- Joined
- Nov 19, 2002
- Posts
- 9,040
- Business
- Retired
Hello Grumblers one and all. This posts takes me up to MGF, but I promise I won'r let it go to my head! I've searched the directory and can only find one Brit ahead of me - I'm coming to get you.....!
I apologise for the long-winded post, but maybe I'll raise an eyebrow or two!
Anyway, below are two photos showing the front and back of something I made earlier.
Most things are cheaper in the States, Brits come over there and do a load of shopping; still save money even after the cost of the flight is taken into account and have a great time to boot.
But picture framing seems to cost double what it does here, maybe more. Maybe your materials cost more, maybe your carriage costs do, maybe you pay better wages. Or maybe you are just better business people - I don't know.
I'm not going to list my overheads but I have used materials you should be able to relate to and I will list what they cost me. Hope you find the comparison interesting.
I'm going to tell you how much I charge for the below frame, you don't have to give away what you would, although you can if you like. Maybe you could spill if it is lower, higher, much higher or about the same. I am WELL on the plus side of average for UK.
I have converted pounds to dollars at $1.74 - todays rate.
The glass size is 29 x 23 3/4".
Moulding Larson Juhl Aurora Ref No 804820 @ $0.85c per foot
Mat Artcare - Talc on black @ $5.20 per 44x32 sheet.
Snowflake bevelled accent @ $14.36 per box (4 metres or just over 13ft)
UV filtering glass - not a brand you get but costs about the same as TruVu Cons clear @ $20 per 4 x 3 ft sheet.
Backing is Artcare 5mm foamcore at $11 per 60 x 40" sheet.
Print is 'T' hinged to that with Japanese paper hinges ('Hakayu' or something)
All above costs are pre tax (we have Value Added Tax - otherwise known as one big ripoff @ 17.5%)
All above costs include discounts, which I DO pass on. These discounts are based on turnover with each company. Moulding is 15% - Mat, bevelled accent and backing is 25%. Glass is 15%.
A carriage-paid order from most companies is £100 ($174) below that and it costs me an average of $14 - any quantity, this is for 2 or 3 day carriage, but 60% of the time it comes next day FOC.
The job took 40 minutes from the word 'go' i.e. including finding the materials, which can be fun here!
I charge $215.00 for this frame.
Hey - I like the way the flash is on the guy's lighter!
Secondly, the next photo is the back of the frame above. In the UK trade press there have been a lot of requests from framers for a backing board that combines a mounting board. I.e. the lovely brown stuff most Brits use, with a sheet of acid free board laminated to it. I (generally) use artcare foamboard as a combined 'under'-mount and backing board - do you see anything wrong with that? As far as I am concerned it does the job of an 'under' mount and backing combined, provides artcare protection, costs less than the two boards it replaces and uses less labor.
We Brits generally do not cover the back like you do, I use gummed paper tape to seal the foamboard, it breathes and can be moulded into any space left in the rebate, too much space and I will make it flush, but still seal it in the same way.
I hate wire - I use polyester cord which is low stretch and has a 200lb breaking strain. I always double it, tie off with a reef knot plus a knot each side and use thicker for heavy stuff or quadruple this cord.
I think the US is streets ahead of the UK regards
conservation and I think the average US framer just CARES more. The only frames I get in with covered backs are pre 1960s and I am intrigued as to why we do things so differently to you on the back of the frame. I love being different but this back-covering thing would take some selling to me!
Press "Add New Topic" then 'CLICK - TSSSST - Glug glug glug" That's a can of McEwans export bitter hardly touching the sides - here's to you.
'Master' of something at last - sigh!
I apologise for the long-winded post, but maybe I'll raise an eyebrow or two!
Anyway, below are two photos showing the front and back of something I made earlier.
Most things are cheaper in the States, Brits come over there and do a load of shopping; still save money even after the cost of the flight is taken into account and have a great time to boot.
But picture framing seems to cost double what it does here, maybe more. Maybe your materials cost more, maybe your carriage costs do, maybe you pay better wages. Or maybe you are just better business people - I don't know.
I'm not going to list my overheads but I have used materials you should be able to relate to and I will list what they cost me. Hope you find the comparison interesting.
I'm going to tell you how much I charge for the below frame, you don't have to give away what you would, although you can if you like. Maybe you could spill if it is lower, higher, much higher or about the same. I am WELL on the plus side of average for UK.
I have converted pounds to dollars at $1.74 - todays rate.
The glass size is 29 x 23 3/4".
Moulding Larson Juhl Aurora Ref No 804820 @ $0.85c per foot
Mat Artcare - Talc on black @ $5.20 per 44x32 sheet.
Snowflake bevelled accent @ $14.36 per box (4 metres or just over 13ft)
UV filtering glass - not a brand you get but costs about the same as TruVu Cons clear @ $20 per 4 x 3 ft sheet.
Backing is Artcare 5mm foamcore at $11 per 60 x 40" sheet.
Print is 'T' hinged to that with Japanese paper hinges ('Hakayu' or something)
All above costs are pre tax (we have Value Added Tax - otherwise known as one big ripoff @ 17.5%)
All above costs include discounts, which I DO pass on. These discounts are based on turnover with each company. Moulding is 15% - Mat, bevelled accent and backing is 25%. Glass is 15%.
A carriage-paid order from most companies is £100 ($174) below that and it costs me an average of $14 - any quantity, this is for 2 or 3 day carriage, but 60% of the time it comes next day FOC.
The job took 40 minutes from the word 'go' i.e. including finding the materials, which can be fun here!
I charge $215.00 for this frame.
Hey - I like the way the flash is on the guy's lighter!

Secondly, the next photo is the back of the frame above. In the UK trade press there have been a lot of requests from framers for a backing board that combines a mounting board. I.e. the lovely brown stuff most Brits use, with a sheet of acid free board laminated to it. I (generally) use artcare foamboard as a combined 'under'-mount and backing board - do you see anything wrong with that? As far as I am concerned it does the job of an 'under' mount and backing combined, provides artcare protection, costs less than the two boards it replaces and uses less labor.
We Brits generally do not cover the back like you do, I use gummed paper tape to seal the foamboard, it breathes and can be moulded into any space left in the rebate, too much space and I will make it flush, but still seal it in the same way.
I hate wire - I use polyester cord which is low stretch and has a 200lb breaking strain. I always double it, tie off with a reef knot plus a knot each side and use thicker for heavy stuff or quadruple this cord.
I think the US is streets ahead of the UK regards
conservation and I think the average US framer just CARES more. The only frames I get in with covered backs are pre 1960s and I am intrigued as to why we do things so differently to you on the back of the frame. I love being different but this back-covering thing would take some selling to me!
Press "Add New Topic" then 'CLICK - TSSSST - Glug glug glug" That's a can of McEwans export bitter hardly touching the sides - here's to you.
'Master' of something at last - sigh!
