maintenance figures

[Richard West]

Blaine:

Some time ago I put a "Suggested Ideal Piano Maintenance Program" on the 
CAUT list.  I thought I would resubmit it because it might be 
appropriate for the questions you raised.  For most homes and many 
institutions the suggestions, if followed, would be a giant step 
forward.   I hope it is helpful.  If you or anyone else on the list have 
suggestions regarding my suggestions, I'd welcome any response.

I avoided quoting prices, but by taking an hourly rate and doing the 
math, actual costs could be calculated in rough terms.

Another source for help in answering your question would be Steinway's 
"Guidelines for Institutional Piano Service."

Richard West, University of Nebraska


Suggested Ideal Piano Maintenance Program
(Steps to keep an acoustic piano working well throughout its lifetime)
by Richard West, RPT, Staff Piano Technician
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

It is impossible to give a precise timetable for piano maintenance and 
repairs due to the fact that the hours of use, and environmental factors 
vary from instrument to instrument.  If a piano is played more than 3 
hours/day, or if the humidity varies by more than 20% over a year's 
time, the timetable below will have to be compressed.  Moreover, concert 
grands are in a league of their own.  They need to be tuned before most 
performances and require constant attention to regulation and voicing. 
 A ball park figure of 25 to 50 hours per year per concert grand 
maintenance would not be out of the question in performance venues, 
especially if access is unrestricted and the piano is accessible as a 
"practice piano".

The schedule does NOT include parts replacement, restringing, or major 
rebuilding which would have to be included when considering costs over 
the lifetime of the piano.

The schedule below is for a "typical" vertical or small grand with 
"average" usage.

The First Year - Tune the piano 3 or 4 times (Many piano dealers provide 
the first 2 tunings for free).  Have a technician tighten the action 
screws and plate screws, stabilize the strings (tap down the string 
coils on the tuning pins, and seat strings to bridges), and check the 
regulation.  Install internal humidity control device (Dampp-Chaser 
unit) to control humidity changes.

Costs: 
    tuning@ $_____/tuning            1 1/2 hours    $ _________
    tighten screws/stabilize strings    1/2 hour        $ _________
    check regulation                1 - 2 hours    $ _________
    install humidity control unit                $ ___________



The Second Year - the piano should be tuned two to four times annually 
depending on humidity conditions and use. If there is minimal humidity 
control (as in schools and churches) avoid tuning in August (high 
humidity) and late January/February (low humidity).

Cost:                               
    tuning                        1 1/2 hrs/tuning $ ________


Third Year - File hammers, and align to strings

Costs:                           
    hammer work                    2 - 3 hours    $ __________
    tuning                        1 1/2 hrs/tuning    $ _________


Fourth Year - tuning

Costs:                            1 1/2 hrs/tuning $ ________


Fifth Year - tuning, complete regulation, file hammers

Costs:

    complete regulation                2 - 4 days    $ _________         
    (grands are more expensive to regulate)
    tuning                        1 1/2 hrs/tuning $ ________



Sixth through Fourteenth Years - tune every year, file hammers every 
other year, regulate every 5 years


Fifteenth Year - replace hammers, regulate, tune

Costs:                              5 - 6 days/year total

Sixteenth Year - check regulation, tune

Costs:                            1 - 2 days/year total

Seventeenth Year through Twenty-Fifth Year - tune every year, file 
hammers every other year, regulate every 5 years.

The lifetime of a good vertical pianos is 25 to 50 years depending on 
construction, use, and conditions in which the piano was kept. Although 
parts replacement is possible with older verticals, the costs often 
outweigh the benefits.

After 25 to 35 years all new action parts and strings may be needed.  
Between 35 and 50 years a grand could need complete rebuilding with a 
new pinblock, soundboard, action, and refinishing.  In theory a grand 
could last over 100 years depending upon construction and design, use, 
and conditions in which the piano was kept.  Rebuilding is usually 
limited to well known, brand name, high quality instruments.



Blaine Vesely wrote:

> List,
> A former colleague, Anne Fiedler, asked me for help in determining 
> maintenance figures over the life span of a piano.  She requested that 
> I ask CAUTs on the list, and her question is printed below.  She has 
> recently become more proactive in piano maintenance issues--she was 
> one of a handful of university piano professors who attended the 
> Symposium in Chicago last summer.  If you would like to contact her 
> directly, I can forward her email address to you off list.
>
> Regards,
> Blaine Vesely
>
>
>
> Blaine,
>
> If you wouldn't mind posting on the listserve, here's what I'd like 
> posted:
> -----
> For purposes of securing a recurring gift donation, I'm seeking 
> estimated figures of maintenance for the life of a new Steinway D, B L 
> and upright. I realize that the age of the piano will be among factors 
> that dictate necessary work and that annual costs will vary. However, 
> an annual, 5-year,10-year or longer estimate would be most helpful.
> ---------
>
> Thanks again for your time -
> Anne
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives