Restoring Water Damaged Art

6/29/2021 (Permalink)

People sometimes associate SERVPRO with a big response after water damage. We like to tell people that, if necessary, we can bring in an army of technicians and equipment to restore their home or business to a preloss condition.

But that doesn’t mean that we don’t also pay attention to the details. That goes double when it comes to restoring contents that are special, valuable or sentimental, especially water damaged art.

Can water damaged art be restored?

The restoration of water damaged art depends on many different factors. Where did the water originate? How saturated did the art or the photographs become? What, exactly, got wet? What kind of condition was it in before it got wet? Even in the best situations, restoration is rarely a sure thing.

That said, if restoration is possible, it’s often a much better alternative than simply letting the art dry on its own. Water damaged art can become stained, discolored or wrinkled very easily. If it’s framed, it might fuse to the glass. Mold can also develop, especially on photographs and paintings. Aside from the aesthetic damage, this type of damage can also cause serious health effects. 

How does SERVPRO restore art?

Our restoration team has kept up with the cutting edge of art and document drying technology, combining speed of service with the highest standard of care to help our customers to retain more of their prized possessions after water damage occurs.

For most documents, photographs, and books, we utilize vacuum freeze-drying technology, as well as gamma irradiation technology for sterilization. Combined, these techniques allow us to safely dry most of the items that come our way. These are the same techniques that the LIbrary of Congress utilizes to restore documents in-house. 

When it comes to other types of art, like paintings and sculptures, there are a wide variety of concerns (based on things like material, provenance and damage) that we can’t get into in detail. Suffice to say that we employ the same standard of care and specialization when it comes to restoring these valuable pieces. 

If your art, documents or photographs have become water damaged, don’t hesitate to call at 716-646-6684. We’re here to help.