Moving a Piano Out of an Older Redding House

An upright piano never goes down steps without a skid board and at least three people. For junk pickup in Redding, the running record redding junk pickup myphr holds shows that most piano jobs go wrong at a single front step, not in the living room. A spinet weighs around three hundred pounds, a full upright can pass five hundred, and older homes near Enterprise and along State Route 44 often have porches with two or three uneven risers.

What does a piano weigh and why does it matter?

The cast iron plate inside the case is the heavy part, and it sits low and toward the back. That weight makes an upright top heavy once it tips, and a piano that tips can crush a foot or a wall. A grand is a different job entirely, with the legs and lyre removed and the body turned on its side on a padded board.

How wide are the doors, really?

A standard interior door in an older house gives about thirty inches of clear width, and an upright is around twenty five inches deep. It fits if it turns straight. The trim, the hinge pins and a door stop can all take away the last inch, so the door comes off its hinges before the piano rolls. Hardwood floors get a runner of heavy cardboard under the dolly wheels.

What equipment does the move need?

A piano dolly with locking casters, a four wheel furniture dolly, a skid board, a ratchet strap and moving blankets cover most jobs. Lifting straps over the shoulders help the crew control a descent. The lid and the key cover get taped shut, and the pedals are wrapped so nothing snaps off.

Where does an unwanted piano go?

A tuned piano in good condition can go to a school or a church. One with a cracked plate or warped soundboard has no resale value, and it is broken down for the landfill. The metal harp goes to scrap, the wood goes in a dumpster or a box truck, and the transfer station charges by the weight ticket.

How does summer heat change the plan?

A truck parked on a Redding street in July can read well over one hundred degrees inside, and a crew lifting a few hundred pounds loses strength fast. The piano comes out in the first hour of the day, with water and shade for the crew. Heat also cracks a soundboard that has sat dry for years, so a damaged piano is not a candidate for a move that will end in a showroom.