How to Wrap a Piano for Moving
When moving a piano, one of the most important steps for preventing damage from occurring is to wrap the piano and its pieces in moving-grade wrap and blankets. This helps to prevent furniture items from bumping against each other during transport.
Below are 4 steps to successfully wrapping a piano for a move.
1. Get the Right Tools
The first step to effectively wrapping a piano is making sure you have all the necessary tools and equipment.
You will need moving plastic wrap and moving blankets, a screwdriver or electric drill that fits the screws on your instrument, and a box or bag to collect the screws you remove. You can find these items at your local hardware store or a moving supply shop.
It is also helpful to have packing tape or duct tape to secure the wrapping in place.
2. Disassemble the Piano
Next, you have to disassemble the piano parts. This is important in ensuring a safer and easier move. The sections of the piano that should be disassembled are typically held together with screws. Disassembling these sections from the main body of the piano reduces the overall weight and helps the mover by more evenly balancing the main section of the instrument.
Be careful when disassembling these pieces from the piano as they can be fragile and easily damaged if too much force is used.
Once removed, set them aside to be wrapped.
3. Wrap Each Piece of the Piano
Each removed piece must be wrapped individually. It might be tempting to wrap all the legs in one bundle, but any experienced mover will tell you that is a recipe for finding damaged piano legs on the other side of your move.
First, use the moving-grade plastic wrap and unroll it to wrap around each item. Make sure each piece is fully covered in plastic to prevent them from knocking against each other during transport. Secure the plastic wrap with tape if needed.
Next, take each piece and roll them in a moving blanket.
4. Wrap the Body of the Piano
The same strategy is used for wrapping the body of the piano.
Start with the plastic wrap, and unroll it in one fluid motion to cover the exterior of the body, making sure nothing is left uncovered. Wait to put on the blankets until you are ready to load them onto the piano board.
The blankets should be placed on the piano after it is set on the board but before it is strapped down. This is to prevent damage due to the straps creating friction against the piano surface.
Tips for Packing & Moving a Piano Safely
Once all your piano pieces are safely wrapped and the body loaded onto a piano board, you can start loading them onto the vehicle you will use for transport.
A trailer or moving truck is generally the best vehicle option for moving a piano since these are designed to hold heavy cargo. It is best to keep the piano body strapped to the board for the entirety of the move if possible. This makes it significantly easier to unload once the piano arrives at its destination.
Important note:
To be safe, secure the piano body using straps to the cargo hooks on the walls of the truck or trailer. This will prevent the piano from sliding around in the back of the vehicle.
All pieces should be contained in some capacity to stop them from sliding around as well.
Should You Move a Piano Yourself?
It is possible to move a piano yourself, but it may be extremely difficult and it is generally recommended to hire a professional piano mover for the job.
You will stand a good chance of successfully completing a piano move if you and/or your assistants (family, friends) consider the following:
Someone on your team has significant moving experience,
You spend the time to research the tools and methods necessary for moving
you invest in those tools and follow those methods (such as the one described above).
However, it is a risk to attempt a piano move without the help and experience of professionals. If you have any concerns about trying a piano move on your own, it is best to go ahead and reach out for professional assistance.
Even if you are trying to move your own piano to save money, you will likely find that the cost of hiring piano movers is well worth the investment, by preventing possible personal injury or irreversible damage to your instrument.
