Prices for dismantling and reglazing a piece

Create a Post
Territ

Territ

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Posts
143
Loc
Big Bend Texas
I remember a recent post about a standard fee for repairing & replacing glass in a frame, I can't find it this morning, anyone remember it? Thanks, T.

Thought about it a bit more, do you have a separate fee for refitting and then charge as usual for the glass? The few of these we've done seem to take longer than one would imagine, we've charged shop time on one that required expensive repair but would like to hear others thoughts about this issue.
 
Last edited:
I charge for the glass, and a fitting fee for putting the thing back together. What really irks me is when people bring me something in a tatty old frame that's falling apart, and they just want the artwork rematted and put back in the tatty old frame. These are always way more work than they warrant, and invariably the end result looks like crap, because the frame was in terrible shape, like they backed their Mercedes SUV over it. I'm thinking about adding in a special fee, like the corkage fee restaurants charge to customers who bring their own bottle of wine.
 
Yea, I got one of those in right now where the customer tried to save a few bucks by painting the oversize mat (:icon45: ) and then broke the 3648 glass. Charge double fitting charge plus glass. (one to take apart and one to put back) Seems expensive but time and labor are time and labor, same principal as $5.00 poster or a $500.00 dollar painting in the same $300.00 frame.
 
Seriously Paul, would someone really bring their own bottle of vino into an establishment. ?!?!? A little beyond rude to me.

Sorry Territ,just had to ask. Anyway, I charge a fitting charge in addition to the glass price. However, it sometimes depends on the piece. If that is a shadowbow I'm replacing the glass in the price just went up.

Lori
 
The glass is the easy part. It's all about what you have to do to get in and out of it. I explain that we often don't know what's involved until we carefully open and disassemble the frame package. I give an approximate price, but advise that if there are complications, it could be more, on a "time and materials" basis. With old frames and mats, these complications could range from separated mitres (often accompanied by brittle, previously repaired wood), to a hundred deeply set staples used for fitting, to layers of goopy masking tape, and beyond. You have to find a way of sympathetically and diplomatically explaining that the cost to remedy these unpredictable and time-consuming situations often more than outweighs the perceived economy of reusing old materials.
If it's a straightforward glass-and-fit, great. Otherwise, all bets are off.
:icon9: Rick
 
Thanks for the responses, I finally figured out the best way to review past posts is to simplify the request. I had decided on a glass and fitting charge but appreciate the input regurading "hidden complications".
 
Yes, Lori, people do bring their own wine to restaurants on occasion. Sometimes its a special bottle they want to enjoy, but other times it's just their attempt to save $10. It's rude to the restaurant, which has put a lot of time and effort into its wine list, but restaurants don't want to turn away customers any more than we do. So they charge a "corkage fee," which is usually somewhere between $10 and $25, to open the bottle for the customers.
 
Territ,
Many of you posted that it most always takes longer to do than you ever imagined. That's because when you get in there, it's a mess, etc, etc.

We have a "Takedown & Cleaning" charge (face it, there's always something that needs to be cleaned up - removing unwanted dustcover, tape, etc., etc.
We also charge for the "Glass" and "Fitting" charge (can also be called "Refitting Charge".

For quite a while I only charged for glass & fitting......but I got smart real fast!

Time is money, money is time!
 
j Paul said:
. . . Charge double fitting charge plus glass. (one to take apart and one to put back) Seems expensive but time and labor are time and labor, same principal as $5.00 poster or a $500.00 dollar painting in the same $300.00 frame.
Click to expand...

I agree and charge the same (two fitting charges + glass). I have had quite a few of those lately.

How about those customers who bring in their own dirty glass to use in their frame. I will not accept their glass. I tell them it will cost them the same or more for me to clean their glass as it will for a new piece.
 
Sister said:
How about those customers who bring in their own dirty glass to use in their frame. I will not accept their glass. I tell them it will cost them the same or more for me to clean their glass as it will for a new piece.
Click to expand...

Bang on!
 
Sister said:
I agree and charge the same (two fitting charges + glass). I have had quite a few of those lately.

How about those customers who bring in their own dirty glass to use in their frame. I will not accept their glass. I tell them it will cost them the same or more for me to clean their glass as it will for a new piece.
Click to expand...

I have one of these projects in my shop now. Customer wants her watercolor rematted and put back into the old frame, which fell off the wall. It fell off the wall because the frame split where her hubby had put in the screw-eye years ago. Frame looks like crap. I was talking to her about UV-glass, and told her that I couldn't tell whether her existing glass had UV protection or not. So she ultimately decided to go with new UV glass, but wants me to save the old glass for her. I kid you not. I shall repeat -- she wants the old glass back.

Whatever. :shrug:
 
Double the fitting charge and the glass cost.
If it appears to be more work than a simple take apart, cut new glass and re-fit, I charge a shop rate based on estimated time. But always quote a price up-front.
 
I have two to do now, tatty frames and pictures but a very sweet very old lady asked me to do them, I hadn't the heart to say no.
 
I have 9. Assemble-disassemble (double fitting) and glass. Two of the frames will need to be replaced....metal, bent too badly to re-join. Two oaks, "just fell off the wall!" Time-eater-uppers, charge accordingly, but like has been said, I keep it open-ended "just in case", they decide if it's worth the "just in case".

What do these people do to damage them so badly?? Never mind....just do it and don't ask!!:o
 
Val said:
I have 9. Assemble-disassemble (double fitting) and glass. Two of the frames will need to be replaced....metal, bent too badly to re-join. Two oaks, "just fell off the wall!" Time-eater-uppers, charge accordingly, but like has been said, I keep it open-ended "just in case", they decide if it's worth the "just in case".

What do these people do to damage them so badly?? Never mind....just do it and don't ask!!:o
Click to expand...

I just checked my sales records, and they damaged old frames always seem to come in a day or two after Bush gives a press conference or speech. Hmmmm....
 
Create a Post
Back
Top