In a message dated 9/23/99 4:11:14 AM !!!First Boot!!!, lspivey@prodigy.net writes: << Greetings from down under, not the equator but from Floyd's flood waters in Eastern North Carolina, USA. While I am high and dry, hundreds if not thousands of pianos in my area have been swimming without scuba gear. Many have been completely submerged for days and while others have only gotten their legs or bottoms wet. In my 25 plus years of piano service nothing like this has ever been a problem. Do any of you have experience with flooded pianos. Are pianos that have under water rebuildable. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Lewis Spivey, RPT Eastern North Carolina, USA >> Lewis: In 1993, when the mighty Missississississippi, (oops that's too many s's), went on a rampage, I thought I would get a lot of calls for under water pianos. In fact, I sent out letters to restoration services, warning them about the problems with pianos. I only got one call, which was to tune and repair an employees piano. I didn't get one call to try to restore a damaged piano. I guess the information I gave them was enough to realize that a piano that has been subjected to water, has, for all in tense and purposes, played its last chords. A grand that has only been up to its legs and lyre in water, could survive, but only if was sitting in water a day or two. If is more than that, the excess moisture will make it too difficult to dry the piano out sufficiently, so that future problems won't occur. A vertical piano that even sat on a wet rug is also a goner. The water soaks up into the soundboard and back post assemblies. This will also take years to dry out. A warning here. On the surface, a dried out piano might look and even play like nothing is wrong. But it takes years for a piano to dry out. During that time, wood will warp, and glue will no longer hold parts together. And when a piano goes haywire 5 years after the claim has been settled, they insurance company won't pay for any more repairs. I'm afraid for rebuilders, the Floyd flood will not bring on any restorations. It will bring lots of business for piano dealers, which, in turn, mean more work for piano tuners. Unfortunately, because of the extensive damage, unless someone needs a piano too make a living, or they are serious students, most home owners will need the money they get to buy a new piano, to use to buy other necessities. Good luck, Lewis. Tell us how you fared. How is Don? Willem
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