[pianotech] Pushing a piano and rug on a wood floor

[David Stocker]

It is simply a question of friction. If the pad will slide, why not? I think they would find it better to have the husband on the carpet rather than on the piano. I would do it, with maybe two or more people pulling on the rug, and one more pushing on the piano to make sure it follows. If there is too much friction, it won’t work anyway, and you’ll need to follow other’s advice about rolling up the carpet.

If protecting the floor is the main issue, I have done it using a folded up moving pad under each castor and sliding the piano in place. Failing that, a few folded up towels work. 

If it is only going a few feet across a smooth floor, I don’t understand what kind of damage to the piano everybody is expecting. If the leg bolts are tight, a Yammy GC1 is not likely to have the legs folding up from rolling on hardwood.

David Stocker, RPT
Tumwater, WA



From: Barbara Richmond 
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 14:11
To: pianotech 
Subject: [pianotech] Pushing a piano and rug on a wood floor


How come I get the weird questions?

The customer has a Yamaha GC1 that is on a fancy area rug--with a pad underneath, I assume.  The room has hardwood floors and the piano/rug combo are in the middle of the room.  The holidays are coming and she wants to move the piano/rug combo over to one side so there is room for the Christmas tree.  She was wondering if her husband pushed on the piano (without standing on the rug, of course) and she pulled on the rug, if that would be an acceptable way to move it.   I'll admit, my dining table is on a rug & pad on a wood floor and I can move the combo, even though it has a cast iron base and is heavy. But it's a table, not a piano. 

Has anyone heard of doing this?
Has anyone done this?
Has anyone had to fix the results of someone doing this?

I suppose it would work if they lifted up enough of the rug so people--that is multiple persons--could be around the piano to make the move.

I just need a little reassurance here.

Thanks,

Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, Illinois







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