Whether you’re moving to a new house, dealing with
remodeling, or even giving your instrument away, moving a piano can be a
hassle.
Why is moving a piano
such a hassle??
Unfortunately, pianos aren’t like regular furniture. Grands have legs like tables and uprights
look like big cubes, but the weight distribution is actually quite uneven. If you’ve peeked inside the instrument,
you’ll see that there’s a big metal plate
inside. Made of cast iron, plates are
incredibly heavy. In fact, most of the
weight of a piano—which varies between 450 to 1,000 lbs.—comes from the plate.
The worst of it? If
something happens to the plate during a move, it can’t be repaired. No welding will bring it back. Your friend might share his muscles and a
pick-up truck to help you move, but he might not be as eager to lend you cash
if the plate cracks!
Another crucial element of the piano, the pinblock, is a big piece of wood that’s
responsible for holding all the pins & strings in place. While the pinblock can be repaired, those
repairs can cost between $2,000 and $3,000; replacing the pinblock altogether
could run $3,500 to $4,000.
Piano finishes
can be finicky, too, if any dings or scratches occur. Older pianos often have sun damage, so
retouching them might require more time & finesse than a brand-new piano’s
polish would. Professional touch-up work
can run anywhere between $100 and $1,000, depending on the extent of the damage
and the piano’s case. Plastic cases,
unlike those with lacquer or polyester finish, cannot be touched up; the case
would need to be entirely replaced.
So what do I do with
this piano??
Many companies that move furniture will say they can move
pianos, too; other, more reputable companies will refer you to a company that
specializes in piano moves. Handling the
awkward shape and weight distribution of a piano takes experience that many movers
don’t have. The equipment needed to move
a piano up or down stairs can be different, too.
Not to toot our own horn, but Amro’s insured piano moving
department has the experience and equipment to get your piano from Point A to
Point B safely. For estimates, call our
moving coordinator, Heather Martin, at (901) 302-3361!