Three Major Differences between Moving an Upright Piano versus Moving a Grand Piano
If you own a piano and want to move it to another location, there are some very important things to consider. Most importantly, of course, are the differences between moving an upright piano versus moving a grand piano or baby grand piano. Three major differences need to be considered before you move your piano.
Wheeled versus Nonwheeled
Pianos on wheels do not need to be lifted to be moved, unless the piano is on the second floor or in an apartment on a higher story. If your piano does not currently have wheels or it never did, you are looking at a more expensive move with a piano moving service because the movers will have to do a lot of very careful and very heavy lifting. While a piano jack will help them in their endeavors, it still requires some muscle from the movers. If you do not plan to move your piano again for a very long time, then the extra charge for moving a nonwheeled piano will not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but if you move your piano often, you may want to look into wheels or casters for your piano to decrease the frequent moving costs.
Difficulty Maneuvering out the Door: Uprights versus Grands
Upright pianos, especially those on wheels, roll right along and out the door, typically with very little trouble. You can even fit an upright piano in most elevators, making it the easiest piano move of them all. Unfortunately, moving a grand piano or baby grand piano requires a lot more finesse. You may have to remove the legs of the piano, close the lid, secure the lid shut, turn the body of the piano on its side and still have to find a way to maneuver its odd shape carefully out the door. Not only does this increase labor costs, but many piano movers who charge by the hour may have to charge for a full hour or more just to move your piano. If there is any way you can prepare your grand piano in advance (and do it carefully!) you may be able to save yourself a little money.
Amount of Moving Protection—Grands versus Uprights
Their stately size and elegance, not to mention their cost, means that grands and baby grands have to be handled with kid gloves. When they are moved by professionals, they really are handled with gloves so as to avoid leaving fingerprint oil on the surfaces of the pianos. Additionally, these pianos have to be wrapped in a lot of protective packaging, such as thick foam, bubblewrap, cloths, etc., to keep the piano from getting scratched or dinged. Upright pianos, on the other hand, may be wrapped if they are a very costly type of upright, but usually an upright can be rolled down to the truck, loaded, secured with bungee cords, and transported.
If you need further information or to schedule an appointment with a professional moving company, contact a service like Johnson Piano Moving.