The culprit was a clogged light well. The dammed rainwater could not drain off and seeped unnoticed through the window into the cellar. There, the dirty water stood a few centimetres high for several weeks and served the mould the best conditions for growth, virtually on a silver platter.

When the clueless owner went into his cellar, he was unexpectedly confronted with a dismal sight: His private collection of paintings on jute, cotton or canvas, sketches, drawings, watercolours and collages stood in water and was overgrown with mould. The canvases had absorbed the dirty water like a sponge. Water marks, deformations, cracks, discolouration and adhesions became apparent. A smell typical of mould struck him and took his breath away.

What to expect after a water damage.
After the initial shock, the odyssey followed: insurance, evacuation of the contaminated art objects, assessment of value and extent of damage, examination of restorability, restoration of the cellar, triage of the works, disposal ... There is so much to think about. And this in a situation marked by chaos and the pain of loss.

The recovery – a very delicate endeavour.
Recovering over 600 severely contaminated, highly sensitive works of art in a wide variety of formats, some of them oversized, from the basement of a residential building has its own pitfalls. A negative pressure zone and a material lock must be installed to protect adjoining rooms and also the people rescuing the works of art, from the mould. Furthermore, the manoeuvring and transporting of such attacked objects in oversized formats poses a particular challenge. It requires extreme care and professionally trained dexterity, a well thought-out packaging system, sophisticated transport handling and, last but not least, perfect logistics, all disciplines from docusave’s specialist area. Under the watchful eye of a painting restorer, each object was prepared and packed accordingly before its transportation. This was done to prevent further damage during salvage and transport and to contain the existing damage. Using technical know-how and special equipment, our docusave team was able to evacuate the entire material within 9 days.

Wet, damp, dry, mouldy, ... – the right treatment for every object.
Some of the heavily damaged wet objects were frozen directly at -22 ºC. This means that an object is stabilised, i.e. the degree of damage stagnates. Another part of the objects, which was dry but strongly infested with mould, was transferred to a quarantine store. Fortunately, there were also collection items that were only moist and slightly contaminated with mould. These were immediately dried and decontaminated in a low-pressure chamber. Such a complex rescue operation requires a complete, one hundred percent reliable documentation of every single piece. And it has to be done quickly, because the condition of the „patients“ is constantly deteriorating. With docusave this is done digitally. For this purpose we use a self developed individual software, which guarantees both legal certainty and the fastest possible recording without losing valuable time. This digital documentation also allows a triage of the objects on screen after the rescue. 

Who pays for the damage?
An expert opinion was obtained from an independent, neutral art expert to determine the value of the works. The value of a collection has an influence on its restoration. If the restoration costs exceed the market value of a work of art, it can be classified as a total write-off, even though its restoration would actually be possible. If you are in the lucky position of being the owner of a valuable collection, it is therefore advisable to keep its value and insurance coverage up to date. 

The professional’s advice.
Before storing sensitive materials such as paintings in a room, it is definitely worth checking sources of danger and conditions in and around the room: Can water seep in? Is the climate suitable? Which storage system is suitable? Basement rooms are very often quit damp, without climate control and are easily forgotten: an undisturbed paradise for moulds, insects, mice and other light-shy creatures. Regular visual inspections and climate monitoring provide a remedy. Hygiene in the archive room, i.e. regular cleaning, protects the stored goods from dust and dirt. But be careful: moisture must not be allowed to enter the room or get onto the objects. 

Afterwards you are always smarter – what if ...
In the case of this private artist’s estate, already a higher storage position for the paintings could have prevented the worst. If all the paintings had been placed on shelves high enough in the room instead of leaning against each other on the floor, the water level would not have reached them. Although the humidity in the room over several weeks would still have caused the mould to grow, the extent of damage would have been significantly less. In the end, 233 of the 600 evacuated works could be saved without visible damage.

What to do when it happens?
Do not allow any time to pass. Call docusave, preferably before the water is pumped out. Our experts will advise you free of charge around the clock and help you to save your property. Stay calm and leave the organisation to us.