Wet documents require specialized vacuum freeze-drying. Photos, books, legal records, medical records, financial documents. Emergency freezing within 48 hours stabilizes for treatment.
Wet documents require specialized restoration techniques distinct from general drying. Conventional air movers, dehumidifiers, and warm air actually cause more damage by separating fibers, smearing inks, and warping pages. Document drying requires vacuum freeze-drying, dehumidification chambers, or controlled freezer storage with eventual gradual freeze-drying. We coordinate document recovery for residential customers (family heirlooms, photos, deeds), commercial customers (medical records, legal files, financial documents), and government entities (county records, archived materials).
Lyophilization process: documents frozen below -10°F, then sublimated under vacuum. Water vaporizes directly from ice to gas, bypassing liquid phase. Preserves inks, fibers, and bindings. Industry gold standard for severely damaged documents.
Climate-controlled room held at 45-55°F and 25-35% RH. Documents dried slowly without freezing. Suitable for moderately damp documents not yet showing fiber separation.
For lightly damp documents only (humidity exposure, not soaked). Documents interleaved with absorbent paper, fanned in low-humidity environment.
Wet documents frozen within 48 hours to halt mold growth and ink bleed. Holds documents stable until vacuum freeze-drying or chamber drying begins. Required first step for severely damaged documents.
Loose photos, albums, framed photos, negatives, slides. Inks and emulsions preserved when treated within 48 hours of damage.
Bibles, family histories, libraries, antique books. Vacuum freeze-drying preserves bindings, glue, and inks.
Deeds, contracts, wills, court records. Chain-of-custody documentation; notary-witnessed processing for sensitive items.
Patient files, x-rays, charts. HIPAA-compliant handling; restricted-access processing area.
Tax returns, bank statements, investment records, business ledgers. CPA coordination for IRS audit defense.
Prints, posters, drawings, calligraphy. Partnered with conservation-grade restorer for high-value items.