The problems brought on by smoke are many.  First of all, the smoke
produces all sorts of caustic pollutants that reach all accessible
and inaccessible areas of the piano.

Obviously the finish is the first noticed, after that the soundboard
and tuning pin areas.  The smoke usually produces acidic compounds on
the strings, under the strings, in the tuning pin coils, and under
the plate (that alone is almost a waste of effort).

Then the parts that no one ever thinks of: the center pins in the
action eventually corrode from sulphur contamination and become
sluggish or cease to be able to work.  All the wool in the hammers soak
up the smell, and you are fighting a losing battle for elimination of
that.

If all this is explained to the insurance adjusters, they are more
able to understand the total devastation that fire does to a piano.
The best solution is to totally rebuild all of the action, the strings,
pinblock and soundboard areas.

This not a fast solution to the adjuster's dilemma.

Larry Dull