If you are an art enthusiast, you know how valuable and delicate these items are, especially if subjected to the ever-changing elements. The damage to these fine pieces of work will undoubtedly degrade their value, costing you a lot of money. Knowing how to store your artwork correctly is necessary to avoid such an incident.
Knowledge about art storage and its construction is still necessary for owners of such fine works. Knowing the requirements is always an advantage because it protects you from things you need to avoid. Either researching or asking a licensed professional for help will get you the information you need to safeguard your valuables from damage.
Preparing Your Art for Storage
Before everything begins, you need to ensure that your art pieces are ready for storage. Here are things that you may need to do.
Use acid-free materials: Check when you’re preparing your art if it utilizes acid-free framing and is stored using acid-free materials. Non-acid-free materials may age faster and may cause the backing of the canvas or print to discolor, lowering the value of the item.
Clean it: Clear any dust from hard surfaces with a clean microfiber cloth. To avoid corrosion or scuffing, you should use a wood polish or metal polish if necessary, as recommended. You can ask a hardware store for advice on the best treatment for your pieces. You can prevent dust particles, rust, or damage from collecting on your artwork. Another alternative is to get a condition assessment from your appraiser and have the piece professionally cleaned.
Use crescent board: Professionals in art storage utilize crescent board, an acid-free professional mounting board, to keep artworks from touching each other while stacked or in transportation. The item will have protection while still being able to breathe.
Talk to an expert for the best wrapping method: Collectors frequently have their artworks saran wrapped before storing them. Even if you utilize all of the appropriate cardboard and styrofoam to separate the pieces from the saran wrap, you risk retaining moisture within. The majority of professionals do not typically wrap art for storage.
Choosing the Proper Storage Room
It is possible to convert a small office or closet into an art storage space, but you must know how to select an area in your residence. The room must have finishing unless they already are and have climate control. It’s best to stay away from attics and basements and ensure no open windows or air vents are present.
If your storage room has a vent, talk to a professional about designing a deflective device to keep the air from blowing straight on the artwork. You should also be aware of mold, dust, and smelly odors, as these could indicate a more significant issue. Last but not least, avoid storing your work in a room with an exterior wall.
You should pick a space ideally enclosed totally within the residence. It removes the possibility of sunshine and weather damaging and fading artwork through windows.
Humidity and Temperature Control
Artwork storage should be at 40-50% humidity and a temperature of 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 degrees Celsius). A humidifier may easily accomplish this result. Harsh weather can cause cracked paint, paper yellowing, warping, and mold growth. Rapid variations in humidity or temperature are the number one opponent for preserving your pieces.
If corrosion and moisture on the surface you’re installing is a problem, you’ll want to get your hands on high-quality aluminum-insulated outside access panels. These doors come from weather-resistant materials and are suitable for commercial and residential construction. These products make access to electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, heating, and other building fixtures convenient and straightforward.
Keeping Your Artwork Off the Ground
There is a well-known guideline that you should never store your art pieces on the ground in the art industry. It would help if you always raised it from the ground. A simple shelf or a riser will suffice to keep the artwork off the floor. You can also hang them in the storage unit if you have enough room. Your pieces are for display as intended.
Piling them against each other is also an excellent strategy to avoid providing protection. If you must stack components in a short space, store them like books on a bookshelf rather than heaped flat-side down.
Storage Options Outside Your Residence
If you don’t have the location to hold your artwork at residence, you have two options: deposit it in a climate-controlled storage unit or deal with an art-specific storage facility. You should be fine as long as the facility satisfies the criteria listed above.
Although these facilities have climate control, they do not have content control; therefore, you must consider your neighbors if you operate in a storage unit facility. They have excellent climate control systems, monitors, cameras, and key cards, and you can even go online and see your goods sitting there through their cameras.
Proper Documentation
Although you can take some simple precautions to safeguard your artwork, you should still prepare for the worst if you’re storing it. Before you pack up your collection, you must archive it to prevent damage or loss. Professionals advise taking a photo inventory and condition report for every item.
The notebook usually travels with the exhibit for a condition report in a museum setting. The contents and condition are noted every time the crate gets opened. In the same way, you need to keep track of your art storage, as you’ll be able to track any changes in the art or storage space over time. You’ll need a photo, a description, and a note of any existing damage, at the absolute least.
Takeaway
Before you decide and make a move, ensure to get the advice of a licensed professional. Only from these reputable individuals can come the best possible options that you can find for your storage plans. Ask as many questions as possible, and never trust yourself to attempt a DIY. It is the only way for you to safeguard your investment.