Contact The Steam Team in North Austin
Our restoration crews come to you, day or night, anywhere across Austin and the surrounding communities we serve. Call our North Austin restoration line at any hour to get a crew dispatched to your property. You're also welcome at our 9901 Burnet Rd office to drop off insurance paperwork, meet with our team about your claim, or tour our restoration facility. Spanish-speaking staff is available.
Service areas: Austin, Rollingwood, West Lake Hills, Sunset Valley, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Buda, Georgetown, Dripping Springs, Leander, and more.
About Our Fine Art Restoration in Austin
Artwork is hard to replace, and the damage is rarely limited to what you can see. Most calls start with one of these:
A burst pipe, roof leak, or flood soaking framed pieces, canvases, or works on paper
A film of smoke or soot settling on artwork after a fire, including in rooms the flames never reached
Spotting, fuzzy growth, or a musty smell on a canvas, mat, or frame after moisture sat too long in Austin's humid summers
Valuable or sentimental pieces that need safe handling, documentation, and storage while the rest of your property is repaired
Fine art restoration is the careful assessment, cleaning, and stabilization of artwork damaged by water, fire, smoke, or mold, with the goal of recovering the piece instead of replacing it. It applies to paintings, framed works, sculpture, and other collectibles. How quickly a piece is moved and how carefully it is handled often decides how much can be saved.
Get your artwork out of harm's way without coordinating a string of separate specialists. The Steam Team's IICRC-certified technicians work through four stages:
Assessment and documentation. A technician inspects each affected piece, photographs its condition, and records the type of damage, so you and your adjuster have a clear record.
Safe handling and removal. Artwork is moved out of the damaged area before moisture, smoke, or soot can spread further, as part of our contents pack-out service.
Cleaning and stabilization. Water, soot, and residue are addressed with methods matched to the materials in each piece, and mold is treated as a separate concern through mold remediation where it is found.
Controlled storage and return. Pieces that cannot stay on site are kept in climate-controlled storage until your property is ready for them.
What You Get With Every Fine Art Restoration Job
24/7 emergency response, so wet or smoke-exposed artwork is moved to safety quickly
IICRC Certified Firm (Registration #70666), certified in Fire & Smoke Restoration and Applied Microbial Remediation
Written and photographed condition records for each piece, to support your insurance claim
Climate-controlled storage for pieces that cannot stay on site
Artwork recovery coordinated with water, fire, and mold restoration in one process
Locally owned and serving Austin since 1983
What Does Fine Art Restoration Include?
Fine art restoration includes assessing each damaged piece, documenting its condition, moving it safely out of the affected area, cleaning and stabilizing it, and storing it in a controlled environment until your property is ready. In Austin, The Steam Team handles this alongside water, fire, and mold restoration, so one team manages your property and your artwork together.
How Quickly Should Damaged Artwork Be Addressed?
Damaged artwork should be addressed immediately. Canvas, paper, and wood take on moisture quickly, and the EPA notes mold can begin growing on damp materials within 24 to 48 hours. Smoke and soot residue also settle deeper over time, so calling a 24/7 crew as soon as the damage is found gives each piece its best chance.
Does Insurance Cover Fine Art Restoration in Austin?
Coverage depends on your policy and on how the damage happened. Many homeowner and commercial policies cover artwork damaged by an event such as a burst pipe or fire, and high-value pieces are sometimes insured under a separate schedule. Your adjuster decides coverage. The Steam Team documents each piece's condition to support your claim with carriers such as State Farm, Allstate, and USAA.
Fine Art Damage in Austin: What Property Owners Should Watch For
Artwork reacts to water, smoke, and humidity differently from furniture or flooring. These are the signs and missteps our technicians see most often.
When to Call a Fine Art Restoration Professional
Artwork that got wet. We move it out of the wet area before the frame, canvas, or paper absorbs more moisture.
A gray film or residue on the surface after a fire. This is usually soot or smoke residue, and we document and address it before it settles deeper.
Spots, fuzzy growth, or a musty smell on a canvas, mat, or frame. Our technicians treat these as signs of mold or hidden moisture and check the surrounding area too.
Warped frames, lifting paint, or curling paper. We record the condition before anything is touched, so your insurer sees exactly what the damage was.
Pieces in a room that still needs drying or repair. We pack them out and keep them in climate-controlled storage until the room is ready.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Wiping or rubbing soot or water from the surface. Rubbing can push residue deeper or lift paint, so we assess each piece before any cleaning begins.
Leaving artwork in a damp room. Moisture keeps working on canvas, paper, and wood, so we move pieces out quickly.
Sealing a wet piece in plastic. Trapped moisture can encourage mold, so we handle wet pieces in a way that lets them stabilize safely.
Using household cleaners or a hair dryer. Heat and cleaning products can set stains or damage finishes, so we use methods suited to each material.
Discarding or repairing a piece before documenting it. We photograph and record every item first, because your insurer will want that record.
What Our Clients Say
“The Steam Team has been nothing short of amazing every time I have called them. I love that they are local, and their personnel all know what they are doing”
“Great service! Brian and Fabian were very professional and thorough”
Other Services in Austin
Damage to artwork usually comes with damage to the property around it. Here's how the rest of our restoration services can help.
Contents Pack-Out and Storage
Move artwork and other belongings out of the damaged area with careful inventory, packing, and climate-controlled storage while your property is restored.
Contents Pack-Out and Storage in Austin →
Water Damage Restoration
Stop the source of a leak or flood, remove standing water, and dry the room that your artwork was displayed or stored in.
Water Damage Restoration in Austin →
Fire Damage Restoration
Recover from fire, smoke, and soot damage, including the residue that settles on walls, frames, and surfaces far from the flames.
Fire Damage Restoration in Austin →
Mold Remediation
Remove mold with containment, HEPA filtration, and antimicrobial treatment, and correct the moisture source so it doesn't return.
Mold Remediation in Austin →
Structural Drying
Pull trapped moisture out of walls, flooring, and framing with commercial dehumidification and airflow systems that reach hidden damp.
Structural Drying in Austin →
Advanced Deodorization
Remove lingering smoke and musty odors from the room with hydroxyl generators, ozone treatment, and antimicrobial fogging.
Advanced Deodorization in Austin →
Awards & Certifications
The Steam Team holds the following restoration certifications, licenses, and industry recognition.
Certifications and licenses
IICRC Certified Firm, Registration #70666 — Water Damage Restoration (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT), Applied Microbial Remediation (AMRT), Odor Control (OCT)
Texas Mold Remediation Contractor License (TDLR), #RCO1264
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, License NAT-56770-4
OSHA HAZWOPER Safety Certification
DKI — 10 Year Distinguished Member
Awards
Golden Hammer Award — Water Damage Restoration (2011, 2012, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Austin American-Statesman "Best of the Best" — Water Damage Restoration Services (2018–2025)
Westlake Business of the Year (2026)
Ratings and memberships
BBB A+ Rating, BBB Accredited Business
Restoration Industry Association (RIA) Member
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Member
International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Member
What Makes Austin Different for Fine Art Restoration
Austin's climate and creek-side neighborhoods expose homes, and the artwork inside them, to moisture in specific ways.
Humid summers and sudden heavy rain. Central Texas pairs long, humid summers with intense rainfall that regional climatologists associate with flash-flood risk. Any extra moisture that gets indoors gives mold an easy start on canvas, paper, and frames, which is why quick extraction and drying matter for artwork.
Creeks running through residential streets. Waller Creek, Shoal Creek, and Barton Creek pass through many Austin neighborhoods, and low-lying sections have a documented history of flash flooding. Homes near these waterways benefit from a 24/7 crew that can move artwork to safety when a storm pushes water indoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does fine art restoration take?
Timing depends on how many pieces are affected, the type of damage, and the materials involved. Assessment and documentation come first, and your technician explains what can be recovered and the expected timeline before further work continues.
Can mold on a painting or framed print be removed?
Mold on artwork needs careful assessment before anything is cleaned, because scrubbing can damage the surface. The Steam Team's technicians check the piece and the surrounding area, and its Texas mold remediation license covers removal where mold has spread beyond the artwork.
Do I need to be home during fine art restoration?
No, you don't need to be on site for the work to go ahead. The crew needs access to the property, and many owners arrange access and receive updates by phone while the work is underway.
What happens to my artwork while my property is being repaired?
Pieces that can't stay in the affected area are inventoried, packed, and kept in climate-controlled storage through Contents Pack-Out and Storage. They stay there until your property is ready, and the inventory supports your insurance claim.
Can artwork damaged by smoke be restored?
Often, yes, depending on the materials and how long the residue has been there. The Steam Team handles smoke and soot as part of Fire Damage Restoration, and its IICRC Certified Firm credentials include Fire & Smoke Restoration.
