Piano Removals

Piano Removals Catford – Professional Piano Moving by Catford Movers

Moving a piano is a specialist job. At Catford Movers, our dedicated piano removals team handles upright and grand pianos across Catford and the surrounding areas with the care and precision they demand. We combine local knowledge with specialist equipment and trained, fully insured crews to move your instrument safely, whether it’s going to a new room, a new home or a new venue.

Specialist Piano Removals in Catford

A piano is more than furniture – it’s heavy, delicate and often irreplaceable. Our piano removals service in Catford is designed specifically for these challenges. We plan the route, protect the instrument, and use the correct lifting and transport methods so your piano arrives in the same condition it left.

We work throughout Catford and nearby areas, including residential streets with tight access, flats with limited lifts, and properties with steps or awkward turns. Our local experience means we know the typical building layouts and parking restrictions, allowing us to plan efficiently and minimise disruption.

Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For

Our Catford piano removals are tailored to a wide range of customers:

Homeowners

Whether you’re moving house or simply relocating your piano to another room or floor, we provide careful handling and full protection for both the instrument and your property.

Renters

If you’re in a flat or rented house, we manage tight stairs, shared entrances and access rules. We protect walls, floors and banisters to avoid damage and potential deposit issues.

Landlords & Letting Agents

We assist with removing or repositioning pianos between tenancies, ensuring minimal disruption to neighbours and compliance with building access arrangements.

Businesses & Venues

We move pianos for schools, churches, studios, theatres, hotels and event spaces. Timed collections and deliveries are available to work around rehearsals, services and performances.

Students & Young Musicians

Moving between term-time accommodation and home? We offer practical, budget-conscious solutions for upright pianos and digital pianos, with clear, upfront pricing.

What’s Included in Our Piano Removals Service

Our piano moves include:

• Pre-move planning and access assessment
• Use of professional piano skates, dollies and lifting gear
• High-quality protective blankets and wraps
• Floor and doorway protection where required
• Safe loading and securing in a suitable removals vehicle
• Transport by professional, experienced drivers
• Careful unloading and positioning in the new location
• Basic reassembly of detached parts (e.g. legs or pedals on some grands)

We can also combine piano removals with other services, such as full house removals, office relocations or student moves, for a single, coordinated move.

What’s Excluded or May Be Extra

To keep things transparent, the following are generally excluded unless agreed in advance:

• Internal tuning or repair work – we recommend tuning after any move and can refer you to local technicians.
• Major dismantling beyond standard removal of legs/lyre on suitable grand pianos.
• Extreme access solutions, such as crane lifts, balcony hoists or structural alterations.
• Long carries beyond normal access (e.g. across large gardens) without prior agreement.
• Storage charges, if you require temporary or long-term storage.

Where any of these are needed, we will discuss them openly and provide a tailored quote before you commit.

Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process

1. Enquiry & Quote

You contact us with basic details: piano type (upright or grand), collection and delivery addresses, floor levels, and any access concerns. We then provide a clear, no-obligation estimate based on the information you share.

2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite

For straightforward upright moves, photos or a short video call is often enough. For grands or complicated access (spiral stairs, narrow corridors), we may arrange an onsite survey in Catford. This lets us measure routes, identify risks and confirm the right team size and equipment.

3. Packing & Preparation

On move day, we protect floors and key pinch points first. The piano is then carefully wrapped, with corners and polished surfaces fully covered. For many grands, we remove the legs and lyre, wrap each piece, and place the body on a padded piano skid for safe movement.

4. Loading & Transport

Using specialist skates, dollies and ramps, our trained team moves the piano to the vehicle, always maintaining control and communication. Inside the lorry or van, we secure the instrument with straps and blocks to prevent movement during transit.

5. Unloading & Placement

At the destination, we repeat the protection of access routes and carefully position the piano where you want it. For grands, we reattach legs and pedals, level the instrument and remove all covers. We recommend allowing it to acclimatise before arranging tuning.

Transparent Piano Removal Pricing

Piano removal costs in Catford vary depending on:

• Type of piano (upright vs baby grand or full grand)
• Number of stairs and difficulty of access
• Distance between properties
• Team size and any special equipment required
• Whether the move is standalone or part of a bigger removal

We don’t use confusing price lists. Instead, we provide a clear, written quote tailored to your move, explaining exactly what is included. There are no hidden extras: if we believe something could add to the cost (for example, awkward external access), we raise it upfront so you can make an informed decision.

Why Use Professional Piano Movers Instead of DIY

Attempting to move a piano yourself or with a casual man-and-van service can be risky. Pianos are extremely heavy yet mechanically delicate; incorrect lifting or securing can lead to internal damage, warped frames or injury to people helping.

With Catford Movers you benefit from:

• Trained specialists who understand piano balance and handling
• Appropriate trolleys, skids, ramps and protective materials
• Goods in transit insurance specifically covering your items
• Public liability cover in case of accidental damage to property
• Efficient planning that reduces disruption and stress

Using professionals helps protect not only the instrument, but also your back, your home and your peace of mind.

Insurance & Professional Standards

We operate to strict professional standards on every piano move:

• Goods in transit insurance for your piano while it’s in our care and vehicles.
• Public liability cover to protect against accidental damage to buildings or third parties.
• Trained and vetted teams with hands-on piano moving experience.
• Fully equipped, well-maintained vehicles appropriate for heavy instruments.
• Clear communication before, during and after the move.

Policy details and limits are available on request; we are always happy to explain exactly how you are protected.

Care, Protection and Sustainability

We treat every piano as if it were our own. That means careful route planning, ample padding and coverings, and steady, controlled movement at every stage. We also take care of your floors, walls and doorways to avoid scuffs and scratches.

Where possible, we use reusable blankets, straps and crates to reduce waste. Our vehicles are routed efficiently to minimise unnecessary mileage, and we consolidate trips when practical. It’s a balanced approach that protects your instrument while keeping our environmental impact in mind.

Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios We Handle

Moving House with a Piano

We can integrate your piano removal into a full household move, ensuring it is packed and loaded safely among your other belongings. Often we load the piano last and unload it first so it can be positioned before other furniture.

Office and Studio Relocations

For music schools, studios, churches and performance spaces, we coordinate with your schedule to minimise downtime. Early morning, evening or weekend moves can be arranged to avoid disruption to lessons, services or rehearsals.

Urgent or Short-Notice Piano Moves

Sometimes pianos need to be moved at short notice, such as following a quick property completion or an unexpected change of tenancy. Where our diary allows, we offer same-day or next-day piano removals in Catford, with clear communication so you know exactly when to expect us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a piano removal in Catford cost?

The cost of a piano removal depends on the piano type, access and distance involved. Upright pianos on the ground floor with straightforward access are usually at the lower end, while grands or properties with multiple flights of stairs require more time, staff and equipment. Once you provide details and photos, we’ll give you a clear, fixed quote covering labour, equipment and transport. There are no hidden charges, and we will explain any potential additional costs (such as unusual access) before you decide to proceed.

Can you do same-day or urgent piano removals?

We can often accommodate same-day or short-notice piano removals in Catford, depending on our schedule and the complexity of the move. Straightforward upright pianos with easy access are usually easier to fit in at short notice than grand pianos requiring a larger team. If you need an urgent move, contact us as early as possible with full details so we can check availability, allocate the right crew and confirm timings. We’ll always be honest about what we can safely achieve within the time available.

Is my piano insured during the move?

Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is being handled and transported by Catford Movers. In addition, our public liability cover protects against accidental damage to buildings or third parties during the move. We’re happy to share policy details and limits upon request. While incidents are rare due to our careful handling, having suitable insurance in place provides important reassurance that you are properly protected throughout the removal process.

What exactly is included in your piano removals service?

Our standard service includes planning, a virtual or onsite survey where needed, protective wrapping of the piano, floor and doorway protection as required, professional moving equipment, loading, transport, unloading and final placement. For grand pianos, we typically remove and refit legs and pedals where appropriate. What is not included as standard are tuning, repair work, crane lifts or structural adjustments, and storage fees. If you require any additional services, we will discuss them clearly and provide an updated quotation before you book.

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

A professional piano removal uses trained staff, specialist equipment and appropriate insurance, all focused on moving heavy, delicate instruments safely. Casual man-and-van services often lack the correct skids, dollies, ramps and straps, and may not be insured for high-value musical instruments. This increases the risk of personal injury and damage to the piano or property. With Catford Movers, you benefit from experience, proper planning and clear accountability, giving you greater peace of mind throughout the move.

How far in advance should I book a piano removal?

For the best choice of dates and times, we recommend booking at least 1–2 weeks in advance, especially if you need a specific day or are moving a grand piano that requires more planning. However, we understand that moves are not always predictable, and we do keep some flexibility for short-notice jobs. Even if your timescale is tight, it’s worth calling us – if we can fit you in without compromising safety or quality, we will do our best to help.