Protecting Artwork at Home: What to Look For in a Professional Framer
Want to keep your favourite artwork looking fresh for decades?
A poor frame can slowly destroy that favourite work you cherish. UV light bleaches the colours, acidic materials cause the paper to deteriorate, and brittle glass breaks when you need it most. Many times the damage goes unnoticed until it’s too late.
Here’s the problem:
Framers come in different levels of quality. Some will place your art behind a piece of regular glass and consider it done. The best framers will conservation frame your art to preserve it for generations.
Pick the wrong framer and you’ll watch your favourite piece slowly fade away.
Learn what to look for when choosing a professional framer to keep your artwork safe at home.
Let’s jump in!
What you’ll discover:
- Why Conservation Framing Matters
- The 5 Things A Pro Framer Should Offer
- How To Spot A Lazy Framer
- Caring For Your Framed Art At Home
Why Conservation Framing Matters
Conservation framing refers to framing your artwork behind archival, acid-free materials in order to protect your art from light, humidity and air pollutants. This is how museums preserve priceless works of art so they look brand new hundreds of years later.
And here’s the kicker…
The majority of damage to artwork in your home is preventable. Sunlight, fluorescent lighting and even the cardboard backing in inexpensive frames can deteriorate your artwork overtime.
If you reside in Memphis and own anything that you would hate to see destroyed, your first stop should be at a shop that provides quality picture frames in Memphis with COMPLETE conservation framing services. Proper framing will protect your treasures from:
- UV light fading from sunlight and fluorescent bulbs
- Acid damage from cheap mats and backing boards
- Moisture and humidity swings inside the house
- Dust, dirt, and air pollution building up over years
- Physical damage from accidents and bumps
Kinda a big deal huh? Now lets see what your framer should be offering you.
The 5 Things A Pro Framer Should Offer
Not all framers are created equal. Here are the 5x Non-negotiables you should expect from your professional framer, not a sales person.
UV-Protective Glazing
The number one enemy of any artwork is light. Especially UV rays from the sun and fluorescent lighting.
UV rays will fade colours, yellow paper and degrade inks over time. Once that clock starts ticking — it can’t be stopped.
A pro framer should always offer at least two glazing options:
- Conservation grade glass or acrylic: blocks at least 97% of UV energy
- Museum grade glass or acrylic: filters out close to 99% of UV light
If your framer isn’t bringing up UV protection, run. Far away.
Acid-Free Mat Boards
The mat frames your art between itself and the glass. However, it serves more purpose than decoration alone.
A quality mat prevents the art from touching the glazing itself. This prevents moisture or condensation from forming on the artwork.
But here’s the catch…
Inexpensive mats are manufactured using acid wood pulp. As time goes by the acid transfers to your art causing “mat burn.” Those unsightly brown edges. Once it happens, there is no going back. Your art is ruined.
A professional framer should be using:
- 100% cotton rag mat boards for high-value pieces
- Acid-free alpha cellulose mats for everything else
They are both buffered and lignin-free which means your art will be preserved for years to come.
Proper Mounting Techniques
How your artwork is attached to the backing matters more than most people think.
Cheap framers will glue, tape or staple art directly to the backing board. Don’t let them touch anything valuable.
A real conservation framer will use:
- Acid-free hinging tape for paper artwork
- Photo corners for prints and photos
- Reversible mounting methods that don’t damage the piece
Rule of thumb…If a good framer cannot take your art out of the frame later without one mark on the art, they are NOT a good framer.
Archival Backing Boards
The backing board sits behind your artwork inside the frame. Sounds simple, right?
Low cost cardboard or particle board backs emit acid and chemicals that eventually eat away at whatever is in front of them.
Look for framers using:
- Acid-free foam core
- Archival corrugated boards
- Buffered alpha-cellulose boards
Sealed Frame Construction
This is something most people never even ask about.
Frames should always be built tight to the backing so dust, insects, and variations in humidity cannot enter the back of the frame. Polluted air and insects will mar your piece.
Quality framers will utilize backing paper/sealing tape to seal everything into place.
How To Spot A Lazy Framer
Now that you know what to look for, here are some quick red flags that will have you sprinting for the nearest exit:
- They don’t ask about the value or importance of the piece
- They only offer one type of glass or mat
- They use the word “regular” instead of “acid-free” or “conservation”
- They can’t explain how they’ll mount the artwork
- The price seems suspiciously cheap
Cheap framing today will ruin your artwork tomorrow. Spend a few bucks more now and preserve it forever.
Caring For Your Framed Art At Home
No matter how great your frame is, if you hang your art improperly it will not stay looking its best. Follow these easy tips to care for your pieces:
- Avoid direct sunlight — never hang art on a wall that receives direct sun
- Skip the fluorescent bulbs — they emit a ton of UV
- Keep humidity stable — avoid bathrooms, kitchens, and basements
- Dust regularly — a soft, dry cloth on the glass only
And one more thing…
Studies on light exposure show that 1 hour of direct sunlight is equivalent to 200 hours of museum lighting on an artwork. Placement is just as important as framing.
Final Thoughts
Framing for conservation purposes does not need to be limited to galleries or museums. It is the only method of ensuring that your favourite pieces of artwork at home will truly stand the test of time.
To quickly recap, a great professional framer should always offer:
- UV-protective conservation or museum glazing
- 100% acid-free mat boards
- Reversible, archival mounting techniques
- Acid-free backing boards
- Properly sealed frame construction
Miss one of these steps and your artwork could be ruined. Locate a framer who will handle each piece like it’s a priceless masterpiece and say goodbye to fading forever.
