Concise Guideline To Safely Conserving Your Artwork In Self-Storage
Whether you are a casual art collector or an artist, there may come a time when you need to put your pieces away for a time. Whether it's for a short or long time, it is imperative that you know how best to do this so that you do not end up damaging your pieces. The following article highlights concise guidelines for safely conserving your artwork in self-storage.
Step 1: Protect the artwork in the right layers and packaging
The first step to ensuring that your precious artwork is not damaged is to wrap it appropriately. Begin by cleaning the piece thoroughly to take off any lingering dust or debris that could end up starching its surface. You should also note that any debris left on the surface of the artwork could lead to permanent staining, which will also substantially decrease the value of the piece. Once you are satisfied with the cleanliness of the artwork, it is time to place acid sheets directly on the piece. The acid sheets help prevent the paper from bending. Lastly, insert the artwork into its original packaging. If you do not have the packaging at hand, you should protect the edges of the piece by lining them with cardboard. Once this is done, you can then place the artwork into a clean and snug cardboard box.
Step 2: Lease a climate-controlled self-storage unit
The second step towards properly conserving your artwork is to select a climate-controlled unit exclusively. Pieces of artwork are sensitive to temperature changes. Moreover, any humidity in the room will have an adverse influence on the artwork, so you need to ensure both these elements can be controlled. When selecting a climate-controlled unit, you should inform the service provider of the different materials that the artwork comprises so that the climate will be suited to them. The reason behind this is that a watercolour painting, for example, will need different climatic conditions than an oil painting.
Step 3: Place the artwork appropriately
Once you have the climate-controlled self-storage unit to suit your needs, you then have to ensure you are placing the artwork properly. Do not make the mistake of laying the piece flat on the floor, as this will increase the risk of it being trampled on and being damaged permanently. The first option available to you is to store it upright without any items in its way. This placement eliminates the chance of items falling over it. If there is no floor space to place it upright, it is advisable to invest in shelving. Install the shelves above all other items in the unit in a vertical position.
For more information about using self-storage units, contact a business like Storage Choice.