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Water Damaged Paper Restoration
Paper is absorbent and easily disturbed by moisture, making water one of the most serious damages it may face. Water-soluble art, such as watercolours and ink, may bleed or become completely obscured due to water damage. However, paper can be saved from devastation if it is professionally treated.
Watercolours, prints, posters, maps and documents can be severely disturbed by spills, leaks and floods.
We are experienced in treating a wide range of artwork impacted by water damage, whether this is a slight water stain or full submersion in a household disaster. We can work with you on a personal basis or through an insurance claim.
What can we restore?
- Mould growth
- Stains, discolouration and tide lines
- Ripples and warping
- Tears and holes
- Disturbed ink and pigments
- Brittle paper in need of stabilisation
- Broken frames and mounts
Our paper conservator is on hand to save moisture-disturbed documents, paintings and prints, even when they have been severely affected following an accidental spillage, high humidity, flood or escape of water.
If your property has recently been affected by flood waters or any issue that may have caused heightened humidity, we recommend the removal of paper artworks from display and a full studio assessment to ensure they are not at risk.
How to restore water damaged paper
Our conservator clears away any contamination from water or other liquids which have disturbed the surface of the piece, as well as aspects such as mould spores, foxing and staining.
The paper can then undergo professional heat, weight and moisture treatments to bring back the original structure of the fibres, flattening them to avoid further disturbance from cockling, folds, tears and warping.
Any areas which have been lost can in some cases be sensitively retouched, and any mount or backing board can be replaced with conservation appropriate materials.
Severely weakened paper may be relined on a Japanese tissue paper, which is very strong yet unobtrusive and importantly acid-free.
Mould growth
Wet paper is at high risk of mould growth. In the aftermath of any flood or disastrous situation, damp or fully saturated paper should be dried flat in a clean environment. Our team can step in to professionally eliminate mould growth before it becomes severe. We are experienced in disaster recovery and can attend scenes household disasters to swiftly recover items before mould is able to develop further.
Historic water damage
Water damage may have happened recently or over an artwork’s lifetime. Typical visual disturbances from previous water damage range from staining and dark marks to the rippling or warping of the surface and loss of detail to the image or writing. Historic damage is often restored by our paper conservator with excellent results.
Protective framing
If your original frame is water damaged this may be able to be restored by our frame conservators. If not, a new style can be chosen from our range of bespoke framing options.
Our specialist technicians offer frames that ensure the ongoing protection of artworks, this includes acid-free mounts and backing boards.
For all works on paper, our team recommends UV protective glazing to avoid fading and visual disturbances from sunlight.
