It’s heartbreaking when your precious antiques are damaged in fires and in floods. Some of them come out on the other side just fine, like jewelry or plates in the case of floods. But fires will destroy anything; and wood and cloth don’t do well in any kind of disaster.

If you have antique furniture that has been damaged in a flood, your antique recovery solutions are limited by your situation and the value of the antique. If you don’t mind losing some of the value but are more interested in the sentimental value, you can dry the furniture in the sun for a couple of days, then strip, sand, and refinish it. Even if it’s upholstered, you can replace the upholstery

But if you have fine inlay, or if the value would be damaged if you stripped the wood, you should probably look at a museum restoration company. They are expensive, but they restore some of the finest works of art to their original beauty by using today’s technology and special techniques. This is not something you should try for yourself; it takes years of schooling and hands on experience to master antiques recovery.

Not all antiques are movable furnishings and jewelry, of course. Some older houses have wood inlay, tile, and crown molding as valuable as any Shaker chair. Never hire an untried contractor to replace your antique fixtures; someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing can easily destroy it. Instead, go to a museum restoration company; or ask your local historic houses foundation who they would recommend. They are as interested in preserving your house’s beauty as you are, and they’re sure to know someone reputable and talented.

No matter what else you do with your antiques, the most important thing you can do for them is dry them thoroughly, and in sunlight for anything besides books and papers. Your worst enemy at this point is mold and mildew, which draws bugs. If your antiques are damaged by these pests, no amount of antique recovery work may bring back their beauty and value.