All framing must be picked up promptly after completion. We will not be responsible for any work left longer than four months.

Product Information and Framing Terminology

 

Premanufactured mouldings are available in wood and metal. Custom mouldings are available in wood.

 

 

 

Available Glazing: Protective clear covering which protects the artwork from the elements. Can be glass or arcrylic (Plexiglas).

 

Glass The advantage of glass is that it is easy to clean and tends to be less expensive. A disadvantage is it's weight, fragility and limitation of large sizes.   Regular Clear   U.V. Protecting Regular Clear, adds a slightly yellowish colour   Non-Glare Chemically etched slight fuzzy quality   U.V. Protecting Non-Glare Chemically etched, slight fuzzy quality, adds a very slight yellowish colour   AntiReflection Clear and low reflection   Museum Clear, low reflection, and U.V. protecting, with a slight purplish tone

Acrylic The advantage of plexi is the availability of large sizes, it's relatively light weight, increased U.V. protection, and minimizes breakability. The disadvantage is that it tends to be more expensive, flexible, easy to scratch, and reflections tend to be arced.   Regular Clear   U.V. Protecting Regular Clear, adds a slightly yellowish colour   Non-Glare Chemically etched, slight fuzzy quality   U.V. Protecting Non-Glare Chemically etched, slight fuzzy quality, adds a slight yellowish colour   Museum Non-Reflective, clear with more pronounced purplish tones and U.V. protection

 

Spacer: The material used to lift the glazing off the artwork.

 

Backing/Support: The substrate/s used to support the art.

 

Retainer: Wooden structure fitted into the back of a wood frame for additional support.

 

Plexiboxes (For hanging on the wall or display on plinth): Frameless clear box for displaying 2D and 3D art works.

Discount Structure

CFA does not consider itself a typical retail company. We charge a normal mark up on our products and services. Our prices reflect honest work and the highest quality materials (unless specifically rejected by our clients). We never have sales but offer the following discount structure to our repeat clientele:

 

Galleries - 15% off
Artists - 15% off
Collectors - 10% off
Art Auctions - 25% off
Charitable donations - 100% (presently limited to 2 donations a year and must include a tax receipt)
Corporate (over 50 units in the same design) -We will provide a quote

New Clients - receive no discount

Custom Made Products - will not receive a discount

Rush Orders (anything under 4 business days) - will not receive a discount

 

Volume discounts will be based on 10 or more items.

Art Gallery Auctions and Charitable Donations
Effective immediately is an incentive for gallery art auctions to frame their items in our slower period, beginning in June and lasting until mid-August, with an increase in discount to 30%. Clients will be responsible, however, of tending to their own storage requirements after the framing has been completed. We require a tax receipt of the discounted amount which will be clearly noted on your invoice.

 

Administrators should please read the following guidelines regarding art auctions.

• All artworks need to be received 4 weeks prior to the auction.
• All documentation or photography should be completed prior to our receiving the works.
• We cannot meet with individual artists for each piece, rather, if we have worked with the artist before we will frame in the usual manner, if not we will frame the item at our discretion or the artist can insert their specifics in writing with their work.
• Artwork should arrive ready to frame; all trimming, signing, mounting etc. should be done prior to its arrival in our studio.
• Each artist’s work should be individually packaged with their name and any other pertinent information clearly labeled on the outside of the package.
• Please provide a master list of all works.
• We will require payment within 30 days of invoice date.
• A tax receipt of the discounted amount (which will be clearly shown on your invoice) is also required. The discounted amount should be considered a "gift in kind" and is the only formal paperwork required to issue a tax reciept.

Care And Maintenance

• All framed items should be carried with two hands at opposite sides of the frame with the right side up. You should not pick up a frame on only one side as this can cause stress on the frame resulting in structural damage and causing spacers to become un-adhered.
• Stacked art should always be right side up, and items should be placed face to face (front of frame facing the front of the next frame) or back to back (back of frame where hanging system is facing the back of the next frame where hanging system is). Or place sheets of Foamcore between every item.
• It is advised NOT to use liquid cleaner but better to dry-dust frames often so no build up of dust can occur. Use a Swiffer duster over the entire frame including the glazing to keep item clean - try to avoid touching the glass. If you must remove a build up of dust or greasy fingerprints then a liquid cleaner is suitable. Never spray cleaners directly on the glazing as they can leak into the frame and cause moisture damage. It is advised to use a glass cleaner for glass and a plastic cleaner for Plexi as each contain chemicals specifically formulated for the material; spray a very soft cloth with a small amount of cleaner then wipe gently. Avoid pressure on the moulding itself. Wiping too hard can cause shiny marks to appear on painted frames and can damage gold and silver leaf.
• Most framing materials need to breathe and therefore expand and contract (especially so, in temperature change). If your framing creaks this is quite normal.
• Framing should never be left in a vehicle for more than a few hours and never overnight. Vehicles are like small greenhouses in summer and like an ice-box in winter. This temperature change can cause severe warping and damage of art and framing.
• Very large items should not lean against anything for any great length of time. Wood frames can warp if the frame must support itself unevenly.
• You are better to strap a large item flat against a wall for long term storage (as seen in the diagram below).
  

   

   

  

• When you do not find a wire on your frame, DO NOT ADD ONE. Some frames cannot support the stress of a wire and therefore need to be hung at 2 points (a separate hook on the wall for each of the 2 “D” rings attached to either side of the back of the frame. If you use a professional art transport service they can hang your items for you.
• If you have any items which you cannot transport comfortably yourself, we suggest using the services of professionals. Damage can occur when stacking items one on top of another or when items are propped or stuffed into vehicles with stress on the frame. Contact the following transport services for prices -Denbigh Design or Brandon Thiessen Art Services

Our Guarantee
We are not always in authority to choose the most appropriate framing design for our clients; cost and other factors may prevent clients from making the best decisions about their framing. As we perform framing services for both personal and exhibition use we have  a set of guidelines for each that aid us in determining charges for repairs and such. Aesthetic decisions in framing as well as fading of art will be the responsibility of the client. We recommend U.V. protection on all framing that requires glazing.

• Exhibition Framing - We guarantee exhibition related work for seven years if it remains local. (With travel, problems of exposure to unpredictable temperature and humidity will arise. This will accelerate the breakdown of adhesives and support. Works that travel should be crated, travelling right side up in a climate controlled environment.) Exhibition works are subject to enormous amounts of handling which serve to break down their structure of support. Any problems which occur within seven years due to OUR craftsmanship will be repaired by us at no charge (may or may not include transporation fees).
• Personal Framing - As personal framing tends to be in a more static environment, any problems which occur within ten years, due to OUR craftsmanship will be repaired by us at no charge (may or may not include transporation fees)