Picture frame repair in Exeter
Professional picture frame repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Picture frame repaired - broken corners rejoined, loose joints secured, backing replaced. I'll get it functional again so you can actually use it.
That Broken Frame Isn't Worthless
It fell off the wall, or you dropped it moving house, or it's just been in the loft for years and the corners have come apart.
The photo or artwork inside is precious, but the frame's broken and you're not sure if it's worth fixing or if you should just buy a new frame and chuck this one.
Actually, if it's a decent frame, it's almost always worth repairing. Especially if it's real wood rather than cheap moulded plastic.
💡 Pro tip: Most frame damage is broken mitre joints at the corners. These are relatively easy to repair with proper wood glue and clamping - stronger than the original when done right.
Common Frame Damage
| ✅ Repairable | ❌ Probably Not Worth It |
|---|---|
| Broken corner joints (mitre opened up) | Completely shattered frame |
| Loose joints needing re-gluing | Cheap moulded plastic frame |
| Damaged backing board or clips | Frame so warped it won't lie flat |
| Broken hanging fixtures | Ornate moulding with chunks missing |
What I'll Do
🔧 The Repair
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Work out what's broken and best repair method |
| Fix | Glue, pin, clamp as needed |
| Replace | New backing board or hanging fixtures if required |
📦 You're Left With
- Frame structurally sound
- Corners tight and secure
- Ready to reuse with new or same picture
- Money saved versus buying new
Pricing Guide
| Repair Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple corner reglue | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| Multiple corners + backing | 45 mins - 1 hr | £60 |
| Complex repair + reinforcement | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Replacement materials (backing board, glass) charged at cost.
What Can Be Fixed
✅ Broken mitres - corners that have separated
✅ Loose joints - frame feels wobbly
✅ Damaged backing - hardboard or card torn/broken
✅ Missing clips - the turnbuttons that hold backing in
✅ Broken hanging wire - easy fix
Why Choose Us for Picture frame repair in Exeter?
Broken corners rejoined properly
Loose joints secured
Damaged backing board replaced
Frame usable again
What to Expect
Step 1: Assess The Damage
I'll look at what's broken, work out if it's repairable, and explain what needs doing. Be honest if it's not worth fixing.
Step 2: Repair Properly
Glue broken joints, clamp while drying, add pins for extra strength if needed. Replace damaged backing board or fixings.
Step 3: Test And Reassemble
Make sure frame's square and stable. Put everything back together properly. Ready to use or hang.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to repair your own frame? Here's how:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Wood glue (PVA or carpenter's glue)
- Clamps or heavy books for weighting
- Panel pins and small hammer (for reinforcement)
- Stanley knife or craft knife
- Backing board if replacing
- Sandpaper (fine grit)
🛠️ Repairing broken corners
Step 1: Clean the joint
- Scrape out old dried glue with knife
- Make sure surfaces are clean and dry
- Lightly sand if needed
Step 2: Apply glue
- Use proper wood glue, not superglue
- Apply to both surfaces of the mitre joint
- Not too much - it'll squeeze out
Step 3: Clamp and square
- Press joint together firmly
- Check frame is square (measure diagonals - should be equal)
- Clamp or weight while it dries (at least 2 hours, overnight better)
Step 4: Reinforce (optional)
- Once glue's dry, add panel pins for extra strength
- Small pins at an angle through the corner
- Punch below surface, fill if visible
📋 Replacing backing board
- Measure internal frame size
- Cut hardboard or thick card to size
- Slightly smaller than opening (1-2mm) so it fits easily
- Secure with new turnbuttons or small pins
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Using superglue - it's brittle and doesn't fill gaps
- Not clamping long enough - glue needs time
- Frame not square when clamped - measure those diagonals!
- Too much glue that oozes onto visible parts
💡 Pro trick: Use masking tape as a quick clamp for small frames. Tape across corners on the back while glue dries - works surprisingly well. For larger frames, use proper clamps or stack heavy books on top.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🖼️ Multiple broken frames? If you've got several that need fixing, do them all in one visit. I can glue them all, leave them clamped, come back to finish if needed.
Glass replacement? I don't cut glass, but I can measure and tell you the exact size you need. Local glass shops or hardware stores will cut to size cheaply.
Very old frames? If it's an antique or genuinely valuable frame, consider a specialist restorer. I can make it functional, but not restore it to original finish if that matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of frame damage can you fix?
Broken corners where the mitre joint's come apart, loose joints that need re-gluing, damaged backing boards, broken hanging fixtures. If the frame's actually snapped through the moulding, that's harder - depends how bad it is.
Can you fix really old or valuable frames?
Basic repairs yes, but if it's genuinely valuable or antique, you might want a specialist frame restorer. I can do functional repairs to make it usable, but not museum-quality restoration.
Do you have replacement backing board or will I need to buy it?
I can cut backing board to size if needed - I carry some basic stuff. For glass replacement you'd need to get that cut to size yourself, or I can advise where to get it locally.
Will the repair be visible?
Depends on the damage and the frame. I can usually get corners back together tight, but if it's broken through decorative moulding there might be a visible line. Function over perfection - it'll hold together.
How long will the repair last?
If I've reglued a joint properly and it's been clamped/weighted while drying, it should be as strong as original. Broken corners that I pin and glue will last years as long as you don't drop it again.
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