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Piano Dismantling
Why take apart a piano?
There are two types of piano dismantling:
- Grand pianos
- Upright pianos
Within these two types, there are also different degrees of dismantling.
Grand Piano Dismantling
99% of grand piano moves require basic disassembling. This is where the movers take the piano legs and pedal off the grand piano. The main reason is that the piano will not fit through the doorway without being disassembled. The second main reason is that moving it safely on its legs is next to impossible. A grand piano is NOT designed to be moved with its legs on. You do not need to inform the movers about this; it is assumed they will be removed during the move.
Pro tip: If any mover tells you this is not the case, STOP and immediately find another mover. You are at the beginning of a moving nightmare and are talking to someone who has no clue what they are doing.
The next step in dismantling is to remove either the piano lid or the action. For true piano movers, this is a last resort. It is done only by piano movers to lighten the piano during a tricky move. That said, many household movers often remove grand piano lids due to limited piano-moving experience. Household movers are known to smash the hinges on grand piano lids if they leave the lid on. Many of them will remove the lid to reduce the chance of this type of damage. Lid and action removal is generally not included in your basic grand piano quote and is typically an additional charge for many piano movers, but some household movers do not charge for lid removal because it is the only way they know to move a grand piano without damaging your piano.
Industry Note: Any mover who can not move a grand with the lid still attached to the piano safely on a straightforward piano move is not considered a professional piano mover by those who are considered the true professionals in the industry.
Upright Piano Dismantling
This is only done for those really interesting, tough jobs. It should only be performed by a professional piano mover. Upright piano dismantling is becoming a lost art in the piano industry, even among those considered professional piano movers. It is generally only done as a last resort by customers who are determined to get the piano in a particular place up or down a nasty staircase.
Industry Note: Most self-proclaimed piano movers have no idea how to dismantle and reassemble an upright piano safely. If you need it for your job, we recommend using only the most experienced piano movers.
Dismantling and moving a Upright Piano
The photos above show an upright piano in a basement that must be fully disassembled to fit up the stairs. Once the piano is up the stairs, the movers can reassemble the piano. As you can see, even with the keyboard removed, this is a very tight and difficult piano move, and you can appreciate why you would want an experienced mover leading a job like this.
Many staircases are not designed to accommodate large pianos. You cannot dismantle past the harp of the piano, as the piano harp and soundboard are considered a single piece. The sides of most pianos are glued to the harp and are generally not recommended for removal except in extreme cases. The point of upright piano dismantling is to make the piano narrow enough to make a tight turn (usually in a staircase) where it had no chance of fitting fully assembled. This is always considered a high-risk move, typically done without moving insurance. We only recommend this as a last resort.
Industry Note: Many piano movers no longer offer this service due to the associated risks and dangers.
The turn in this staircase is so tight that the keyboard of the upright piano needs to be removed so that it can make the turn. Disclaimer: We cannot stress this enough. Please do not attempt this on your own; only trained professionals should attempt this type of piano move.
If you think your upright piano needs to be disassembled during your move, mention it to the movers before you book the move. It is industry standard: ALL movers ASSUME that the upright piano will fit in one piece unless you tell them otherwise. They will not know better until they arrive at your place, which is too late on house closing day. Most movers consider this a surprise and not their responsibility if it is not mentioned before the move. You should also be aware that it costs significantly more to do than a typical piano move.
Looking to learn more?
For tough jobs, you always want to speak with a live person. If you want to learn more about piano dismantling, contact our piano moving team to discuss whether it’s a good fit for you. They can be reached at (416)749-2100 extension 1.