Six Core Steps of Professional Piano Restoration

Published: 5/29/2026 10:08:12 PM   Clicked: 102

Piano restoration is far more than “cleaning and then tuning.” A truly professional restoration involves six core steps, and the entire process typically takes two to four weeks.

The first step is disassembly and labeling. The technician removes the action, keyboard, and pedal system entirely, labeling each component to ensure correct reassembly. This step requires great patience and attention to detail.

The second step is cleaning and rust removal. Specialized vacuums and brushes remove internal dust. Rust on strings and tuning pins is treated, and severely rusted components are replaced.

The third step is hammer treatment or replacement. Severely worn hammers produce tones that are either too bright or too dull. Depending on the wear level, the technician will either sand and reshape the hammers or replace them entirely. In Singapore, replacing a full set of upright piano hammers costs approximately S$600 to S$1,200.

The fourth step is keyboard and action regulation. This includes replacing front rail and balance rail bushing felts, adjusting key dip and down weight, and calibrating the clearances between action joints. This step directly affects playing feel.

The fifth step is voicing. By needling the hammers or applying hardeners, the technician fine-tunes the tone of each note to achieve uniform sound across the entire piano. This is the most experience-demanding step.

The sixth step is reassembly and fine tuning. All components are reinstalled according to labels, followed by at least two rounds of fine tuning and a stability test of over one week before delivery.

In Singapore, when choosing a restoration service, it is advisable to request a detailed step-by-step checklist and a record of replaced parts to avoid “clean-only” pseudo-restoration services.