolts can damage the internal mechanisms and ruin the tuning.
- To bring the upright to the lower or upper step, wrap the band under the front end of the cart, right between the wheels, using it to tilt the platform up or down, while a helper holds the instrument to guide it in the final position. In this way, people do not have to bear the weight of the tool and can use the trolley as a lever to reach the next step.
Warnings
- Do not move the piano on its wheels, as they are too weak to support its moving weight.
- Do not use a carpeted cart; the piano may slide forward and tilt, opt for a rubber-coated platform instead.
- Moving a vertical plane on a trolley can dent the parquet and chip the tiles; you should put some kind of protection on the floor, such as plywood boards.
- Some musical instruments have a supporting structure in the lower part; in this case, the piano tends to lean forward towards the keyboard.
