Relocating is already tough work, but it’s made even more difficult when you factor in a piano that weighs over 200 kilograms and contains numerous components. At SS Removals, we receive phone calls monthly from residents of Brisbane who attempted to transport the piano by themselves, resulting in broken pianos, destroyed staircases, or even sore backs. If you are planning a relocation and are unsure whether you can move the piano yourself, this article explains the reasons why you shouldn’t and what a correct piano relocation entails.

It seems only logical to assume that any large piece of furniture will be moved using the same approach as used on all the other heavy pieces of furniture in the house. The help of a couple of friends and some sturdy ropes ought to be sufficient. In reality, however, a piano is by far the most dangerous and technically complicated item to move from any house.

A regular upright piano ranges in weight from 130 to 250 kilograms, whereas a grand piano can weigh from 350 to 500 kilograms or even more. Most of its weight is also concentrated in the rear and lower part of the instrument.

The mechanisms inside the piano are carefully engineered. Thousands of tiny parts, strings under tremendous pressure, and a fragile soundboard must remain level at all times throughout the process of moving. Any kind of tilting of the piano, bumping it in any way, or even dropping it, will result in such consequences as:

• The damage to the soundboard and consequently the loss of tone forever;
• The snapping of the strings that had been under tension for many years;
• The displacement of the action, the mechanism of piano key functioning;
• The damage to the exterior of the piano itself – chipping and cracking.

And that is why professional movers use special tools – piano boards, skid boards, and specially made four-wheel dollies that keep the instrument level throughout the whole moving process.

Not only will it damage the piano but it is an extremely risky activity which can cost you not only money but also harm your property and yourself. This is one of those things which seem to be doable in theory but become dangerous as soon as you start lifting the piano.

The common problems in this process are as follows:

• Physical injury — Pianos are awkwardly shaped as well as heavy, meaning the load isn’t just heavy but hard to grip safely. Back injuries, crushed fingers, and worse are common.
• Property damage — Staircases, doorframes, walls, and flooring take a beating when a piano is dragged or tipped through tight spaces without proper technique.
• Voided insurance — Many home and contents insurance policies won’t cover damage caused during a self-managed move of high-value items.
• Irreversible instrument damage — Unlike a scratched table, a damaged piano often needs an expensive professional retuning or repair, and in bad cases, the damage simply can’t be undone.

Piano movers who operate on a professional level have access to equipment and techniques that are not available to the ordinary home. This is basically why piano moving in Brisbane should never be left to untrained people.

Professional movers use:

• Piano boards (skid boards) that the piano is securely strapped to for transport
• Heavy-duty dollies designed to handle uneven, concentrated weight
• Ramps and stair-climbing equipment for elevated Queenslanders and multi-level homes
• Moving blankets and padding to protect the piano’s finish and internal components
• Proper strapping systems to keep the piano stable during transit

Piano moving is not about sheer physical strength; rather, it requires precision and coordination. The experts have skills that enable them to position the piano on the board without putting pressure on the legs and pedals, to move up the stairs without loss of control, and to put the piano into the truck in such a way that it does not move while in transit. This is precisely the reason that professional piano moving in Brisbane has very few incidents.

The insurance aspect is an important part of your safety when hiring a removalist to move your piano in Brisbane. The insurance covers the piano and any damages that happen while moving from one place to another, which is not something you can get if you do it yourself.

If DIY isn’t the answer, what should you actually do when you need to move a piano in Brisbane? Here’s a practical approach.

Not all general removalists have experience in handling pianos. It’s important to find one that states in their profile that they provide this service, has the proper equipment ready, and explains the procedure prior to the day of the move.

The right removalists would like to know some information before giving you a quote: what type of piano it is (upright or baby grand or grand), number of steps, lift facilities and distance of the truck from the entrance point.

Before relocating, the dimensions of the entry points of the doors must be measured as well as the turning radius in corridors, and the slope of the stairs must be measured if there are any.

The humidity levels in Brisbane may impact your piano during the relocation process and even afterwards. Try to arrange the relocation during cooler periods of the day and make sure not to leave the piano exposed to the elements while loading/unloading it.

Even when handled with utmost professionalism during moving, it is possible for the piano to get out of tune as a result of the vibration caused by the movement. It is always recommended that you plan for the tuning expert to come one or two weeks after the move.

If you’re moving or remodeling, consider inquiring from your removalist about piano storage. The right storage company will ensure better control of humidity and temperature compared to storing your piano in a garage or shed.

The cost varies according to the kind of piano, the distance involved, and the difficulty of moving (stairs, doorways, long carrying distance). For your general information:

• Upright pianos are the least expensive to move because of their relatively small size
• Baby grand and grand pianos are relatively expensive because of their size and weight, as well as the special considerations involved in dismantling the legs and pedals
• If your move involves going up several flights of stairs or is difficult in some other way, expect it to be more expensive because of that.

To get a proper idea of the cost, you should obtain a quotation from a removals company experienced in moving pianos in Brisbane, not estimate it based on normal furniture-moving costs.

The diversity of homes in Brisbane makes each piano move unique in its own way. An experienced removalist who is familiar with Brisbane will have an advantage in:

• Raised Queenslanders with staircases on the outside
• Inner-city narrow terraced houses and townhouses
• High-rise apartments with lift size restrictions
• Hillside suburbs with steep drives

This local experience will make the move more predictable and less problematic. There will be no need for improvisation or surprise solutions when moving a piano from house to house in Brisbane.

Not all removalists are ready to move a piano, but there are even less removalists who know how to do it correctly. Our company SS Removals And Rentals specializes in such kind of work. We approach each piano with great care since it is always a very delicate process, whether it requires moving a piano down an external staircase in a Queensland-style house or moving a piano out of a small apartment in Brisbane. Thanks to our experience, we plan each move in advance, and narrow passages and staircases will be no surprise during the process.

Our team uses real piano boards, dollies and padding for piano, and we always have a good insurance policy. If you want your piano to be moved in Brisbane correctly, you can always call us!

Moving pianos is among the few household chores that entail a much greater risk of being done wrong than the expenses involved when you have professionals to do the work. Considering the weight of the piano, its delicateness and unpredictability of Brisbane house structures, moving pianos in Brisbane becomes a task for experts.

Should you be considering moving your piano, be it to a different room within the house or even within Brisbane, contact SS Removals and Rentals for professional piano moving services. Our experts are well-informed about all that is required when moving pianos in Brisbane from handling the stairs in Queenslanders to loading the grand pianos for transit.