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The PianoSpeed Blog
Expert guides on moving, storing and caring for pianos across London, Surrey and the UK.
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Why grand pianos are moved on their side and not flat
Grand pianos travel on their side, straight bass edge down, resting on a padded skid board. This is not a matter of convenience. The straight rim is the only face of the instrument designed to bear its own weight during transport.
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Moving a piano in a period house with narrow doors and low ceilings
Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis and Georgian townhouses were built before upright pianos became common furniture. Moving a piano through their narrow hallways and tight staircases needs a different approach than a modern house.
Read more →How to find a specialist piano mover in your area without getting it wrong
Search results for piano movers return specialists and general removals firms side by side, with nothing in the listing to tell them apart. Knowing what to look for before you call is the only way to avoid hiring the wrong one.
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Moving a piano when you rent out or vacate a property: what you need to know
When you move out of a rented flat or a home you are selling, a piano adds a specific layer of planning that general removals do not cover well. Here is what tenants, landlords and sellers each need to know about timing, access, liability and booking a specialist mover.
Read more →Moving costs compared: upright piano vs grand piano, what changes the price
A grand piano costs more to move than an upright, and not just because it is heavier. Disassembly, crew size and vehicle space all factor in. Here is exactly what drives the difference.
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Moving a piano into a loft conversion: access challenges and what the crew does
A loft conversion is one of the harder access problems in domestic piano moving. Loft stairs are typically steeper and narrower than the main staircase, headroom at the top is often restricted, and the pitched ceiling inside the room limits where the piano can stand. Here is what a specialist crew assesses and how the job gets done.
Read more →How a piano is wrapped and secured for transport: step by step
A specialist crew wraps an upright in triple-thickness fitted transit covers and positions it on a padded skid board. A grand has its legs, lyre and lid removed individually before the case travels on its side in a heavy-duty padded crate. Here is exactly what that looks like, step by step.
Read more →Piano moving for music teachers: how to plan around lesson days
A music teacher's piano is a working tool with a schedule attached. Confirm the move date before you tell students, build in a tuning window, and use a specialist crew who treat the instrument accordingly.
Read more →What to ask a piano moving company before you book: five questions
Before you confirm any piano move, five practical questions lock in the details that matter: whether the quote covers all access charges, what the company needs to know about your piano and premises, when the crew will arrive and how long to allow, what written confirmation you get, and what happens if the date needs to change.
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Moving a Bosendorfer or Fazioli: what changes for a premium grand
Bosendorfer and Fazioli are among the most precisely built and most valuable pianos in the world. Moving either instrument requires a higher standard of preparation, wrapping and care at every stage than a standard grand piano move.
Read more →First floor piano delivery without a lift: what the crew actually does
One flight of stairs and no lift sounds manageable. For a 200-kilogram upright it is a proper access challenge. Here is exactly what a specialist piano crew does at a first floor delivery without a lift.
Read more →Moving a piano in summer: heat, humidity and why protection still matters
UK summer heat is rarely the problem. Humidity swings and direct sunlight on the case are what to manage, and a specialist crew handles both as a matter of routine. Here is what to expect from a summer piano move.
Read more →Piano weight guide: how heavy is an upright, grand or baby grand
Upright pianos typically weigh between 150 kg and 270 kg. Baby grands start around 275 kg and a full grand can reach 500 kg or more. Here is what those figures mean when you are planning a move.
Read more →Why a self-storage unit is the wrong place for a piano
A standard self-storage unit will damage a piano over time. The environment is the problem, not the storage itself. Here is what actually happens and what to do instead.
Read more →Moving your piano when you move house: how to coordinate the two
A general removal firm is not equipped for pianos, so your piano needs its own specialist booking. Here is how to time the two jobs together around completion day.
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Moving a digital piano or Clavinova safely: upright packing vs acoustic handling
A digital piano or Clavinova always travels upright, never on its side. Here is how the electronics, cabinet finish and leg assembly are protected during a specialist piano move.
Read more →How to choose a piano moving company: five questions to ask first
Five questions cut through the noise when comparing piano movers: whether they genuinely specialise, what transit protection they carry, how they handle a grand's legs and pedals, what their insurance actually covers, and how the price is fixed before the crew arrives.
Read more →Moving a Yamaha grand piano: what to tell the specialist
Yamaha grands range from the compact GB1K to the CFX concert grand, and a 200 kilogram gap separates the lightest from the heaviest. Telling the specialist your model name, finish and access details before the move changes how accurately the crew is planned and priced.
Read more →Moving a Bechstein piano: what the specialist does differently
A Bechstein is built to tight tolerances and finished to a standard where the margin for handling errors is small. Moving one calls for a specific method at every stage, from preparation and wrapping through to reassembly at the destination.
Read more →How to protect a piano from damp and humidity
Humidity is the single biggest threat to a piano in everyday use. Here is what to do about it, where to position the instrument, and the warning signs that moisture is already causing damage.
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Piano moving costs explained: what you pay for and why
Piano moves start from £125. That price covers a specialist crew, purpose-built equipment, transit insurance and a fixed quote with no day-of surprises. Here is exactly what goes into it.
Read more →Should you tune a piano before or after moving it?
Tune after the move, not before. A tuning done in your old home will not survive the settling period in the new room. Here is what to do and when.
Read more →What to do if your piano is damaged during a move
If you notice damage to your piano after a move, the steps you take in the first few hours matter. Here is a plain guide to inspecting, documenting and pursuing a claim.
Read more →Moving or donating a piano after a bereavement
When a loved one dies and they owned a piano, the instrument is often one of the harder possessions to deal with. This guide walks through the options, the timing, and what a specialist move looks like.
Read more →How to measure a room for a piano before delivery
Before a piano is delivered, you need two sets of measurements: the room where it will stand, and the access route it must travel to get there. Here is how to take both correctly.
Read more →Piano moving day checklist: what to do before the crew arrives
Running through a short checklist the morning of your piano move takes about twenty minutes. Clear the route, prepare the piano, confirm the parking, and have someone at both addresses. Here is the full list.
Read more →Concert grand delivery for venues and recording studios
Delivering a concert grand to a performance venue or recording studio requires a site survey, specialist rigging and coordination with your stage or studio team. Here is how the process works from first contact to instrument in position.
Read more →Is there a best time of year to move a piano
Late spring and early autumn give the most settled conditions for the instrument, but a specialist crew moves pianos safely in any month. Here is what season actually means for your move and when to book.
Read more →Moving a piano during probate and estate clearance
When a loved one's estate includes a piano, it is often the most complex item to deal with. Here is what executors and beneficiaries need to know about timing, valuation, storage and booking a specialist crew.
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Moving a Steinway safely: what a specialist does differently
A Steinway is a precision instrument and one of the most valuable pianos in any room. Moving one requires specific preparation, different wrapping practices and careful attention at every stage of the job.
Read more →Moving your piano during a home renovation
A home renovation is one of the most common reasons a piano needs to move. Dust, vibration and humidity shifts from building work can all damage an instrument. Here is how to plan it.
Read more →Can you move a piano yourself without a specialist?
Technically possible in limited situations. Practically, the risks to the piano, to the people moving it and to the building are significant. Here is an honest look at both sides.
Read more →Does a piano need tuning after it is moved?
Almost always yes, but the reason is not the move itself. Here is what actually puts a piano out of tune and when to call the tuner.
Read more →How long does a piano move take from start to finish?
From booking to delivery, here is an honest breakdown of the time involved at each stage of a piano move.
Read more →Moving a piano in cold weather and winter
Winter piano moves are perfectly possible, but cold and damp affect the instrument differently from summer. Here is what to plan for.
Read more →Moving a piano into a flat or apartment
Flats are where piano moves get complicated. Stairs, lifts, controlled parking and tight hallways all need to be planned before the day.
Read more →Moving a piano long distance across the UK
Long-distance piano moves are not complicated, but they do need the right planning. Here is how a specialist handles a cross-country piano run.
Read more →Moving an antique or heirloom piano
Victorian and Edwardian pianos need extra thought before they are moved. Here is what makes them different and how a specialist handles them.
Read more →What piano moving insurance actually covers
When a mover says 'fully insured', what does that actually mean for your piano? Here is what to check and what to tell them before the move.
Read more →What is a piano skid board and why does it matter?
A padded skid board is one of the most important pieces of kit in a specialist piano mover's van. Here is what it is and why it matters for your instrument.
Read more →How to prepare for the piano movers arriving
The crew handles the heavy work, but a few things done before they arrive make the difference between a smooth job and a complicated one. Route, parking, access details and the piano itself.
Read more →Moving a piano up or down stairs
Stairs account for most of the damage that happens during a piano move. What a specialist crew does differently, how many people a staircase needs, and why stair access is always priced separately.
Read more →Can you move a piano in a normal van
A standard transit van might physically hold a small upright, but fitting is only part of the question. What actually matters is the loading height, the ramp rating, how the piano is secured in transit, and what the insurance covers.
Read more →Why use specialist piano movers instead of a general removals firm
A general removals firm can handle furniture reliably. A piano is a different job. Here is why the equipment, crew training and insurance all change when a specialist takes the booking.
Read more →How to move an upright piano safely
An upright piano can weigh 250 kilograms and has no natural handholds. Moving one safely takes the right equipment, a clear plan for every doorway and step, and usually a specialist crew.
Read more →What Actually Changes the Cost of Moving a Piano
Five things move the price of a piano move up or down. Here is what they are, so there are no surprises when you book.
Read more →How Specialist Movers Protect Your Piano in Transit
A piano is heavy, awkward and easily damaged. Here is exactly how a specialist crew protects yours from the front door to its new room.
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