6 Things to Do to Keep and Organise Artworks in Good Condition while in Storage Unit Facilities
1. Cleaning Prior to Stacking
Before storing your artwork paintings, make sure to clean it very well. Use an artist paintbrush to gently dust its surface. Make sure that the brush is clean and soft. And if in case brush is not available, you may use a clean piece of velvet. Note, never use a feather duster, moist cloth, or stiff brush. Do not use household cleaners.
Brush the painting with a slow and careful stroke all going in the same direction. Be sure not to apply pressure to the piece while cleaning. You may complete the cleaning first before you store them in storage unit facilities.
2. Framed vs. Unframed Artwork
For artworks that are framed, you may use cardboard corners on the edges of framed paintings to maintain structural integrity. And for those unframed ones, do not to roll it up. As it may cause creases and subsequently make the paint crack. Instead, gently wrap it in an airtight and water-resistant packaging in order to store properly.
3. Packing for Proper Stacking
Before stacking your items to storage unit facilities, make sure to wrap the framed artwork in blankets, bubble wrap, or felt. You may use tape to keep padding attached and place it on plastic bags. Likewise, you could use one plastic bag per piece and tie each bag.
For unframed artworks, create a protection. You may place unframed art between two pieces of slightly larger foam boards or carboards pieces. Use tape to keep the protection in place. And use plastic bags for further shielding against water and air.
4. Storage Unit Facilities Set-up
As you are about to store your paintings, avoid laying them on top of one another. If you must do so, use padding. You could use some racks that are specially made for them if you have many artworks to store.
Remember, concrete floors and walls are capable of absorbing moisture. Therefore you should avoid placing your artwork on or against such surfaces. Put them at least few inches off the floor to protect it from moisture and dust. Likewise, take precautionary measure so your artwork will be safe from future damages. In this way, they'll still be in good condition when you need to restore them for your future commercial relocation plan.
5. Climate
Well, always keep the climate in mind when storing your pieces of art. Avoid placing artworks in overly dry or damp storage units. Instead, opt for a climate-controlled unit. A sudden change in temperature or humidity could cause paintings to get damage. And if in case you’re not using a professional storage unit with climate control, avoid placing artwork near windows or heating vent. But that's if you don’t want them exposed to sunlight or heat. And for your final thoughts on storing your valuable work of art, bear in mind that sufficient padding and climate control are cornerstones when it comes to preserving them.
Additional tips from professionals, use both hands when carrying them to their temporary stock area. And instead of holding the pieces on the top, hold them on its sides. You could carry one piece at a time to prevent damage while carrying them. Doing this could make you feel at ease knowing that your precious artwork is safe and secure in a self storage unit.
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