If it was your piano, how would you feel. Would you be confident that problems won't be appearing next week, month, year? In cases like this, having seen the pictures of the soundboard-rim, I really think that the glue joints were severely affected by the water and the piano would need a new soundboard, pinblock and probably action too. These parts could start warping after a year or two. Why take the chance of hurting your reputation? This is the reason these people got insurance in the first place, to replace their loss. And from my point of view, the piano is lost.Marcel Carey, RPTSherbrooke, QCDate: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:36:49 +0000From: piano57 at comcast.netTo: pianotech at ptg.orgSubject: Re: [pianotech] water damage, again
We determined the lid was open. I am only confused because of the lack of staining in the action and keybed. Perhaps the water was mostly on the soundboard and drained out the nosebolt hole. appropriate... So, I guess the questions are, will the soundboard go to pieces, and will the action go crazy...
Thank you all for your responses--public and private. You have given me words to use in my evaluation.
Barbara Richmond
near Peoria, IL
----- Original Message -----From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell at ameritech.net>To: pianotech at ptg.orgSent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 3:53:41 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada CentralSubject: Re: [pianotech] water damage, again
Perhaps I can try that again. I wonder if they meant the fallboard when they said front lid. It might be action damage that you’re looking for. Key bushings, keyframe glue joints, discoloration on keybed etc. is where I’d look first but I bet you’ve done that already. It’s likely you’ve done all you can in preparing them for what might show up in the future. I’m sure you’ve carefully documented the conversation … right?
Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
www.gregspianoforte.com
216-226-3791 (office)
216-470-8634 (mobile)
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg NewellSent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:50 PMTo: pianotech at ptg.orgSubject: Re: [pianotech] water damage, again
Barbara,
I wonder if by “front lid” they don’t mean the
Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
www.gregspianoforte.com
216-226-3791 (office)
216-470-8634 (mobile)
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Barbara RichmondSent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 3:47 PMTo: pianotech at ptg.orgSubject: [pianotech] water damage, again
Greetings,
I received a call a couple weeks ago from a woman who reported that a pipe broke in their house and water poured into her Samick grand piano (twenty years old--if I could just find my atlas). We made an appointment (for this morning) and I thought it would be a clear cut <condemn the piano> thing. Well...I've never inspected a flooded piano before. The piano played, no sluggishness, I couldn't see any trace of water stains on the action or keybed. There was rust on the leg hardware in the keybed on the treble side (photo1). There is some rust at the coils. (photo 2) The only place the piano looked <clean> (no dust) was the straight side of the soundboard. Underneath there was a rib separated (photo 3) and then at the bass cut-off, it looked like there was some possible damage (a wedge of split wood that was loose), but I wasn't totally sure (photo 4) because the soundboard work (rib gluing) looks sort of sloppy in general. The owner said that there had never been any soundboard repairs or any other repairs done on the piano. There's a spot in the treble bridge with problems, but I don't know if it had anything to do with the water (photo 5). And this soundboard problem goes the entire length of the board (photo 6).
There were places on the case and dampers where I could see water spots, but all the dust seemed intact. Wouldn't pouring water displace it? Hmm. I asked again about the amount of water. The owner called her nephew who said the front lid was open and water went into the piano. When the flood service team came in, they put a bucket under the piano to catch water that was draining out of the instrument. She described a large bucket with 3-4 inches of water in it. It seems odd to me, but maybe not being able to see stains or whatever from the water is normal. Can someone enlighten me here?
I explained to the customer that it can take time for the effects of water damage to manifest themselves in full. She said she wanted it to be settled as soon as possible...of course.
How does one, if it is possible, predict what might happen to the piano? Would you recommend strings, block, bridge repair, and a DC system? The action is functioning normally now; could there be a delayed freeze-up of action centers?
Thanks for your comments.
Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, IL
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