<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Robin <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Stephen Grattan<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, 7 November 2012 1:39 AM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Flood Damaged Pianos<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Hi Rick,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>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.<br> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue'>Steve Grattan</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue'>Lost Chord Clinic</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><hr size=1 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> "<a href="mailto:richarducci@comcast.net">richarducci@comcast.net</a>" <<a href="mailto:richarducci@comcast.net">richarducci@comcast.net</a>><br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br><b>Sent:</b> Tue, November 6, 2012 9:26:43 AM<br><b>Subject:</b> [pianotech] Flood Damaged Pianos<br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>List, <br>I'm starting to get calls from clients who were flooded in Sandy.<br><br>Can you advise about uprights and grands that were in a foot or more of salt water for days.<br><br>I know strings can be cleaned with water rinse and blow dried, and coated with Balistol, pedals and brackets as well.<br><br>What about exterior wood veneer ?<br>What other areas need attention?<br><br>I will be submitting estimates to ins. companies and don't want to miss anything.<br><br>Rick Ucci<br><a href="http://uccipiano.com/" target="_blank">Uccipiano.com</a><br>609-677-0444<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>