Interesting thread.
Just FYI, there are companies that can be hired to assess situations and hire professionals who assess situations like this, and their job is to make the insurance company pay out what they are actually required to pay out by their own contract. I met someone this year doing a house fire piano evaluation, and his company hires specialists, compiles actual cost to rebuild, repair or replace what's damaged. Then they go into settlement with the insurance company, in many cases settling for much much more than the insurance said it would pay out.
In the case of fire, the heat and humidity fluctuation generated by the fire can have effects on the piano for years to come. With water, there is even more of an unknown, since elements like rust or mold can take time to appear. The possibilities are endless in these scenarios with thousands of moving parts, glue joints, veneer, felt, leather, thread, and plastic that can all dry out and become effected but only show it in time.
That's my opinion anyhow, and in insurance matters I strive to be as honest as possible while looking for what could happen down the road. That said, people pay tens of thousands of dollars over the course of their lives for insurance to protect what they have worked hard to own and maintain. I would hate to see the damage or possible damage be underestimated, and it's better safe than sorry.
Elizabeth Pearson RPT
Original Message------
Ron,
Numerous factors must be taken in consideration when dealing with these pianos. We must determine the type of fire, location of the fire in relation to the piano, type of heat, driven or free floating, etc. Each is different. To assume that every piano that is subject to odor bearing particles (incomplete combustion i.e. soot) has an effect on glue joints is not realistic. Yes, there are those instruments that suffer from not only intense heat but also the extinguishing process, humidity levels (from very low to very high in a particular setting).
My point is that the corrossive particulates due the most damage in the first 18 hours. A "puff back" for instance in a basement oil burner, with the piano upstairs may receive some "soot" but by no means is the piano at risk. A thorough cleaning is all that is necessary and will have no future problems if done correctly.
This is why in my initial article (as seen on the PTG website) I address those issues when assessing the instrument. Those will help determine the types of residue, the placement of the fire, the method in which the fire was extinguished, and so on.