Preventing Damage to Your Frames
February 10th, 2011
By: Douglas E. Taylor
What are some basics that you can you do to prevent damage to your picture frames?
- Artworks should never be displayed in direct light or near a heat source.
- When cleaning glass or acrylic glazing make certain to wet a soft, clean cloth and not to spray cleaner directly on the glass. Spraying cleaner directly on the glass could cause the cleaner to run between the glass and frame and then under the glass before you can say, “I hope that stain comes out”. This can damage most mats and even artwork
- Make certain that the artwork is not touching the glass. This can be especially dangerous for photographs and watercolor paintings. Beside the before mentioned glass cleaning problem, other problems can happen, including the build-up of condensation behind the glass. A mat or special framing spacer can help prevent this. There are two functions of a mat:
- Create a visual barrier between the image and the rest of the world
- Create a physical spacer between the artwork and the glass. Shadow box walls and small spacers can also be used to hold the glass away from the arts surface.
- Artworks should be hung properly with the adequate hanging hardware and hanging hooks. Use picture frame wall hooks, not a nail to hang framed art. Make certain that the frame is not in a high traffic area where it might get bumped or knocked off the wall. There are security mounting devices if necessary.
