piano preparations for moving upstairs

1) Walk the stairs and work out the manoeuvres in advance. You need to know which side of the piano will be contacting the stairs so you can protect it.

2) Remove the desk (the panel where you place the music), the key cover, and bottom panel. If the key board is supported by legs which are not integral to the base of the piano, these should be detatched... These legs are vulnerable to the stress of moving or turning and are only designed to support the piano in situ.
This can save weight and is a good idea to ensure pieces do not fall off during the move. Move the piano into an open space with working room.

3) Turn the piano on its side. If the lid of the piano overhangs the side, this will need care.

4) Remove the castors which can increase turning room.

5) On the floor by the piano, Lay out the strap, on top of that, around a 15 foot length of 4 folded heavy plastic sheet, and on top of that a folded blanket. The blanket will be protecting the side of the piano, not the bottom, so should be placed towards one end of the sheet.

Additionally, if the top lid of the piano overhangs the side, this will need protecting, as will the finish of the piano casing. The overhang can be protected making a right angle corner cover from thick cardboard. The piano can then be dragged on its side without stressing the overhanging lip.

6) Place the piano onto this assembly. Strap it all up together, the blanket, corner protecting card board, and plastic sheet. The hooks of the ratchet strap absolutely must be on top of the piano, so the top will need protecting from scratches.

7) Tighten the ratchet strap using one finger and a lot of careful love. It needs to be just tight enough not to move, without overly stressing the case work.

8) Check the results of your piano preparations:
a) On the outside a strap you can trust which is thick enough to comfortably hang onto. You may never need it, but it is something to use in an emergency, as well as keeping your sheets in place.
b) You have thick plastic sheet which you can drag the piano round on, followed by..
c) A corner protection if there is an overhanging lid and
d) A blanket protecting the side of the piano you have worked out will be contacting the stairs.

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