Although we know better, we don’t always remember to make copies of essential documents. When we do have copies, we rarely remember to store them at a different location. Besides, essential documents are rarely the most precious documents we own. Most people value childhood photos and rare art books more than passports and insurance policies. When water damage affects documents, it is often a shattering experience, leaving us feeling hopeless and lost. As we go about water clean up in the wake of floods, rain, pipe breaks and leakages, we will sadly discard soaked and soiled documents, believing them to be beyond water damage restoration.
The truth is that if you take immediate action, it is possible to salvage most water-damaged documents – including photographs, films, watercolors, floppy disks and sound or video recordings. Documents can be restored by professionals, but only if prompt action is taken during the water clean up.
1. Make a list of paper documents that have suffered water damage, wrap in wax paper and pack in plastic boxes, and freeze. Freezing soaked paper will prevent further water damage until you decide what kind of water damage restoration you need. If documents are covered with mud (water damage due to floods), it is best to rinse the dirt off before freezing.
2. Film documents should be sealed to prevent drying and blocking. Inventory, box and seal. If possible, refrigerate at 35 F.
3. To prepare leather and vellum bound documents for future water damage restoration, try to separate the paper from the binding before freezing.
4. Floppy disks should be packed within 48 hours of water damage. Avoid touching disks with your bare hands.
5. Video and sound recordings: CDs, audio and video tapes should be air dried within 48 hours of water damage. Pack them vertically in cardboard or plastic boxes. Water damage restoration of tapes is best done professionally.
6. Take a minute (or more) from your water clean up chores to deal with your photographs. To a certain degree, water damage restoration of photographs can be done at home. Alternatively, stick the photos into a zip-lock bag, place in a container and freeze until after you have finished water clean up.
Immediately action on your part ensures that documents will not suffer further water damage – including the risk of mold growth. Frozen documents can be stored indefinitely until you decide how you would like to handle the water damage restoration process. Since frozen documents turn into blocks of ice, it’s important to categorize and inventory before freezing so you know what is where.
Paper document restoration requires freeze-drying, or freeze vacuum drying. This process involves drying the frozen paper without exposing it to the liquid phase, and is done by professional document restoration companies. The time needed varies according to volume, type of paper and degree of saturation. Water damage restoration of film is also handled professionally (machine reprocessing and manual reprocessing, according to type of film). Restoration professionals must also deal with decontamination issues (mold or mildew) before drying frozen documents.
Once water clean up is accomplished and you have the time, you could try to restore water-damaged photographs yourself. Repair colored photos before black and white ones. Work in a cool, dry room, away from direct sunlight. Without touching the surface, swirl photos around in clear cold water to remove any dirt. Lay the clean wet photos face up on blotter paper, placing small weights on the corners to prevent edges from curling. Hang them carefully on a clothesline to dry. Photos that are stuck together should be soaked in warm water for about one hour.
Remember, by taking immediate action you can arrest further water damage and store your documents for future water damage restoration.
