In plenty of cartoons and movies, one of the more common scenes involves the moving of a piano into an apartment or a house. Obviously, the lunacy of a person moving an object 5x heavier and larger than themselves makes for a comical situation, and is placed as a way of giving comedic relief. However in real life, piano moving should only be done by experts for safety measures. If moving a piano had to do only with weight, it would only take a few strong people to accomplish the job. It is important to know that the danger of moving a piano is not only because of the piano’s weight, but the shape should also be taken into consideration. The asymmetrical shape of a grand piano, for instance, calls for special techniques to maneuver such a large object.
It requires skill and patience for successful piano moving. Usually, a device known as a piano board is put to use when moving a piano. First, the piano’s legs are disassembled for easy movement through doors and hallways. It is then placed on its side on the top of the piano board. The piano board allows for easy movement along flat surfaces. When it comes to stairs, the board is removed and slid down in a slow and controlled manner. More often than not, movers would decide to make use of a crane or pulley instead of using stairs to maneuver a piano vertically. This is because it is more dangerous moving a piano through stairs if it is more than one floor high. The mover’s safety is mostly at risk, since the piano can slip or prove to be heavier than the movers can handle.
Piano moving does not necessarily mean transportation from one house to another. It may also mean moving it around in a contained room. Still, this task might require the help of experienced or professional movers. Even moving a piano a few meters can cause disastrous damage to the unit. The most important aspect to keep into mind when transporting a piano short distances are the legs. They have a high possibility of breaking. Perhaps one of the legs can get caught on a crack or uneven spot on the floor and end up breaking from force. Sometimes, a smooth material, or a platform with wheels is placed under each of the piano legs for easy movement. An alternative technique requires around 5 able-bodied people to encircle the piano and lift it for easier transfer. The piano should not be lifted off the ground, rather, it should be lifted enough to take pressure off of the legs.
Another version of piano moving is international or oversea transfer. This will prove to be very complicated because of the steps required to be taken when making the move. First, a professional mover is hired to transport the piano to a freight forwarder, which is what actually moves the piano overseas. Once it reaches its destination, the customer must pay all the fines involved and process any of the documents required by the country. The customer must also be there at the time of arrival to sign for the piano. If not, the piano will be stored, which can be expensive.
Overall, piano moving should be left to the experts. There are many incidents that can occur which can prove costly for an inexperienced owner. The owner of the piano also has many responsibilities to take care of. Insurance should be secured by the owner just in case anything happens upon transportation. Also, the owner should be responsible enough to make sure that the piano can fit into its new storage place.

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