By / OVM TEAM

How to Prepare Your Piano for a Move: Ottawa Piano Movers

The most experienced Ottawa piano movers offer tips to prepare and take care of your piano during a move.

Pianos are cumbersome and delicate instruments that can damage easily. A piano has over 12,000 parts and 230 strings hidden behind its solid exterior. It’s crucial to take an abundance of caution when moving a piano to protect and preserve it. Ottawa piano movers are the best equipped to move these beautiful, complex instruments safely, and they have years of experience under their belt. It’s best to hire a professional to get this job done, but if you need to do it yourself, there are some steps to follow to do it safely.

The best way to move a piano will depend on the type of piano you have 

One of the first questions that an Ottawa piano mover will ask is, “what type of piano is it?”. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to moving a piano because they vary in width, height, and weight (some can weigh up to 1,400 lbs). There are different steps for moving an upright or digital piano compared to a grand piano. If you decide to move your instrument on your own, you’ll need to ensure that you have the proper equipment and supplies for the type of piano you have.

For an upright piano, you’ll need: 

• Straps and ropes
• Padding 
• Piano dollies 

For a grand piano, you’ll need:

• Piano dollies
• A piano board/skid (these come in different sizes, so make sure you have one that’s the right size for your piano)
• Additional straps, ropes, and padding for the board/skid

Pianos weigh 300lbs at the very least, but the average weight is around 700lbs – weight varies by the model. If you’re unsure how much your piano weighs, take measurements of the height and width, and search up the brand, model and style online. You’ll need to know the measurements and weight of your piano to ensure you have the proper equipment and to determine how many people you’ll need to help you lift it. If you hire Ottawa piano movers, they’ll ask for this information as well.

Before the move 

You’ll need to know the measurements of your piano to prepare for your moving day. Before moving, measure out any doorways, hallways, stairways, and the new space you’ll be placing it in. Map out your path in detail and double-check that the piano will fit through every space and around every corner. Piano’s can take up a lot of space, so be sure to keep that in mind when deciding what size moving truck you’ll need.

Hire professional, experienced Ottawa piano movers 

We all like to save money and do things on our own whenever possible; however, hiring Ottawa piano movers to help you is highly recommended. Leave the heavy lifting to the professionals; they know how to get the job done efficiently and quickly. Additionally, most moving companies offer insurance that would cover any potential damages to your belongings. A piano is likely the most expensive piece of furniture you own, so don’t take any risks if you can avoid it.