If you’ve purchased a custom frame before, the cost probably won’t come as a shock to you. However, as we see more and more first time customers of custom framing some of them are surprised by the cost of custom framing. Once you understand the quality of the materials and the amount of labor it takes to build a custom frame, the cost makes more sense. Rather than think of a framed piece as decorative, think of it more like a piece of furniture that will last man years. If the framing design complements the art rather than your home decoration you can place it in any room and, if built with quality materials, it will last a lifetime. If you amortize the cost of the framing over the period you’ll have the frame, the annual cost is extremely affordable.
Here at AUM/Dry Creek Gold Leaf, we offer a lifetime guarantee on materials (for manufacturing and construction defects) and so we only offer moulding from vendors whose quality we can trust. That’s also why our highly skilled framers build all our frames onsite; many frame shops (as well as the big box stores) have their pre-finished moulding frames built by the vendor and then shipped to them. We’ve seen the quality issues with such frames and would never sell them to one of our clients.
Materials
Frames come in a variety of finished and styles, but no matter what, a superior framer will only use the highest-quality materials to create a stunning frame. This includes the materials for the frame itself, the glass, and the mat. A key element to any good frame is preservation of what’s being framed, so , at a minimum, when glazing is required, UV coated glass or plexi should be used to keep your art in mint condition. Museum glass adds the reduction of reflections to the UV protection meaning you can see what’s behind the glass from almost any angle and in various light settings. Any mat should also complement the artwork without harming it. We only use 100% cotton ragmat or alpha cellulose mats that are completely acid and lignin free. To be 100% conservation, mounts should be fully reversible; for rare or expensive art we use Kozo hinges and wheat paste for mounting, just as a Museum would do.
Customization
Truly customized framing will take your artwork to the next level. We don’t want the frame to overwhelm the art but a frame that makes the art pop is well worth the investment. A custom frame is tailor-made for your artwork. You’ll also get the added benefit of speaking face-to-face with an expert, so if you have any reservations or confusion about what you want, they can help guide you.
When you invest in a frame, you’re investing in your art’s quality, beauty, and longevity. You’re hanging it on a wall for a reason – you like how it looks and you like the comments you get from guests who see it on the wall. All the aspects of the frame, from the materials to the craftsmanship to the framer’s insight and expertise, are of the highest caliber. With the protection of a custom frame your artwork will stay in pristine condition for years to come. To truly bring your art to life, a custom frame is an ideal investment.
Why can’t you give me a quote over the phone?
Even if you tell us the size of what you want framing, there are so many options for each element in the framing process it’s impossible to quote an accurate price. That’s why we ask you to come in for a design session. Once the design is finalized we can quote you an exact cost.
Think of it this way, if you wanted to buy a car you can’t just call the dealer and say how much will a (insert make and model here) cost me because the dealer would need to know the options, trim level, color, etc in order to be able to quote you their price. We too need the exact mat, glazing, moulding, mounting, option to be able to price out a frame. We can give you a ballpark range based on size but that range can be quite wide.