The photos are stuck together
After a flood or a burst pipe, a box of photos can turn into one solid brick. Prints fuse together face to face, and albums swell shut. It's heartbreaking to look at, and the urge to pull them apart right away is strong.
Don't. Prying wet photos apart is the fastest way to tear the image right off the paper. Damaged photo restoration separates prints carefully and dries them properly, so you keep as many pictures as possible instead of losing half of each one.
Smoke left a film over every picture
Smoke doesn't need flames to reach your photos. It drifts into closets and albums and leaves a yellow-gray film over prints and frames, along with a smell that clings to every page.
That residue sits on the surface of the photo. Cleaning lifts the film and the odor, so the faces in your pictures come back clear instead of looking like they were taken through a dirty window.
Saved along with everything else
Your photos don't have to be a separate problem you deal with alone. They're packed out with your other belongings, logged on the same inventory, and handled as part of your contents claim.
The CRDN network has restored family photos more than 40 years old that came out of a house flooded with mud and sludge. Pictures that look lost after a disaster often aren't.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with wet photos?
Don't pull stuck photos apart, and don't try to dry them with heat. If they're sitting in dirty floodwater, move them somewhere clean and keep them from drying out stuck together. Then get them assessed as soon as you can. The sooner wet photos are handled, the more of them can usually be saved.
Can photos that are stuck together be separated?
Often, yes, if it's done carefully. Prints that have fused together while wet can usually be separated without tearing the image when they're handled the right way. The risk comes from forcing them apart by hand while they're half dry. Leave stuck stacks and albums as they are.
Can smoke damaged photos be cleaned?
In many cases, yes. Smoke and soot usually leave a film on the surface of the print rather than destroying the image underneath. Cleaning removes that film and the smoke odor. Photos that were burned or melted by heat are harder to save, and those are documented on your claim if they can't be restored.
Does insurance cover damaged photo restoration?
Photos damaged in a covered fire or water loss are usually handled as part of the contents portion of your claim, though your own policy decides what's included. Our claim specialists work directly with your adjuster, so your family photos are documented alongside everything else.
How long do I have before wet photos are ruined?
Not long. Wet photos can start to grow mold within a couple of days, and the longer they sit, the more they stick and stain. If you can't get them handled right away, keep them from drying stuck together and get them assessed as soon as possible.
Locally owned and operated by Jeff Sitz and Brian Rick from our Akron office at 1477 Copley Rd.