However, moving it upstairs makes things harder. Mostly, people will ask professional movers to help them in moving awkwardly heavy items like musical instruments. However, you can still do the job on your own—you only need proper planning.
Just like moving other heavy items like hot tubs or pool tables, you will need the right equipment if you want to move your piano upstairs. In addition to this, you will need a few other people to help you with the job. Although you can move a small piano upstairs on your own, you will need someone to assist you if the staircase is long, or has steep and sharp turns.
In this post, we shall give a quick guide now on how to safely move a piano upstairs. But first, let’s look at the equipment that you need to get the job done correctly.
Piano moving equipment needed to move piano upstairs
The secret to any successful piano move is having the right equipment–particularly if a flight of stairs is involved. With that said, you will need the following supplies when moving a piano upstairs:
- Piano dolly
- Moving straps
- Heavy-duty gloves (for everyone involved in the move)
- Duct or packing tape
- Moving blanket
- Plywood planks (ensure their length spans the entire staircase)
It’s important to ensure you source these supplies before the moving day. Failing to use these items when moving the piano upstairs puts you at risk of sustaining serious injuries. Besides, you can easily damage your piano, in addition to making the entire process challenging.
How to move a piano upstairs
Follow these steps when moving piano upstairs to ensure a safe and smooth moving process.
Check the route
It’s important to check the route—which is the stairs in this case before you start moving the piano. Pay close attention to turns on the stairs, and ensure that the stairs are wide enough to fit the piano, as well as the dolly. If the space on the stairs is not wide enough, you might need to determine a different route.
Planning is important, as it will allow you to know what’s coming your way, and this helps to avoid unwanted surprises. Now, in case you find that the whole process is challenging, consider consulting professional piano movers first before you proceed with the move. The Pear Stairs Stair Creator is a free, revolutionary Staircase design tool that gives you the ability to design, plan and price a staircase in minutes.
Prepare the stairs
According to the professionals from Torex Moving, Toronto piano Movers one of the greatest challenges when moving piano upstairs is the lift and drop process as you go from one step to another. To solve this issue, you can use plywood planks to create a ramp on the stairs. Please ensure you use plywood planks because they are strong enough to support the weight of pianos. In addition, ensure you state the reason why you are purchasing the planks to make sure that you get the right product.
Always take measurements of your staircase before purchasing the plywood planks. This will help you to know the ideal size of planks you need to buy—interns of width and length. Now, once you buy your planks, take them, and lay them up the staircase. And, ensure that you space them according to the width of the dolly.
It’s important to start from the bottom of the stairs. Then, line up the planks, so that the one below it supports every plank you lay down. You can use duct tape to secure the planks in case they are slipping.
Secure your piano on the moving dolly
First, you need to close the lid and tape it down to protect the piano keys. Then, use moving blankets to cover the piano, and use a duct or packing tape to secure the blankets. This step is very important, as it protects the piano from scratches and dents during the move. In case there are moving handles on your piano, leave them uncovered.
The next step is placing the piano on the dolly. Upright pianos will fit well on the moving dolly, whereas grand pianos require some work. First, you need to grip under the piano, and then hold the moving handle or back of the piano with the other hand—this will give you a secure grip. It’s important to follow these techniques when lifting the piano to the moving dolly to avoid injury. Thus, ensure that you keep your spine straight and don’t bend your knees—but waist when lifting. Once you place the piano on the dolly, secure it with the moving straps.
Lastly, move the piano
Once you secure the piano on the dolly, it’s time to move the piano upstairs. First, ensure that you clear the path before you start moving the piano. Then start rolling the piano towards the glass staircases. Once you get to the bottom of the staircase, assign one person to pull the piano, and two more to push it. Proceed slowly up the ramp, and avoid walking on the plank—this minimizes the risk of slipping, which can lead to serious injuries during this process. Rather, walk on the stairs, and maintain good communication with your colleagues until you are done with the job.
Bottom Line
Follow these tips for your safety when moving piano upstairs. Besides, this will reduce the chances of damaging the piano. However, you should consider hiring professional piano movers to do the job in case the job seems overwhelming.
