Flood Damage Question

[Warren Fisher]

Terry,
I've looked a bunch of flooded grands and uprights.  Some have up to two feet of
water around them.  It usually takes at least two inches of water on the wood to
cause serious damage.  High humidity in the room for four to 24 hours can break
glue joints and release hammer felt and dampers and rust strings. but it won't
happen instantly.  You have to wait for up to a month and come back to check
that there is really is no damage. Advise your customer not to sign a quit claim
until you see it again.

If you get an upright in a similar situation,  the bottom board will warp toward
the floor and loosen the linkage to the dampers.  A couple of months later you
will have to readjust the linkage because the board will dry out and lift the
dampers off the strings.

With your grand, open the lid and look for mildew and stuff and condensation on
the strings.  Put a box fan on the piano to dry it out. Check the soundboard
ribs at the edges.  Have fun!

Warren

Farrell wrote:

> Busy days these. Haven't had time to read this wonderful list! Why do so
> many piano go out of tune just before Christmas?
>
> Hello all yee 'ole wise ones. I inspected a 1940s era (guess) Estey 4' 6"
> (or there abouts - just about pocket size) grand piano for water
> damage/insurance claim. The piano was apparently refurbished some time in
> the past - it is in good condition. The owner complained of damper troubles.
> The bushings need a little ironing. OK, fine.
>
> Here's the question. Room where piano was had the carpet soaked from a
> leaking pipe. No water went directly onto the piano (I don't even see any
> evidence of the casters being in water. So apparently the piano was exposed
> to ultra-high humidity for a few days. Whadda y'all think about potential
> damage to things that are not immediately apparent - like glue joints? How
> does one handle such things in light of the insurance claim situation?
>
> Thanks for any thoughts.
>
> Terry Farrell

--
Warren Fisher RPT
fish@Communique.net
1422 Briarwood Dr.
Slidell, LA 70458-3102