[pianotech] Flood Damaged Pianos

[Robin Stevens]

In my home town of Port Pirie South Australia we had a tidal flood in  mid
1930 where a great number of pianos had a foot or higher of sea water. The
problem is that the water seeped behind the strings and saturated the felt.
Even though the pianos were dried out the trapped water in the felt over the
frame eventually corroded the strings causing them to snap at all times of
the day. I arrived in the town 40 years after the flood and  strings were
still going pop in the night. The bottom line is unless the piano is
completely restrung, it's a right off..Then there is the problem of veneers
peeling off etc.

Robin 

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Stephen Grattan
Sent: Wednesday, 7 November 2012 1:39 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Flood Damaged Pianos

 

Hi Rick,

 

If they were sitting in water for any length of time I would be very
concerned about structural damage from failing glue joints as well as veneer
damage that might not show up for weeks or months.  If that happens and the
piano is later condemned you could be on the hook- as any insurance company
will not reopen a claim.  Protect yourself. Any newer pianos with MDF
cabinets are especially liable to expand.  Once the MDF 'grows', it is
beyond reasonable repair.
 

Steve Grattan

Lost Chord Clinic

 

 

  _____  

From: "richarducci at comcast.net" <richarducci at comcast.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, November 6, 2012 9:26:43 AM
Subject: [pianotech] Flood Damaged Pianos

List, 
I'm starting to get calls from clients who were flooded in Sandy.

Can you advise about uprights and grands that were in a foot or more of salt
water for days.

I know strings can be cleaned with water rinse and blow dried, and coated
with Balistol, pedals and brackets as well.

What about exterior wood veneer ?
What other areas need attention?

I will be submitting estimates to ins. companies and don't want to miss
anything.

Rick Ucci
Uccipiano.com <http://uccipiano.com/> 
609-677-0444

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20121107/f291f982/attachment.htm>