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5 Essential Tips For Preserving Artwork

 

Art Restoration in Fairfield County

1. What type of backing is best for framing artwork?

If your work is framed, you should always make sure that the backing is non-acidic. This is very important to preserve framed prints for a long time. Ask the gallery for their advice on cleaning and maintaining the art. Corrugated cardboard backing, for example, is highly acidic and increases the challenge to the restoration process for fire and water damage events.

2. Where are the safest locations to display my artwork?

Carefully place your artwork in places without excess heat or smoke like above the fireplace. These exposures contribute to decolorization and soot damage over time. The kitchen can also be a challenging location for artwork. Stay away from cooktops and ovens for the same reasons.  Exterior walls with direct sunlight will discolor or yellow wall hangings especially those constructed with delicate fabrics. Rooms with many windows may cause the art to become discolored from sun radiation, heat, and humidity via what we call the “terrarium” effect.

3. What is the best method for moving my Artwork?

When moving any piece of art, the handling must always be with great care. Most artwork gets damaged due to poor handling. Transportation must always be dry and the temperatures must be moderate. Very cold temperatures lead to damage of artwork. Extreme care in wrapping or packaging are best practice. Do NOT scrimp on a good insurance policy for theft, loss or breakage.

Fairfield County Art Restoration

4. What is the best method for cleaning and maintaining my artwork?

When your art needs to be cleaned, it should be done by a professional art restorer that uses the right cleaning materials. Paintings should never be cleaned with a cloth and water. This could permanently damage them. Professional have the proper training, products, and materials to ensure the best outcome. There are some remarkable illustrations of before and after fire and water damage events online at ERS Art Restoration in East Hartford CT. Don’t just wait until something happens. Museums have maintenance programs for all of the art they curate, you should too. Paintings and other artwork should periodically be examined by professional restorers to make sure they still look beautiful and will last a long time. Examine the back of the artwork to make sure it is free of dust.

5. How should I store my Artwork?

Proper storage is required for any kind of artwork. The artwork in storage should be raised off the floor to allow air flow underneath, avoiding flooding, water damage or even normal moisture migration from floors into the atmosphere of the room. You should apply dividers between stacked paintings to avoid damage from pressure to each piece. Make sure the humidity in the room conforms to the dry standard used by your closest regional museums. You can always purchase a Thermal Hygrometer from Radio Shack or Amazon online for under $40 dollars and install it in the rooms you are using.

We hope this has added to your knowledge of the best practices for preserving your Artwork.

Fairfield County Art Restoration

 

 

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ServiceMaster of Greater Bridgeport
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Norwalk, CT 06851
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