Piano Refinishing

Does your old piano hold a special place in your home? Do you polish it with Pledge every week in the hopes that you can keep the finish shining through so that no one will notice the scratches, dents and dings from years of use by the kids and grandkids?

Most pianos in homes have seen a great deal of use and abuse. Children are not the most careful individuals when it comes to any kind of furniture let alone a piano. Pianos are temperamental objects, changing the way the sound depending on temperature, humidity and frequency of use. Does the finish on your old upright look well worn?

Does the thought of trying to refinish your piano yourself leave you with a feeling of dread? Fear not, there are many companies that specialize in piano refinishing in cities near you. It does not matter if you live in a big city, the suburbs or in rural areas.

If there is a piano store, then they are likely to have at least one piano refinishing expert on staff. If they do not, then they will be able to recommend a place for you to get an estimate on piano refinishing.

There are several factors that go into a piano refinishing estimate. First, there is the type of piano to be refinished. A baby grand or grand piano requires a much different type of finish than an upright. If you have an upright, the era that your piano was made will determine how much it will cost to refinish.

Different times and different manufacturers made the exterior cases of some upright pianos with ornate decorations, inlays and routing patterns. The more intricate the design, the more costly the refinishing estimate.

If there are fancy veneers and scrollwork that are damaged, you will need a piano refinishing expert who can recreate the scrollwork to piece it back together. The key to a great refinishing job is a finish that brings out the inherent wood grain.

Most piano refinishers begin by stripping the exterior down to the bare wood. Some will then fill in any deep gouges or scratches and sand down those areas to a smooth finish. Then they will take a proper finish. Once the surface is smooth, most good refinishers will use a colored lacquer to reproduce the original finish on the piano.

Most good piano finishes have several layers to produce that real rich coloration. Shellac is usually applied in a very thin layer on the bare wood surface to seal it from subsequent coats.

Once the shellac is set, the lacquer is applied and flows more easily as the shellac has sealed all contaminants away that would interfere with the application of the lacquer. Several coats of lacquer with sanding in between and a final application of clear coat can complete the refinishing job.

A proper piano refinishing job can cost as little as a few hundred dollars but go well over a thousand dollars if the ornamentation on the piano is extensive. How much damage in the way of dents and dings that need to be filled will also add a significant amount to your final bill?

Do not look at furniture refinishing or restoration companies to do the job of refinishing your piano. If the piano is worth the expense only trust the job to a company that specializes in pianos. They can spot problems in the rest of the piano and make steps to prevent future problems from occurring with the playability of your piano.

There is a company in Philadelphia called Sweeney Piano Restoration that has a motto of “The Vintage American made Grand and Baby Grand Piano … Preserving an American Legacy one grand piano at a time” since 1974.

If you live in eastern Pennsylvania and have a piano in need of refinishing the Sweeney family will make sure your object of affection is well taken care of. Not only can they refinish your masterpiece, they can repair and restore it to its former grandeur as well.

Sweeney offers their repair, refurbishing, restoration, appraisal, moving and tuning services across the continental United States. While other piano movers tout who they have moved pianos for, Sweeney just does a great job for a fair price.

Piano Rebuilders