Great Question! There are a number of reasons…

• We can offer you “wholesale to the public” pricing.
• Rent for our facility is a fraction of a retail location.
• We have room for our large range of inventory.
• We have the space for an array of equipment that would not be possible in high-end retail.
• All of this keeps our costs down which are then passed on to you.
• There are several artists in the area which attracted us, including:
  • International glass studio of John Lewis, on Pearmain St: https://johnlewisglass.com/
  • Glass-blowing artist and teacher, Elin Christopherson, on Pearmain St: http://www.elinchristopherson.com/

Once you arrive here you will be amazed by our wonderful space!

We have a spacious design room with skylights where we can spread out options for all your art pieces, even your oversized ones. This is often not possible in a retail shop.

• Eco Framing is located on our own private cul de sac, Apple Street.
• Look for our green ivy-covered gate.
• Our secure street has parking right at our front door for loading and unloading.
• You will see our ivy draped awning and rust-colored front door.
• Please ring the doorbell or call 510-338-6160 and we will be right out!

• From the 880 freeway:
  • take 98th exit, head East toward the hills up 98th to Pearmain – just before San Leandro Street traffic light
  • Turn right onto Pearmain and take the 5th street on the right — Apple Street. Watch for our gate.
    
• From the 580 freeway:
  • Take the 98th exit, drive down the hill
  • Pass the San Leandro Street traffic light intersection
  • Turn left onto Pearmain and take the 5th street on the right to Apple Street.
  • If you’re coming from South you can navigate down 105th ave and enter through Gravenstein or Apple off Pearmain
    
• Pearmain has potholes – please drive with care.
• Please know that there is a homeless camp on Pearmain near the 100th ave.
• Drive slowly but please don’t be worried about that — The City sadly has been unable to resolve the un-housed situation Citywide as well as illegal dumping – we are actively involved in lobbying for change!

We advocate the conservation approach as our standard to protect your artwork

Pricing Depends on size—
16×20″ frame, single mat, UV filtering glass starts about $140
24 x 30″ would ber around $250 and $325 for 32 x 40″
We have over 500 moulding styles in stock at discounts of 20-50% from retail
Discounts for multiples ordered concurrent can save more if specifications are the same

Note: If conservation is not required (e.g. marketing graphics) there are savings in materials cost

Absolute maximum quality for the lowest possible price!

Our pricing structure is designed to encourage you to purchase in the most cost effective ways possible. This will save materials and furthers our green best practices, especially when you select from our current inventory which therefore eliminates the need for special orders which by nature is inefficient and consumes excess packaging and shipping services.

Custom framing is a composite of the following: 

• Size of the artwork and frame
• Moulding Selection – prices vary considerably!
• Complexity of specifications: matting, frame space, filets
• Matting: Acid-Free vs 100% Rag, 4 ply vs 8 ply, single vs double matting, fabric wrapping
• Conservation services
• Glazing: UV-screening, reduced reflection Standard glass

1. Choose our in-stock material mouldings—discounts from 20-75% from retail even if you only order one piece.
   (Special orders are inefficient as they consume time, purchasing costs, packaging material waste, transportation costs, and fuel, and will delay your order’s completion)
2. Order Quantity: multiples in the same specifications, especially uniform size will result in increased discounts
3. Total Order Scope: If you have a large scale order even in a range of styles and designs we will provide enhanced discounts

Materials Optimization – Standard Sizes Equals more savings
Some Frame materials come in standard sizes. Therefore, if we design your work into those sizes it can result in lower pricing as there may be less waste and labor. This is critical when designing volume projects.

For example, if you order frames that are 17 x 21, you can only get two mats from a sheet of 32 x 40″ whereas 16 x 20 frames yield four sheets per mat board. Although the labor may be the same, materials costs are reduced, and there is less waste, therefore we can pass the savings on to you.

Common Standard sizes
16 x 20 – efficient matting size, box glass
18 x 24
20 x 24
22 x 28
24 x 30
24 x 36
32 x 40 – standard matboard, foamcore, glass
36 x 48 – largest practical glass size
40 x 60 – standard matboard, foamcore oversize
48 x 72 – limited mat board selection in this size
48 x 96 – foam core, mat board* (100% white rag only)
48 x 96, 50 x 100 Acrylic
48 x 96: Optium Museum Acrylic
*white rag only, some oversize mat board available

Yes, We use the Canvas quick mate stretcher system that allows us to evenly stretch small to very large canvases.

Yes, We have standard size beveled mirrors in stock or can order mirrors to meet your specific size.

Sure.  Bring it in so we can inspect the damage and provide the best options. If it is simple sometime we can do it while you wait and tour of collections or use our WIFI.  It also is the perfect time to upgrade glazing if it lacks UV or you would prefer reflection control.  Conservation materials should also be reviewed if the frame is older to ensure matting is not damaging the piece.

As a general rule of thumb no.  However, sometimes we have frames leftover from larger runs typically 24×30 but sometimes 16×20.  These frames do not include glass or backing, charged separately.

Yes we have framed vintage posters from as small as 16×20″ up to 50×80″

• Yes, that can generally be done while you wait unless it requires complex design.
• We have a vast inventory of matboard colors and styles to choose from.

Yes: Our Wizard CMC (computerized mat cutter) can cut any shape required from circles to ovals to decorative corners, to the outline of your logo, letters or an image.
The CMC also makes creating matting with complex multiple opendings

Our Wizard Z9000 is used for all of our mat cutting.

It provides a diverse set of creative capabilities, including debossing, decorative pen lines, cut vinyl embellishments, and it can even create custom boxes and protective frame corners.

If you have a decorative mat opening design in mind, we will work with you to create it!

Wizard Overview – scroll through to midway to see applications (best to turn off sound :))

Yes, we can frame all sorts of jerseys or other memorabilia. 

Yes, We have a a few options in stock in both US made sustainable moulding and other wooden options. 

These two methods are our primary recommendations. Most of our clients use the hook method with our floreats.
However, we use the cleat method in all of our exhibit installations for government, hospitality, and healthcare, often with security hardware to prevent theft.

• Hook method 
  • We always recommend two hooks when hanging art, which we will provide with every framed piece.  This helps the picture to stay level and not shift due to slight vibrations.  
• Cleat 
  • Z-Bar is a cleat made of aluminum and designed to hang large, oversized, and heavy objects.  
  • Available in three weights: Lite EZ-Bar, Regular EZ-Bar and Super EZ-Bar. Use Lite EZ-Bar for 40 lbs or less, Regular EZ-Bar for under 90 lbs. and Super EZ-Bar for over 90 lbs. 

• The simple answer that this depends on budget and your application.
• Acrylic may scratch and is more color neutral, whereas glass may break and tends to have a slight green tint in comparison
• If you are artwork is very high-value or larger than about 36 x 48 we recommend against using glass

Conservation clear glass is less expensive than Conservation rated Acrylic

Modern Glazing is available with extraordinary reflection control properties nearly eliminating reflections
• Ultra Vue Glass is color pure like Acrylic, however only 70% UV rated
• Museum glass – 99% UV Protection – our premier product for conservation and reflection control
• Optium Acrylic: ultimate glazing for reflection control, UV protection, optical clarity as well as anti-scratch and static
• Budget: traditionalreduced reflection glazing: maybe sutiable for some situation however it does diffuse the image

• Modern glazing is available to protect up to 99% of harmful UV radiation, which can cause your art to fade over time.
• The decision to use UV (ultra-violet) screening glazing is based on the media that you are framing and how prone it is to fading over time, as well as the light exposure where you intend to hand the pierce
• Some types of artwork not prone to fading are oil paintings, silver-darkroom photographs and modern archival ink jet prints
• Watercolors, conventional posters
• However, If a lot of light exposure is anticipated only use UV rating glazing – the price difference is worth it over time
• If the artwork has no value and you do not care about it then longevity with UV rating is not necessary.
• It would be a shame if your item fades because the glass doesn’t properly protect your piece
  • Why UV is glazing important?
  • Check out this True Vue Video on glazing, “Maximum Protection” :
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHZ_3R86Z8c&t=1s

 If you select from our in-house preferred collection, small frame orders can be produced in a few days to a week depending on our queue.  This can be a key advantage of selecting from our current inventory.
We will provide our best estimate of completion dates at the time of your order.

Special Orders
If special orders are required, it may take several weeks or more to complete your job depending on the supplier. Please allow time for shipping and order management. In the unusual event that our supplier is out of stock on your chosen profile, or other changes arise, we will let you know right away and explore suitable substitutes if necessary

Rush service is also available in the event that you require an expedited turnaround.

Large Projects
Eco Framing has the capability to produce complex and large-scale projects.  These may require patience and an allowance for engineering the optimal solution

Volume projects
These projects can take from 3 weeks to 3 months depending on the scope, assuming that custom moulding runs overseas are not involved. Large projects may require special runs depending on the product and our supplier’s current inventory.

Firstly, in this COVID-19 pandemic time, the supply chain for frame mouldings and other framing materials from our vendors has been slowed down considerably. Many styles of moulding are not available or are in limited supply, so if we need to do a special order for your project, it may not be possible at this time. This would require delays or redesigning the pieces.

We have a unique situation in that we order popular mouldings in quantity and keep them in-stock. That way we can be sure that we can complete your order without needing to do a redesign. It also means we can complete the project more quickly as well as more affordably. As we receive quantity discounts from our vendors, we are able to offer greater discounts to you as well.

When choosing entirely from our in-stock selection and depending on the scope of your project, we can generally have things done in just a few days if the scope is not too large.

• We feature two primary lines of made in the US sustainable moulding, 50 styles in total to choose from:  Picture Woods Hardwoods in Walnut, Cherry, Maple, and Ash in a variety of finishes
• Larson Juhl’s US made sustainable mouldings which comes in Walnut, Cherry, and Maple
  • LJ – Ashland / Cranbrook video  – 
    • Sustainable American made North American Hardwood moulding from Wisconsin
      • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAxYOuF43ig

Not in the traditional sense though all manufacturers are working to improve their practices.

• We have over 500 styles of moulding in stock, which we purchase in large orders to reduce cost and carbon footprint in procurement.
• We nearly always will have a profile in stock perfect for your project. 
• Choosing from our selections will reduce the carbon fiber footprint of your project by reducing packaging materials, reducing waste in production, and eliminates fuel used for regular shipments.
• Additionally, it means that your project will be done quicker with no risk the moulding is out of stock which is a chronic problem in the industry.

The picture framing industry, like many, is realizing the importance of being environmentally responsible. Most manufacturers are already making changes to produce products with a lower “carbon footprint”, managing waste carefully, controlling air pollution from the finishing process, and managing effluents that may otherwise enter the water system. Others, particularly those working overseas, may not practice responsible forestry, or pay special attention to pollution. Everything is driven by price.

We are an early adopter of this philosophy. In early 2000 we re-dedicated our picture framing business towards reinventing our processes, deploying “green best practices” aiming to lead our industry, and focusing on suppliers that share our point of view.

Our focus is moulding “Made in the USA” from sustainably forested woods. These are our featured products, which we strive to make as affordable as possible to our customers than less eco-friendly alternatives. This also includes designing in optimal sizes to minimize waste and using every scrap possible for a productive purpose.

We take recycling as far as humanly possible, with cut-offs and scraps reused in creative ways, converted into products, or given away through local online sites such as Nextdoor and Craigslist. This has cut our waste by over 75% – far beyond government regulations.

We also have the largest inventory of frame moulding and matboard in the region. As we purchase our raw materials in bulk, which is more cost-efficient, and reduces packaging and shipping, small special orders are virtually eliminated. This reduces cost to our clients, shortens turnaround and is less wasteful.

Our clients learn how to “buy green” and therefore we help them save – both in the carbon footprint of the work and reducing the cost of framing.

In summary, we discovered that our strategy simultaneously cuts waste, reduces labor and paperwork costs, saves on packaging and shipping, reduces our cost of materials, enables faster turnaround and saves on our clients’ budgets. We hope you like our approach and work with us as we continually refine our methods, striving to offer exceptional design, value and craftsmanship on your next project.

Wood is one of the most useful and beautiful resources from nature, and one of the most renewable. However, that only succeeds when properly managed as a resource. Too often, forests are clear cut and optimal forest management is not a worldwide reality. We continue to witness deforestation at an alarming rate, often for cattle grazing or fuel, with wood for framing pictures merely an afterthought.

In Oceania, wood production increased over 300% for industry and 60% for fuel in the last 40 years. This is unsustainable, and the massive culling has disastrous and potentially irreversible implications – not only for equatorial ecology, but for the entire planet as habitats are destroyed. A previous framing industry standard was ramin, an Asian wood with an excellent ability to take a stain and not warp. However, using it was destroying forests and today it has been largely discontinued. Substitutes have been problematic, often impossible to certify in sufficient supply. As much of the low-cost frame moulding is imported from Asia or South America, understanding the source of wood is critical.

The worst victims of this over-cutting are some of our most elegant and rare hardwoods: Honduras Mahogany, Teak, Paduak, Wenge, Ebony and Koa. While logging these woods is not the only reason the tropical rainforests are disappearing, it is a significant factor. We discontinued using tropical hardwoods, unless they are certified from a sustainable source or are from old fallen stock, or perhaps in veneers.

Another trend is finger-jointed pines from renewable sources. After the application of gesso, the wood is formed in innumerable shapes and finished from matte black to gold. However, this does not enable you to create a frame with a natural wood appearance due to the joint lines required in its engineering. Reclaimed, veneer and laminates are another approach in design. Altogether, these are steps in the right direction.

Fortunately, the great hardwood forests of North America are well managed, and in many cases, are now more plentiful than they were a century ago. Therefore, using maple, cherry, and walnut grown in the US is an ideal solution, whether or not it is FSC certified.

Our love of natural woods for picture frame mouldings has led us to feature these truly beautiful domestic hardwoods. Maple, Cherry, Walnut, White Oak and Ash with natural finishes rival the aesthetic of the exotic woods.

Maple

Ash

Walnut

Cherry