Photographic prints, and indeed many other collectables can really lift the appearance of a room, personalising what is otherwise just brick, plaster and mortar. The value of such physical statements can be hard to measure, although a lot of the most important pieces you own will also have a distinct and significant monetary value. In the worst case scenario, the home insurance packages sold by the likes of Legal & General can provide funds to replace damaged collectables – although whether a direct replacement is actually possible can be another matter entirely. The best way to keep your collectables protected is to avoid having to claim on home insurance in the first place, by taking proper care of your valuable pieces – here are a few of the issues to consider.

Before we look at the most common causes of damage, it is worth making a brief side note about home insurance cover. Make sure that you share a realistic evaluation of your collectables with the home insurance provider, to avoid any nasty surprises in the event of a claim. The single item cover limit may not be the full story, and new for old replacement stipulations need to be looked at carefully.

Now, on to perhaps the most common cause of damage. Sunlight will bleach anything given enough time, and prints are no exception. What is perhaps less well known is the fact that fluorescent lights can also damage delicate collectables, and so both sources of light should be avoided or at least controlled in the room in which you wish to display.

This brings us on to the next point, which is that it is essential to get your pieces properly framed. While this may seem obvious, the crucial consideration is that the frame should be properly sealed, to protect the print from changes in humidity. Fluctuations in climactic conditions such as humidity and temperature are of course natural in the home, but can also seriously shorten the life span of delicate collectables.

It can be tempting to attempt the job of framing pieces yourself, but with valuable items this can often prove to be a false economy. A good seal can be quite hard to achieve with push fit and other prefabricated, off the peg framing options. Getting a professional to properly frame valuable collectables can not only provide you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are protecting your items properly. Professional framing can, just as importantly, provide the optimum display vehicle for your collection.