Contact The Steam Team in North Austin
Our restoration crews come to you, day or night, anywhere in West Lake Hills 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.
About Our Fine Art Restoration in West Lake Hills
Artwork is hard to replace, and the damage is rarely limited to what you can see. Most calls start with one of these:
Spotting, fuzzy growth, or a musty smell on a canvas, mat, or frame after moisture sat too long following a leak or a storm
A burst pipe, roof leak, or flood soaking framed pieces, canvases, or works on paper
Sculptures, collectibles, or heirlooms in a room that now needs demolition or drying
A storm that drove water through a window or roof near where artwork hangs
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 West Lake Hills, 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 West Lake Hills?
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 West Lake Hills: 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.
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.
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.
A strong smoke smell on framed pieces after a nearby fire. We assess whether residue has reached the frame, mat, or glazing and document it before any cleaning.
Sculptures or collectibles in a room that flooded. We inventory each item and move it to safe storage before demolition and drying begin.
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.
Sealing a wet piece in plastic. Trapped moisture can encourage mold, so we handle wet pieces in a way that lets them stabilize safely.
Discarding or repairing a piece before documenting it. We photograph and record every item first, because your insurer will want that record.
Stacking damp pieces against each other. Contact can transfer moisture and marks, so we separate and support each piece when we move it.
Relying on memory for what was damaged. A written and photographed record is what insurers ask for, so we make one for each piece at pickup.
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 West Lake Hills
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 West Lake Hills →
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 West Lake Hills →
Advanced Deodorization
Remove lingering smoke and musty odors from the room with hydroxyl generators, ozone treatment, and antimicrobial fogging.
Advanced Deodorization in West Lake Hills →
Mold Remediation
Remove mold with containment, HEPA filtration, and antimicrobial treatment, and correct the moisture source so it doesn't return.
Mold Remediation in West Lake Hills →
Emergency Response
Get a crew on site any hour to stop further damage and move artwork to safety after a flood, fire, or storm.
Emergency Response in West Lake Hills →
Structural Repair & Reconstruction
Rebuild walls, flooring, and finishes once the room has been dried and cleared, so artwork has a safe space to return to.
Structural Repair & Reconstruction in West Lake Hills →
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 West Lake Hills Different for Fine Art Restoration
West Lake Hills, TX has a high concentration of custom-built homes, and its weather puts the pieces inside them at risk.
Custom and luxury homes. A large share of West Lake Hills' single-family homes are custom or luxury-built, often with extensive furnishings. In a loss, we inventory and pack out artwork alongside everything else and keep it in climate-controlled storage until the property is ready.
Dry heat broken by sudden heavy rain. Hot, dry summers in the western Austin suburbs are punctuated by sudden heavy rain events. When a storm drives water indoors, we move artwork out of the wet area first, before the damage spreads to frames, canvas, and paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you pack out artwork from a large, fully furnished home?
Yes. We inventory artwork alongside furniture and other contents, label each item, and keep it all in climate-controlled storage until the property is ready.
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.
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.
Will sudden heavy rain affect artwork hung on exterior walls?
It can, if water gets into the wall or around a window. Check the back of the piece and the wall behind it for dampness, and call us if you find any, so we can move the artwork and dry the wall.
Does The Steam Team help with wet artwork at night or on weekends?
Yes. Crews respond 24/7, which matters because canvas, paper, and wood take on moisture quickly. Call as soon as the damage is found, and a technician will arrange for the artwork to be moved and documented.
