An original painting on canvas from the VanArtHub gallery at 1242 Davie Street in Vancouver.

Care & repair · Vancouver

Frame Repair & Restoration

Loose corners, chipped mouldings and worn gilding repaired and refinished to match the surrounding frame. Bring it to 1242 Davie Street and we will tell you what it needs.

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Damage in one place is usually repairable. Damage everywhere usually is not. A loose corner, a chipped edge or a patch of worn gilding can be repaired and refinished so the join does not read from normal viewing distance. A frame where every joint has opened and the finish has gone throughout is a different case, and we will say so rather than take it on.

The common repairs

An open mitre is the most frequent. The joint is cleaned out, re-glued and pinned, and the corner brought back true. A chipped moulding is filled and the profile rebuilt to match the section around it, then refinished. Worn gilding can be toned back in so it sits with the surrounding surface rather than standing out as a bright new patch.

Matching a finish is the hard part

New gold does not look like old gold, and a perfect colour match to a hundred-year-old finish will still look wrong if the surface is too even. The aim is a repair that disappears at normal viewing distance rather than one that is invisible under a lamp, and it is worth setting that expectation before starting.

When replacing is the better answer

If the frame is structurally failed all the way round, if it has been repaired badly several times already, or if the cost of repair passes what a close period-appropriate replacement would be, we will tell you. Bring it in and you get a straight answer either way.

What we need

The frame, with the artwork in it if it is still mounted, and any pieces that have broken off. Keep the fragments. A chip that has been kept is much easier to deal with than a chip that has to be rebuilt from nothing.

Repairable one open mitreone chipped edge re-glue, pin, fill, refinish to match Usually replaced every joint open, finish gone throughout
Damage in one place is usually repairable. A loose mitre can be re-glued and pinned, a chipped moulding filled and refinished to match the surrounding surface. A frame that has failed all the way round, where every joint has opened and the finish has gone throughout, is a different case and is usually replaced with a close period match instead.

How it works

  1. 1

    Bring it in, or send photographs

    Walk in to 1242 Davie Street during opening hours. If you are not in Vancouver, send the dimensions and a photograph and we will work from that.

  2. 2

    We look at the actual piece

    What it is made of, what condition it is in, and where it is going to hang all change the answer. You get a straight recommendation and a price for your piece, not a rate card.

  3. 3

    It is made by hand and fitted

    Cut to the piece, using conservation materials, and finished with hanging hardware rated for the actual weight.

Common questions

Can a damaged frame be repaired rather than replaced?

It depends on whether the damage is in one place or everywhere. A loose corner, a chipped edge or a patch of worn gilding is usually repairable. A frame where every joint has opened and the finish has gone throughout usually is not.

What are the most common frame repairs?

An open mitre, by far. The joint is cleaned out, re-glued and pinned and the corner brought back true. Then chipped mouldings, which are filled and the profile rebuilt to match. Then worn gilding, toned back in to sit with the surrounding surface.

Will the repair be invisible?

The aim is a repair that disappears at normal viewing distance, not one that is invisible under a lamp. New gold does not look like old gold, and a perfect colour match to a century-old finish still looks wrong if the surface is too even. That expectation is worth setting before we start.

Should I keep the broken pieces?

Yes, always. A chip that has been kept is much easier to deal with than one that has to be rebuilt from nothing. Bring every fragment, however small.

When is replacing the better answer?

When the frame has failed structurally all the way round, when it has already been repaired badly several times, or when the cost of repair passes what a close period-appropriate replacement would be. We will tell you which case yours is.

Do I need to remove the artwork first?

No. Bring it with the artwork in it if it is still mounted. Taking a frame apart is one of the points where damage happens, and it is better done here.

Other things we frame

Where to find us

VanArtHub Gallery 1242 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1N3
Canada
Monday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Get directions Call (604) 401-9499

Not sure what yours needs?

Send the measurements, what it is made of, and a photograph. We will tell you what it actually needs, including when the answer is that it needs less than you expected.

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