Broken Glass on a Picture Frame
February 10th, 2011
What do you do if the glass becomes broken on a picture frame?
By: Douglas E. Taylor
Beyond the obvious danger of getting cut, the framed art or keepsake can be damaged. To prevent potential damage to the art’s’ surface and material, carefully place frame face-up to allow the glass to rest in the most natural and less intrusive way. If any glass shards are loose and easily assessable, carefully remove them. Do not remove pieces that are partially secured under the lip of the frame. Use shipping tape or heavy duty masking tape to web across broken glass to hold it together and prevent pieces from moving and sliding across the face of the artwork. You might want to use strong sticky tape to carefully lift loose broken pieces straight up to prevent scratching of the art’s surface. Sometimes slips of paper can be inserted between the artwork surface and broken glass; this acts as a delicate cushion. It is best to carefully transport the entire frame with taped and webbed glass face up to your trusted custom frame shop. A good frame shop has the best chance of safely removing the broken glass. They have the knowledge and equipment to remove and replace the broken glass. Despite their expertise, it is always a delicate operation and there are always some risks.
At Vista Gallery and Framing, we always find out how the glass became broken in order to prevent it from happening again. The most likely reason is an improper hanging device, such as the use of an ordinary nail in the wall instead of the appropriate hanging hook or a perhaps the artwork is too heavy for the hook that was used. Sometimes it may have been the glass itself that is to blame. Perhaps the frame was hanging in a high activity area like a recreation room or an active child’s room, in which case we would recommend using acrylic glazing (Plexiglas). Whatever the reason, Vista Gallery and Framing is here to help!
