Home Renovation Tips: What To Do With Your Piano

It's finally time to renovate your home so you have the music room or entertainment hub of your dreams. Your piano makes the perfect centerpiece for the new space, but you need to make some decisions and plans before the renovation begins. Find out whether or not you should move your piano, and what else you should plan for when renovating around a piano.

To Move or Not to Move?

It's no secret that moving a piano requires care, so it may be tempting to renovate around the piano. Simply drape it with a tarp to keep off the dust until the work is done. Unfortunately, that probably isn't a good idea if the renovations include anything more than a fresh coat of paint. Dust and debris can work its way into the piano, or it can get under the tarp and scratch the finish on your instrument. It also only takes one distracted contractor to make a mistake that results in damage. It's a much better choice to move your piano to somewhere safer.

Should You Move It Yourself?

A one-room renovation may mean you don't have to rent outside storage while work is being done, since you can simply move everything to another room. Depending on the type of the piano, it may be too heavy for two people to move and maneuver it easily. Pianos are also notoriously easy to damage or knock out of tune if you don't know what you are doing.

You may be able to handle moving it yourself if it's just a few feet across a room. If you have to pass through a doorway, hire professional movers. You'll save more money by bringing in professionals since you won't have to pay for damage to the piano or your walls after a moving mishap.

Are There Any Special Concerns?

Once your piano is safely out of the way of the work zone, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Cover the piano with a fabric cloth if you are keeping in the home, especially if there is drywall work. Although your work crew will do everything they can to control the dust, some of it is sure to escape into nearby rooms. A cloth cover will protect your piano, but it's still breathable so moisture doesn't get trapped on the wood.

• If you don't have a temporary place to store the piano at your home, look for piano movers that also provide storage services. This way you know the piano is moved properly and kept in a climatic environment that won't cause damage.

• Plan for a tuning once the piano is back in place. Even if the piano was only moved to the next room, it's still a good idea to get it tuned. Many piano moving companies offer post-move tunings as a normal part of their service.

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