Dimond Movers
Steinway Grand: London Townhouse to Oxford
All Case Studies
Specialist piano move

Steinway Grand: London Townhouse to Oxford

A concert-condition Steinway Model B grand piano moved from a four-storey Notting Hill townhouse to a first-floor music room in North Oxford, with lift access at the origin and a bespoke stair-carry at the destination.

Notting Hill → North Oxford
Instrument
Steinway Model B (315 kg)
Crew
4-person specialist piano team
Duration
9 hours door-to-door
Insurance
Bespoke uplift on the instrument

How the move ran

  1. T-7
    On-site survey

    Piano specialist visited both properties. Door widths, stair angles and lift dimensions measured to the millimetre.

  2. T-1
    Route confirmed

    Skid-board and blanket set prepared. Air-ride van assigned.

  3. 07:30
    Dismantle at origin

    Legs, lyre and music desk removed. Case wrapped in three layers of archival blanket and lowered onto the skid board.

  4. 09:30
    Load

    Piano loaded into the air-ride van, strapped into its own bay.

  5. 13:00
    Arrival in Oxford

    Client on-site to confirm placement.

  6. 13:30
    Stair carry

    Four-person carry up a Victorian staircase using proper piano straps. No wall or bannister damage.

  7. 15:00
    Reassembly

    Legs, lyre, pedals refitted. Instrument checked by client.

  8. 16:30
    Handover

    Piano tuner booked for two weeks post-move once the instrument had settled.

Challenges & how we solved them

Challenge
£85k instrument with bespoke insurance uplift
Solution
Dedicated cover confirmed in writing before the job. Client's insurer notified of transit dates.
Challenge
First-floor destination with Victorian winder staircase
Solution
Four-person stair carry using dedicated piano straps and shoulder harnesses. No lift used.
Challenge
Client anxious after a bad prior experience
Solution
Named piano lead on the job from survey to handover. Photo updates at every stage.

Outcome

  • Zero damage to the instrument or either property
  • Tuner confirmed regulation intact
  • Client became a repeat customer for a subsequent upright move
"I was terrified after our last piano mover damaged the case. Dimond's specialist team was in a different league — dismantled, wrapped, carried and reassembled without a mark. My tuner said the instrument was in perfect condition."
Elena K. · Concert pianist, Oxford
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