All art is prone to natural degradation because of perishable materials used in its creation. That’s why art owners are concerned about ensuring the best storage conditions for their precious investments. The cornerstone of art preservation is keeping it in a climate-controlled painting storage space. Though this fact is self-obvious to many, choosing the right storage facility is sometimes hard. Here is a recap of the main reasons not to ignore climate controls and a checklist for choosing the best storage option.
Can Your Canvas Do Without a Climate-Controlled Painting Storage?
The main reason for choosing specialized art storage instead of DIY solutions or simple storage on your premises is the advanced level of protection against environmental damage. When art stays out of display for a long time, it may degrade subtly without the owner even noticing the first signs of damage. As soon as they become noticeable, it may already be too late to save the art object, and it loses its market value, as well as authenticity. An art storage facility can prevent such problems by conserving your piece and holding it for as long as you need.
Another reason to delegate art to a storage facility is the availability of advanced security and professional handling resources. You don’t need to organize a secure, monitored space in your residence, thus avoiding an expensive investment and paying only for the period of your art collection’s stay in storage.
Key Quality Parameters to Consider When Choosing a Storage Facility
As soon as you start weighing several options for storing your art, include the following aspects in your comparison:
- Robust temperature control. The chosen facility should be able to keep the temperature stable at 64-700
- Accurate humidity control. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers should work in tandem to ensure the relative humidity level is between 40% and 55%. High-quality humidity sensors should control this parameter 24/7.
- Air quality. Top-tier storage facilities use advanced filtration systems to remove dust, pollutants, and VOCs. HEPA filters should be installed to ensure museum-grade air purification.
These factors should be evaluated along with the presence of specialized fire protection systems, flood and leak protection equipment, and proper insurance coverage. Needless to say, the facility should be staffed with adequately trained art handlers with many years of experience in dealing with delicate artwork.
Looking for a Solid Storage Option? We Can Help
If you want to entrust your art to a high-quality, climate-controlled painting storage facility, Fine Art Shippers can help. Our museum-grade storage in Upper Manhattan is designed in the best tradition of art conservation. It is equipped with an advanced climate control system that preserves a stable, optimal environment for long-term painting storage with minimal risks of degradation.