This is a very common question we get around the store. People wonder if it’s necessary to cover their pianos and whether or not it will help to preserve their instruments or the finish of their pianos.
It is not necessary to cover your piano and truthfully it can be a chore to have to constantly cover and uncover the instrument every time you want to play it. However, when we get pianos in the shop that have been kept covered, they can look like new pianos!
A cover over a piano will not only protect it from scratches or dust but it will slow the aging process – particularly for the furniture. If a piano is in direct sunlight, the finish will eventually suffer sun damage. The finish might change color in spots that are exposed to the sun and the finish may dry out and eventually start flaking off.
If you have a piano in your home that has direct sunlight on it you should definitely get either shades for the window or a cover for the piano. Sun damage can inflict thousands of dollars of damage to a piano’s finish over a short period of time.
More important than covering your piano is to close the lid when you are done playing. The humidity and temperature changes particularly at night can adversely affect the integrity of your piano. You can’t stop all exposure to the elements. However, providing constant air conditioning and humidity control in the room the piano is located can slow the aging process particularly when combined with keeping the piano closed.
Unless you are in a harsh environment where there are wild swings of temperature and humidity, you don’t necessarily need to close the lid of the piano but it certainly will help to prolong the life of the instrument. The most important thing to avoid is direct sunlight on your piano.
While it’s not necessary to cover your piano it can help. If you are playing it all the time it might be cumbersome to constantly cover the piano but it will help to delay the aging process and keep your instrument fresher longer.
For pianos in institutional settings, covering the piano can be a lifesaver from potential abuse.
Thanks again for joining us here at Living Pianos. If you have any questions about this topic or any others, please contact us at: Info@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729