Can My Mold-Damaged Paintings Be Saved?

6/9/2021 (Permalink)

Artwork restoration

Can Artwork With Mold Be Saved?

Mold spores are everywhere, and when dampness, humidity, or leaks are left untreated in a warm environment, they can grow and multiply on virtually any surface. Often, materials need to be torn out and replaced if the damage is severe, but what if you discover mold growing on valuable artwork? Don't despair — there are professionals in La Marque, TX who specialize in mold cleaning for specific situations just like this.

First, Address the Problem Area
Depending on the severity of mold damage in the surrounding area, you may need to wait for mold remediation specialists to come in and safely remove the paintings so they can fully address the environment in which the artwork was stored. This includes:

• Documenting the damage
• Determining the cause of excess moisture
• Removing and replacing damaged materials
• Conducting a thorough mold cleaning of the entire area, including the air
• Recommending or installing preventatives, such as a dehumidifier and moisture meter
  

Second, Restore the Artwork
In addition to documenting the damage to the surrounding area, a specialist will carefully document the damage to your artwork and, if necessary, separate and categorize the damaged items to create a plan to salvage them.
The first step in the cleaning process is to deactivate the mold by air-drying or freezing the pieces of art until the mold growth has been curbed. It's important to create airflow around each item to thoroughly dry it out and, if stacking multiple pieces inside a freezer, to separate each item with wax paper to avoid them sticking together.
Once the artwork is dry, the specialist will gently remove the dried mold from the surfaces with a HEPA-filtered vacuum. He or she will then begin the painstaking process of removing the more stubborn mold residue with tools or solutions appropriate for the materials used in the artwork itself. Cleaning or replacing the tools used during the process will help avoid cross-contamination and the possibility of spores settling back onto the artwork again.
Don't leave the fate of your precious artwork and photographs to chance by attempting to fix the damage yourself. Remediation professionals with years of experience in mold cleaning will be able to restore them to their former glory and make the damage "Like it never even happened."