479 Main Street, Melrose, Massachusetts 02176, United States
You have questions, we have answers!
a list of common questions on picture framing
Many potential costumers come to us not knowing the ins and outs of framing their art. It's OK to not know, we are here to guide you through the framing process and to help you make choices that you will be happy living with for the life of your art. However, in case you just want a quick question answered we have compiled this list to help you out.
Q. What is the cost of framing a piece of art?
A. This is a variable question, there are a lot of factors that go into pricing for framing. What we can keep in mind when it comes to cost is how important your art is to you. Full preservation framing is more costly but will be the best choice for a valuable or very sentimental piece of art, whereas, a poster you bought for $10 does not necessarily need the Cadillac of picture frames. Another factor will be size. If your art is very large than that may be reflected in cost. Finally, any project that requires a ton of labor like a jersey or framed object will have a higher price tag than a basic photograph. A good place to start would be the frugal framing options. These are our least expensive options but are a good indicator of a true base cost for any job.
Q. Can you frame this (insert random item here)
A. Tentatively... yes. We have framed a variety of unusual object here at Miter Biter. Baseball bats, footballs, shirts, toy guns, pieces of the Berlin wall, pocket watches... the list is long. Your best bet is to bring the object in for us to look at and brain storm ideas. That way we can go over all the options for design and stability. Also, we really love strange and unusual projects. (I myself am, in fact, strange and unusual)
Q. I have a piece of art that is 68 inches by 82 inches, can you frame that?
A. Unfortunately no. Do to limited space (being a smaller shop) we have a cap on the largest things we can frame. We are always willing to recommend another local framer if we cannot help you. It is very rare that we see art that is too big for us to handle so if you are concerned then you can bring the piece in for us to measure.
Q. How does this whole framing thing work?
A. Well let me walk you through what you can expect from Miter Biter. We will start the process by looking at your art and asking you a few basic questions to establish what you like, your tastes and what not, also we want to determine if your art will need any special considerations in regards to glass type, mounting type and so forth. Once we get a general idea of your wants and the needs of your art then the fun can begin!
We will begin by showing you a bunch of options that we think will make your art look its best. We always show a lot of differently priced options to give you a range of style and affordability. We listen to your needs and concerns and answer your questions as honestly as we can. Once we have settled on a design that everyone likes we price that up and let you know cost.
Don't worry if the cost comes out to more than you expected, we will just go back and look at other options that may be more affordable for you.
You may have to be willing to compromise a little but we guarantee your art will be handled with the same level of care and affection that you yourself have for it.
After the design and cost is established, we will then take your info for the order and a payment of at least 50% of the final total.
Q. How long will it take?
A. About a week to two weeks under normal circumstances.
Q. What type of payments do you except?
A. We except all forms of U.S. currency and personal checks as well as all major credit or debit cards.
Q. Do you send my art out somewhere or do you do the work yourselves?
A. Unlike many big box framers, Miter Biter will NEVER let your art leave our premises unless you are the one carrying it out. Our Whole staff is trained in every aspect of our profession and take our jobs very seriously.
Q. Will the frame actually be that big?
A. Size is relative. Our framing corners and mat sample may seem large when compared to the size of your hand BUT when choosing a frame we always keep the proportions of the art in mind. Frames look much narrower when built out to their actual size. Another thing to keep in mind is the strength of the frame, especially when your artwork is on the larger side. You wouldn't buy shoes two sizes too small right? You want them to fit your feet. The same is true for framing as well. A frame that is too small for your art can not only look bad but also may be unsafe hanging in your home.
Q. Do you fix old or broken frames?
A. Another tentative yes. We can fix some frames but it all depends on the type of damage and the material of the broken frame. When in doubt, bring it in for us to look at.
Q. Do you replace glass?
A. The same answer from above applies. Bring it in and we can determine whether we can replace your old glass.
Q. What if I don't like My job when its finished?
A. While we do guarantee all the work we do, its on the stipulation that our advice was followed. If you come in with an orange piece of art and wanted a blue mat and a pink frame, well we would strongly suggest other things (not that I think anyone would EVER combine these three colors in the real world...). If you still wanted that combo than the guarantee would not apply. We only want to put out work that we are proud of And you'd be proud to own. All of us at Miter Biter have many, many, years of design and skill in our industry under our belts and we want that to show in all the work we do. But that doesn't mean we don't want you to be happy either! If you are ever dissatisfied then let us know and we can try and come up with a solution to your problem.
Q. What is a mat?
A. An archival board used as both a decorative accent as well as a way to protect your art from being right against the glass.
Q. Do you deliver?
A. Not Normally. It is not a service we actually offer but there have been a few instances were we needed to.
Q. Do you ship?
A. Same answer as above. We have needed to a few times, but again it is not a service we offer. We like to recommend using an actual shipping company, that way you can get insurance if your frame is damaged in the post.
We hope that this list helps you with understanding a little bit more about our business and picture framing in general. And just remember, When doubting a task, it never hurts to ask!