Piano Removals

Piano Removals in Kingston Upon Thames

Moving a piano is not like moving ordinary furniture. It demands specialist knowledge, the right equipment and experienced hands. At Kingston Upon Thames Movers, we provide dedicated piano removals for upright, baby grand and grand pianos throughout Kingston and the surrounding areas.

Whether you are a homeowner, tenant, landlord, school, studio or concert venue, we ensure your piano is moved safely, efficiently and with full respect for your property.

Specialist Piano Removals Service Explained

Our piano removal service is designed around the unique weight, balance and fragility of pianos. We use specialist covers, padded protection, piano skates, ramps, and, where required, external lifts or cranes. Every move is planned in advance, including access checks, stairways and tight corners.

We handle:

• Upright piano removals – standard, overstrung, and tall uprights
• Baby grand piano removals – dismantling legs and lyres where needed
• Grand piano removals – coordinated team moves with specialist cradles
• Digital piano removals – including large console-style instruments

Every piano is wrapped, secured and transported in vehicles equipped for heavy, delicate loads, with goods in transit insurance for added peace of mind.

Local Expertise in Kingston Upon Thames

We know Kingston upon Thames extremely well: from riverside flats and town centre apartments to larger houses in Surbiton, Norbiton and New Malden. Local knowledge matters when moving pianos, because access, parking and road layouts can make a big difference.

Our crews are used to:

• Navigating controlled parking and loading bays near the town centre
• Managing tight staircases in older properties and mansion blocks
• Working around residents’ parking zones and school streets

This local experience allows us to plan routes, organise parking suspensions where needed, and keep your piano move on schedule.

Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For

Homeowners

If you are moving house within or out of Kingston, we can integrate your piano removal into your full home move or handle it as a dedicated job. We coordinate with your chosen move date and work carefully to protect floors, banisters and door frames.

Renters and Flat Dwellers

For tenants and flat owners, access can be challenging. We assess lifts, stairwells and corridors in advance and bring the correct equipment and team size. We liaise with building management where required and ensure minimal disruption to neighbours.

Landlords and Property Managers

We assist landlords and letting agents needing a piano removed, relocated or placed into storage between tenancies. Our team works to clear timescales and provides documentation confirming removal, helpful for inventories and management records.

Businesses, Schools and Venues

From schools and music studios to churches, theatres and hotels, we offer scheduled professional piano removals and relocations. We can work out of hours or at weekends to avoid disruption, and we are protected by public liability cover.

Students

For students at Kingston University and local music colleges, we offer straightforward moves for digital pianos and compact uprights between halls, student houses and family homes. We keep things clear, affordable and flexible.

What’s Included in Our Piano Removals

Our standard piano removal service includes:

• Initial consultation and access assessment
• Clear, written quotation with no hidden extras
• Trained moving teams experienced in piano handling
• Protective blankets, covers and floor protection
• Specialist moving equipment (skates, dollies, straps, ramps)
• Careful loading, secure strapping and safe transport
• Unloading and placement in the room and position you choose
• Goods in transit insurance for your piano while it is with us

Items and Situations We Cannot Cover

To keep you fully informed, there are some exclusions and limitations:

• We do not tune pianos – tuning should be arranged after the move
• We cannot move pianos through access that is physically too small or unsafe
• Extreme height crane work may require a specialist partner contractor
• We do not move severely damaged or structurally unsound pianos without prior inspection
• Outdoor moves in unsafe weather (e.g. icy steps) may need to be rescheduled for safety

We will always advise you honestly about what is and is not practical, and we never take unnecessary risks with your instrument or property.

Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process

1. Enquiry & Quote

You contact us by phone or online with the basic details: piano type, current address, destination address and any known access issues. We ask a few focused questions and then provide a clear, itemised estimate. For more complex moves, we may give an initial range, followed by a confirmed quote after a survey.

2. Survey (Virtual or Onsite)

We carry out a virtual or onsite survey to assess stairs, lifts, corners, steps and parking. Photos or video calls often suffice, but for challenging properties we will visit in person. This allows us to plan the team size, equipment and timings accurately and avoid surprises on the day.

3. Packing & Preparation

On the day, we protect floors and key touch points, then wrap the piano in padded covers. For grand and baby grand pianos, we carefully remove legs and lyre where necessary, securing all components separately. We label and protect any detachable parts so they are ready for reassembly at the destination.

4. Loading & Transport

The team positions the piano onto a suitable dolly or skid, using safe lifting techniques and coordination. We guide it carefully through the property, managing steps and tight turns slowly and methodically. Once at the van, the piano is loaded using ramps or tail lifts, then securely strapped to prevent any movement in transit.

5. Unloading & Placement

At the new property, we reverse the process: careful unloading, controlled movement to the chosen room, and final placement where you want it. For grands and baby grands, we reattach legs and lyre and position the piano to your preference. We remove all protective materials and leave the space tidy.

Transparent Pricing for Piano Removals

We believe pricing should be clear and fair. Piano removal costs are based on:

• Type and size of piano (upright, baby grand, grand)
• Access complexity at collection and delivery addresses
• Distances between properties
• Additional services (e.g. external lifts, steps over a set threshold)

Once we have assessed the job, we provide a fixed price wherever possible, so you know exactly what you will pay. Any potential extra charges (for example, if crane hire is needed) are discussed in advance and only proceed with your agreement.

Why Use Professional Piano Movers Rather Than DIY

Pianos are extremely heavy, finely balanced and mechanically complex. Attempting to move one yourself or with a casual man-and-van service carries genuine risk of:

• Injury to you or helpers
• Damage to the piano’s frame, keys or action
• Scratches, dents and structural damage to floors, walls and staircases
• Insurance issues if something goes wrong

With Kingston Upon Thames Movers, you get a professional crew, proper equipment, fully insured transport and a structured plan. In practice, this is usually more economical than repairing damage or replacing a damaged instrument.

Insurance and Professional Standards

As a specialist removals company, we operate to high professional standards and carry comprehensive cover:

• Goods in transit insurance – your piano is insured while it is in our care and on our vehicles
• Public liability cover – protection for your property and third parties while we are working on site
• Trained moving teams – staff are instructed in safe lifting, manual handling and piano-specific techniques

We document bookings, provide written confirmations, and issue invoices and receipts for your records. This professional approach offers reassurance to homeowners, landlords, managing agents and business clients alike.

Care, Protection and Sustainability

We take great care of both your piano and your property. Floors, carpets and bannisters are protected as required, and we move slowly and deliberately rather than rushing. We also aim to work in a more sustainable way:

• Using reusable padded covers and protectors rather than single-use materials
• Planning efficient routes to reduce unnecessary mileage
• Maintaining our fleet for fuel efficiency and reliability

Where disposable materials are needed, we aim to use recyclable options and minimise waste wherever practical.

Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios

Moving House with a Piano

For families moving house in Kingston upon Thames, we often combine the piano move with the full household removal. The piano is handled by a dedicated team within the move, ensuring it is loaded and unloaded with care and not treated as just another item of furniture.

Office, School or Studio Relocation

When schools, music studios or performance spaces relocate or refurbish, we schedule piano removals to fit around their timetable. This might mean early mornings, evenings or weekends, and sometimes moving multiple instruments in a single, coordinated operation.

Urgent or Short-Notice Moves

From probate situations to last-minute tenancy changes, there are times when a piano needs moving at short notice. Where our schedule allows, we offer same-day or next-day solutions and work efficiently to get your piano moved safely and on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a piano removal cost?

The cost of a piano removal depends mainly on the type of piano, the distance between properties and how straightforward the access is at each end. Uprights on level access are generally less expensive than grands or pianos involving multiple flights of stairs. After a short consultation and, if needed, a survey, we provide a clear fixed quote so you know the exact cost before you commit. There are no hidden extras, and any additional services, such as crane hire, are agreed with you in advance.

Can you do same-day or urgent piano removals?

Where our schedule allows, we can accommodate same-day or urgent piano removals in Kingston upon Thames and nearby areas. Urgent moves are subject to crew and vehicle availability, as well as any access constraints, so the more information you can provide at enquiry stage, the better. If we cannot safely complete the move on the same day, we will offer the earliest possible alternative. In every case, we balance speed with safety, ensuring your piano and property remain fully protected.

Is my piano insured while you move it?

Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is in our care and travelling on our vehicles. In addition, our public liability cover protects against accidental damage to your property while we are working on site. We are happy to outline the key terms of our policies and, if required, provide confirmation for your records. For particularly high-value instruments, we recommend you also check with your own insurer to ensure you are fully comfortable with the overall level of protection.

What exactly is included in your piano removal service?

Our piano removal service includes planning, access assessment, provision of a trained moving team, all standard protective materials and the use of specialist moving equipment. We handle wrapping, careful movement within the property, loading, secure transport, unloading and final placement in your chosen room. For grand and baby grand pianos, we also carry out basic dismantling and reassembly of legs and lyre as needed. Tuning is not included and should be arranged separately, ideally a week or two after the move once the piano has acclimatised.

How is a professional piano removal different from a man-and-van service?

A casual man-and-van may be suitable for standard furniture, but pianos require more than just lifting power. We provide dedicated equipment such as piano skates, heavy-duty straps and padded covers, along with trained crews who understand balance points and safe handling techniques. We also hold appropriate insurance specifically covering your piano and your property. This combination of expertise, equipment and cover significantly reduces the risk of injury or damage, and offers a level of accountability that ad hoc services typically cannot match.

How far in advance should I book a piano removal?

Where possible, we recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance, especially if you need a specific date or time, or if the move involves complex access. This allows us to survey properly, plan the crew and equipment, and coordinate with any building or parking arrangements. However, we understand that urgent situations can arise, and we will always do our best to help at shorter notice. The earlier you get in touch, the more options we can usually offer.