Recognizing Art Every Day

How To Choose An Art Storage Unit

27 May 2021

Chester Carlson

How can you select the best art storage unit for your needs? Unlike everyday items such as your couch and clothes, fine art requires specialized storage. Take a look at the questions to ask before you select an art storage unit.

Does the Facility Offer Climate Controls?

Heat, humidity, and rapid temperature changes can destroy fine art. Don't let the weather outdoors affect your paintings, sculptures, photos, or other types of artwork. A sudden spike or drop in the air temperature can cause fine art to expand or contract quickly. This can cause the art to crack, swell, or distort in other ways. Likewise, excessive heat and humidity can damage fragile pieces. Some types of artwork can corrode or melt in these conditions.

A climate-controlled storage unit can reduce the risks to your fine art. Instead of hot highs and cold lows, a climate-controlled unit will maintain one steady medium temperature. These storage options also have a set moisture level that keeps the humidity in check. To maximize the effects of climate controls, some storage facilities offer constant interior environment monitoring. This amenity alerts the storage company's staff if the temperature or moisture level in a unit rises or drops above or below expected levels.

What Security Features Does the Facility Provide?

Your fine art is an investment. Without adequate security measures, this investment is at risk for theft. Before you choose one storage facility, ask the manager or staff about the security and safety features. These could include an on-site security guard, a security alarm system, 24/7 video surveillance, or specialized locks. Along with the security features the facility provides, ask about your responsibilities. You may need to provide your own lock for added safety.

What Sizes Storage Units Are Available?

Paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and other fine art needs space in storage. Never stack your prized pieces on top of each other or store them without proper protection.

To make sure you have enough space to safely store crates of individual artwork, ask the facility's staff what size rental units are available. If you only have a few pieces of art to store, a smaller sized unit can save you money. But if you have several items or plan to collect more art in the future, choose a storage site with enough area to keep everything separated and safe. Even though you may need to pay more for a larger unit, the additional space is worth the investment.

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