Can you give me a quote over the phone?

Generally it's impossible to provide estimates over the phone. Every project is unique and requires an individualized approach to develop a treatment plan. In order to provide an accurate estimate, conservators need to at least examine and review good quality photographs of the artwork to develop a proper approach. Please use the contact form to request a quote.

Can the quote cost be negotiated?

Our prices are calculated based on hourly rates and materials. A number of baseline costs are related to practice standards established by the European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers Organization Code of Ethics and cannot be reduced as they ensure there is appropriate documentation and testing to safeguard conservators as well as clients and the artwork itself. 

Can Red Dot Restoration tell me the value of my art?

No, Red Dot Restoration is not licensed as an appraisal service and maintains no interest in the value of the works being conserved.

Is it possible to remove mold from artwork on canvas?

It is difficult to make a treatment judgment without examining the actual object. Although conservators can perform mold remediation on artworks, the process often only removes the spores and helps prevent the progression of damage. Stains caused by mold can sometimes be reduced but the final result is unpredictable. In order to restore visual continuity, one additional option can be to overpaint the stains with appropriate media.

What is the difference between conservation and restoration?

Restoration is the term often used to the aspect of conservation that pertains to returning an object’s visual appearance to its original state as much as possible. The other aspect of conservation treatment is preservation, which pertains to maintaining the integrity of an object and promote its long-term preservation, often with minimal change to its appearance.

What is a conservator?

Conservators are professionals who work to physically preserve cultural property from deterioration caused by environmental conditions, pollution, and disasters. A conservator may be trained at a conservation graduate training program or by lengthy apprenticeship with experienced senior colleagues. Working in museums, cultural institutions, research labs, and in private practice, conservators combine unique skills gained through ongoing study and advanced training in art history, science, documentation, material analysis, studio art, and related disciplines. Because of the increasingly technical nature of modern conservation, conservators usually specialize in a particular type of object such as: paintings, works of art on paper, rare books, photographs, electronic media, textiles, furniture, archaeological and ethnographic materials, sculpture, architectural elements, or decorative arts.

Are the materials and work of Red Dot Restoration reversible?

Yes, all materials used by Red Dot Restoration are fully reversible, archival and specifically designed for conservation. In addition, all of the work conducted is in accordance with the European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers  Organization Code of Ethics.

Do you restore works of art on paper?

No, Red Dot Restoration does not specialize in conservation of artworks on paper. That said, referrals to trusted paper conservators can be made.