[pianotech] Water damaged piano

[Gerald Groot]

I've found that rust in particular, will not necessarily show up for a full
year afterward.  That can take quite a while to show its brutal head.  I
generally recommend not to settle with the insurance company for a good
year. You will know for sure by that time, the full extent of the damage
caused.

Jer Groot

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Doremus
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 9:39 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Water damaged piano

This is absolutely spot on. Besides the obvious, like dampers stuck to 
strings with rust, the whole thing seems to come down to the glue 
choices used in manufacture. I can tell you from experience that 
Baldwins seem to come apart, while some cheaper pianos hold together. I 
have a customer who still has pictures of her piano floating in 3 ft of 
water after hurricane Betsy with her birthday presents piled on top. It 
still works, according to her it had some leg and lyre repair and that 
was it, and as far as I can tell she's right. Let it set and dry as long 
as possible before passing judgement, things will change. Swollen parts 
will shrink, other parts that looked ok will warp, veneer will peel off. 
Before you set it up make sure the legs are not coming apart, most of 
them are made from glued up blocks and the joints can fail after getting 
wet. Hopefully they have the proper insurance, and enough of it.

--Dave
New Orleans

On 10/11/11 6:07 PM, Delwin D Fandrich wrote:
>
> Start by insisting that the piano be up on its feet. But, before it 
> goes up inspect the bottom of the piano; check the soundboard to rim 
> joint, make sure the ribs are solidly glued. Usually you will be able 
> to see a "waterline" which will tell you how high the water has been. 
> (Assuming it was in a flood-type situation.) Determine how old the 
> piano is. Is it old enough to worry about animal hide glue joints? If 
> it is a more modern piano-one using a thermal-setting water-proof 
> adhesive-you probably won't have structural problems. Pull the action 
> and examine the action parts. Even if you don't see evidence of direct 
> water damage make sure the centers are free (not rusted stiff) and not 
> loose. Listen to the piano-assuming it is playable-how are the 
> hammers? Check the pinblock to make sure there is no delaminating 
> going on. Tune through the bass (the piano was on its side, right?) 
> and see how the pins feel. How do the metal parts look? How much rust 
> can you see? How are the dampers? The damper levers? The damper guide 
> rail?
>
> After you've given your initial inspection, explain that before you 
> are willing to put anything about the pianos condition in writing 
> you'll want to check the piano again after it has been dry for a 
> couple of months-when I check a piano that has actually been in a 
> flood I want it to be dried out for about four to six months before I 
> render any final decision on salvageability and the costs involved. It 
> doesn't sound like this has actually been in a flood but you don't yet 
> know how high the water might have gone. I've found decently built old 
> pianos falling apart after a flood that came only six inches up on the 
> walls and I've found other pianos that were literally floating in four 
> or five feet of water that cleaned up reasonably well with only 
> hammers and dampers and a few assorted bits and pieces.
>
> ddf
>
> Delwin D Fandrich
>
> Piano Design & Fabrication
>
> 6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA
>
> Phone 360.515.0119 - Cell 360.388.6525
>
> del at fandrichpiano.com <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com>- 
> ddfandrich at gmail.com <mailto:ddfandrich at gmail.com>
>
>

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