Method
From your first message to collecting your object
Conservation is decided together. Here is how we go, step by step.
You send photos
Through the quote form: front, back, close-ups of the damage, approximate size and a few words about the object. Tell me too if there is a date to meet.
I reply with a first estimate
Free. It says what seems possible to me, how, and in what price range. If the photos are not enough, I will tell you.
I examine the object at the studio
You bring it to me, or I come to you in and around Brussels if needed. I write a condition report and propose a precise treatment, with its price and timing.
I treat it, once you agree
Nothing is done until you agree to the proposal. Every step is photographed.
You collect your object
With the before and after photos, and advice on keeping it safe: where to store it, how to frame it, what to avoid.
Frequent questions
How much does conservation cost?
It depends on the object, its condition and the treatment it needs: a dry clean and the repair of a whole book do not take the same time. I do not quote without seeing the object, but a few photos are enough for a first estimate, which is free.
How long does it take?
I give you a timeframe with the treatment proposal. If the object must be ready by a date (a birthday, an exhibition, a sale), tell me in your first message.
Can I remove old adhesive tape myself?
No. As it ages, the adhesive soaks into the paper; pulling it tears away fibres and sometimes the ink. Leave it in place and send me a photo.
My documents got wet: what should I do right now?
Act within 48 hours, before mould appears. Do not dry them with heat (no radiator, hair dryer or sunlight) and do not force apart pages that are stuck together. Let them air-dry in a cool, ventilated room, with absorbent paper between the sheets. If you cannot dry them within 48 hours, put them in plastic bags in the freezer: the cold stops the damage and buys time to treat them. Then contact me.
My object has no market value. Is it worth it?
Yes. The value of a family letter or a childhood book is not measured in euros. The treatment adapts to the object and your budget: sometimes good housing is enough to protect it.
Do you travel?
I am based in Brussels and can travel around the area if needed, for example to examine a set of archives or an object that is hard to move.
Do you work for institutions and professionals?
Yes: archives, libraries, museums, municipalities, galleries, framers and auction houses. Condition reports, treatments, preventive conservation, conservation framing, and exhibition and loan preparation.
Another question? Write to me: contact@gimbretrestauration.com