We don't know why (probably because we're picture framers) but the question "do custom picture frames come with cord or wire?" is still a frequently asked question from
customers. And the answer has always been, and still is, yes. For very heavy picture frames, like heavy mirrors, we fit hanging chains. For medium size picture frames, poster frames, and smaller photo frames or production picture frames we fit mountaineering-grade nylon cord. We actually don't know of any picture framers who -do not - fit a chain, some wire or cord .. to the back of the pictures they make. If you think about it, why would picture framers expect customers to start drilling, stapling or screwing the back of newly-made picture frames? And so yes custom picture frames do come with cord or wire. That said, we also often get asked what is the best hanging material for picture frames, is it chain, wire or nylon cord?
It may further surprise people to know that our preferred hanging material is actually nylon cord. We've been framing for more than 40 years and we have never seen a nylon cord failure. Yet we have seen several instances of chain and wire failures of both ferrous and non-ferrous composition. On the topic of hanging failures, 98% of the picture frames hanging failures we've seen are due to causes outside a picture framer's control.
By far most failures are due to customers using the incorrect picture frame wall hanger. People sometimes use hard wall hangers for plasterboard walls or vice-versa, plasterboard hangers for solid wall. In both these cases there's an increased likelihood of hangers or hanging failures. In the first instance, if hard wall hangers are used on hollow, plasterboard walls, these will barely penetrate the plasterboard and the pins enter the board at the incorrect angle, providing little support.
In the second instance, if a single pin or nail, plasterboard hanger is nailed to a hard it will only partially enter the the wall's thin mortar or render, without actually penetrating the solid brick under it, thus providing only weak support. Customers often say that they'll nail the picture hanger to the timber stud wall but in reality, they often can't find the studs or the stud's location doesn't suit the intended picture frame location and so it cannot be used.
Yet another common cause or failure is the improper or incorrect usage of self-adhesive removable hooks, or stick-on removable hooks. Such hooks are available in different sizes, shapes and styles, are easy to use and are perhaps, often over-sold as being able to support even heavy mirror or picture frames and on any surface. These relatively new inventions and are often used in rental properties where tenants aren't allowed to screw or nail hangers into walls.
These removable hooks are probably fine if used within their limits and picture frame load limitations but the problem is is that users often exceed the hanger's weight specifications. Say that a removable hook is stated to hold a maximum of kgs. But a user will often use it for a 6kg picture, observe that hangers holds and then promptly assume that the hanger will do so forever The problem is that a removable hanger's adhesive does change with time and more often that not one day it will suddenly give or fail.
Once customer reported to us that a removable hanger failed after 2 years and 2 months. She knew the exact length of time the removable hanger lasted because that's when she first moved in. We suggest using these removable hangers with caution, only on small, not valuable pictures and to take up loads only 75%, not 100 of their stated or permitted weight. If you would like to know custom picture frames costing or prices you are welcome to use our free Picture Framing Estimator.
There’s a picture framer in Albury WA who doesn’t put cord or wires at the back of his photo frames or picture frames. He says that if he does that and a picture falls off then people will turn around and sue him or claim damages, or something. So when he does the picture framing for customers he just gives you a picture framing wire hanging kit with a little sticker telling you how to string the picture frame. He told him that nobody else seems to do it but he says that there are framers in the US who do do this and that you can’t be too careful these days. Has anybody else come across this? I still think that the picture framer should put a cord or string or wire at the back o f the picture frames anyway. I mean not everyone knows how to screw into wood or what do, right?
In the UK where I come from, my local picture framer always gave me a picture frame hanging kit with all framed pictures. It was a plastic bag with screws, hangers and wire. If you asked him he would screw the hangers and wire into the frame for you. He said that most of his customers preferred that because only they knew at what height their photo frames or picture frames should hang. So different framers in different countries do different things for different reasons, right?
Speaking for myself I don’t trust picture framers to give me proper hanging devices or suitable hangers. I have had several bad experiences with framers stapling cord to the back of the frames. More often than not the staples don’t go deep enough in the back of the frames and won’t hold the strain. When that happens the staples open up, release the string or cord and the picture frames fall down. I don’t know why picture framers use proper screws and steel hangers. Well, some do but most of them don’t. I think it has to do with picture framers wanting to save money on hardware or wanting to be quicker to finish jobs. Well that’s a false economy as customers like me won’t go back to them !!
[…] failures may are largely attributable to three main causes: 1) when the picture frame hangers break or come off the back of the frame, 2) when the wall hooks detach and fall off the wall […]