Protect Your Artwork from Above and Below
May
1
Written by:
Saturday, May 01, 2010
As the flood waters in Rhode Island and Tennessee subside and hurricane season begins we are reminded that many disasters involve water. A broken pipe, damaged roof, or the water from putting out even a small fire can have the same devastating consequences to your art work as if the water came from a flood or hurricane.
The Studio Protector recommends protecting your work from moisture from above and below by elevating it off the floor on shelves, bins, or pallets and cover it with plastic or tarps if there is danger of water coming from above. Avoid basement storage of artwork and other valuables. Check plumbing fixtures and sprinkler systems periodically and fix leaks. Keep gutters and drains unclogged.
While disasters often happen without warning, hurricanes usually allow some time to prepare. If you can do so without endangering your safety, the Studio Protector suggests moving items to a higher floor if possible, or elevating at least 1 ft. off the floor and away from windows, and wrapping in heavy plastic sealed with waterproof tape. Remember that things float if there is enough flood water, so shelves attached to the wall and as high as possible off the floor provide more protection than placing on furniture or structures that might float away.
These tips come from the "Protect-O-Wheel" and "Warning" booklet in the Studio Protector wall guide. For more information consult the wall guide, Keeping your Artwork Safe & Secure, and the Basic Checklist for Disaster-Prepping Your Studio on http://www.studioprotector.org. A compilation of Tips of the Month, are available here.