Stretching Canvasses

[fionnuala]

Just wondering how other people are pricing the stretching of their canvasses.

We have two seperate prices for stretching. one price is if its part of a framing job and the other is if the customer just wants the canvass stretched. if they do it as part of a framing job its cheaper.

do others do this or is it better to have one set price?

ps. if anyone is using estlite for pricing do you price stretching canvasses in the fixing options or as a moulding? Pros/Cons?

cheers fionnualax

[Roboframer]

I have one price, although if stretched only there will usually be hanging hardware to add on - and I don't calculate the cost of the wire by the metre and/or the cost of the type of hardware, I just add 50% of the fitting charge for the size.

'Boxed' or 'gallery wrap' will be more of course.

[Bill Henry]

We only have a one tiered price which is dependent on the size of the item to be stretched (united inches). Actually, the stretching cost (basically labor) and the cost of the bars (basically materials) has been separated. Sometimes we use different grades of stretcher and strainer bars.

When the stretched canvas is to be surrounded by a frame, there is an additional “fitting” charge which includes attaching the canvas to the frame and applying the hanging hardware. The customer who wants “stand alone” stretching doesn’t end up paying for this fitting charge.

[fionnuala]

It must be that we are using different systems of pricing as i'm not sure what this "fitting" charge is.

We just price for stretching the canvas (like you we have a tiered system) and then add the price of the frame onto this.

we don't charge for attaching the stretched canvass to said frame(is that what your fitting charge is?) I guess that is incorporated in the mark up we have applied to the stretcher timber.

[Roboframer]

we don't charge for attaching the stretched canvass to said frame(is that what your fitting charge is?) I guess that is incorporated in the mark up we have applied to the stretcher timber.

No good guessing - you should be charging for all that you do - or at least have justification for not doing so.

[Bill Henry]

Sorry, "fitting" is an almost universal term and process for framers in the U. S. and the mythical realm of Canada.

Without getting too complicated, we break down the components of framing into discrete “sub sections”.

All of these charges are a function of united or square inches.

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Frame - including materials, markup, and labor to cut and join.

Liners and/or Fillets - same as above.

Mats (mounts) – materials, markup, and labor depending on style and complexity of the design.

Backing - cutting and sizing foam board, needle board, stretcher or strainer bars, etc. - nearly all materials and markup. Labor is seldom a separate component.

Mounting (positioning and securing) art onto backing - dry mounting paper, dry mounting canvas, wet mounting, stretching canvas, stretching needle work, vinyl corners, etc. - materials, markup and labor.

Glazing - glass (regular, UV, optically coated, etc.), acrylics (same thing) - materials, markup, and labor to cut and clean.

Fitting - placing and securing frame “package” into the frame including gluing paper dust barrier and hanging hardware. Price differs slightly for glazed, unglazed, and shadowbox frames. All labor. The hanging hardware and paper is usually absorbed.

_________

Labor is separate in all cases so we can charge for the time needed to complete a task. In our case it is $72 / hour broken down in 1 minute increments. If overhead increases or I want a raise, tinkering with the labor charge is generally the easiest way to accomplish this.

We do not use a POS, but, rather a spreadsheet so it is simple to make both minute or global changes.

[kev@frames]

we are same as fionulla, two prices, one for part of a framing job, one for a stand alone (higher), and another for a "gallery wrap" where its never going to go into a frame.