Piano Moving & Moving Suggestions

Conder's Piano Service can move almost any piano almost

anywhere you desire.

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Piano Moving & Moving Suggestions

About Our Business

We always handle your piano with the utmost care.  We protect your floors as well.  CPS has $1,000,000.00 of liability insurance.  However, in 25 years we have never had to make a claim.  We specialize in local moves, however we can go anywhere our truck can drive.

Local Rates are as follows...

Additional Charges Apply for pianos with automatic player systems, humidifiers and moves outside of Mecklenburg County

Spinets / Consoles / Studios  (up to 48" tall)

Base Rates $225.00 + $5.00 Per Step* (Up or Down) + Maneuvers** (Prices Vary/See Below)

Large Uprights (Over 48" tall) / Baby Grands (5'6'' or less)

Base Rates $300.00 + $10.00 Per Step* (Up or Down) + Maneuvers** (Prices Vary/See Below)

Full Size Grands (5'7" to 6'0")

Base Rate $350.00 + $15.00 Per Step* (Up or Down) + Maneuvers** (Prices Vary/See Below)

 Grands (6'1" to 7'0") / Square Grands

Base Rate $400.00 + $20.00 Per Step* (Up or Down) + Maneuvers** (Prices Vary/See Below)

Concert Grands  (Over 7'0")

Base Rate $500.00 + $25.00 Per Step* (Up or Down) + Maneuvers** (Prices Vary/See Below)

Long Distance Moves to or from Mecklenburg County + $4.00 - $6.00 Per Mile from county line (One way), as follows:

Small Uprights: $4.00 per mile (One Way)

Large Uprights / Grands (Up to 6'0"): $5.00 per mile (One Way)

Grands (6'1" to 7'0") / Square Grands + $6.00 Per Mile (One Way)

Concert Grands (Over 7'0"): $8.00 per mile (One Way)

DEFINITIONS

Step * 

is defined as any rise or decline in topography of more than 4" and less than 10".

Maneuvers **

including, but not limited to:  tight turns in hallways, stoops, etc.;  tight landings in stairways, angled steps, or tight turns at top or bottom of stairs that would require the piano to be positioned or handled in any other way than a standard manner.

~ Other special conditions ~

If the desired path of the piano consists entirely of impervious, flat surfaces, there will be no additional charge.

However, if the piano must traverse penetrable surfaces including, but not limited to:  grass, dirt, gravel, cobblestones, etc., there will be an additional charge of $1.00 per foot for Small Uprights, or $2.00 per foot for Large Uprights and all Grands across these surfaces.

If you are moving your own piano, there are a few extremely important things that you should know. Pianos weigh anywhere from 400 to 1500 pounds. ALL PIANOS CAN BE DANGEROUS TO MOVE. This cannot be emphasized enough.

Pianos usually have metal rollers that can seriously damage wooden flooring. If they are moved over carpet, the carpet itself can bind the rollers. Pianos should always be lifted as you roll them, even if they are only being moved a few inches. Many vertical pianos and all grand pianos have thin legs supporting quite a lot of weight. If the rollers bind while the piano is pushed or pulled, the legs will break. If this happens, the piano could fall, causing considerable damage to the piano as well as anything or anyone in the way. Roller malfunction is fairly common with pianos.

If you are rolling a piano more than a few feet, you must use the proper equipment. Even with the use of proper equipment, you should use extreme caution as well. For use on vertical pianos, a standard four-wheel furniture "dolly" will make the task much easier.  If you are going to attempt to move a Grand Piano, you should always use a piano "skid board". This is a very special padded board with handles and straps on which a grand piano is placed on its side during a move. It is strapped to the "skid board" very securely. This allows use of a "dolly". The skid board also prevents damage to the piano. Furniture pads are recommended with the move of any piano. Piano finishes are delicate. You should remember that any contact by the piano with anything has the force of the entire weight of the piano behind it. Moving a grand piano through a standard door will require putting the piano on its side and removing its legs and lyre (pedals). Grand pianos can be tricky to move. Vertical pianos are much simpler. However, both require a considerable amount of manpower.

When a grand piano is moved from one location to another with a truck or van, it should be transported horizontally (never on its legs!). If the "action" is left on its side during transport, any jolt or bump can knock the hammers out of alignment. If the grand piano must be transported on its side, the action should be removed if at all possible. "Actions" are extremely fragile and irreplaceable. They should be moved very carefully, transported horizontally, secured firmly, and completely protected.  If you are undertaking a long distance move with your grand piano in a rented truck, we would suggest that you have it loaded and secured by a professional. Then when you have reached your destination, have it unloaded and setup by a local professional. All pianos should be secured during transport. This can be accomplished by using webbed straps attached to a secure fixture in the truck.

We have found that U-HAUL trucks usually work best for moving pianos because their decks are close to the ground and for grands, the small area over the cab can safely accommodate a grand action. Also, equipment such as dollies, straps and furniture pads are available at U-HAUL. For truck rental reservations or information on equipment availability, simply click on:  http://www.uhaul.com/

When grand pianos are put on their sides you must remember that the "top board" overhangs almost an inch. If the grand is being moved with a "skid board" as recommended, the "top board" can hang over the side. However, if the piano is placed on its side on a flat surface for any reason, the "top board" should be removed. This will prevent the weight of the piano from damaging the "top board" as well as the sides where the hinges are attached.

ALL PIANOS CAN BE DANGEROUS TO MOVE. Again, this cannot be emphasized enough. Vertical pianos are "top heavy". Both grand pianos (when on their side for a move) and vertical pianos will tend to flip over very easily. This will cause damage, not only to the piano, but to ANYTHING it comes in contact with, when it flips. Most importantly, if someone is caught under it, they could be seriously injured or even killed. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS, PLEASE HAVE YOUR PIANO MOVED BY A PROFESSIONAL. It is simply not worth the potential costs in repair to your piano, your house, any items close to the piano that may be damaged, or injuries to yourself or those attempting to help you move the piano.