Since Church Hill Classics is the leading expert in custom picture and diploma framing, we have plenty of experience finding the best ways for shipping frames with glass. Shipping glass picture frames requires extra care to ensure they are not damaged There are many considerations that make a big difference during the shipping process. Here are a few tips to follow when packaging a glass picture frames or framed art.
Assess the Value of the Item
Before shipping framed art with glass, consider the value of the art before packaging it up. The materials used for packaging framed art can be expensive. For picture frames or framed art items that have great sentimental value to you or your family, the framed art will need extensive packaging materials. For particularly valuable pieces, it’s optimal to unframe the art and ship it separately from the frame with glass.
Minimize Damage to Glass
The space between the glass and the artwork should be filled with protective cushioning. Use bubble cushioning, a corrugated board, or foam to prevent glass from shattering and damaging the artwork or photograph. This material should be cut to the size of the glass. If shipping valuable art, apply masking tape to the glass to reduce damaging the artwork if broken in transit.
How to Pack a Glass Frame for Shipping
Provide significant cushioning to the picture frame or piece of framed art. The recommended amount is two inches on all sides and edges of the frame and three inches on every corner. Medium-density packaging materials such as polyethylene bubble wrap or polypropylene foam provide the best protection. It’s best not to use shredded paper or Styrofoam peanuts, because they can settle during shipping and eliminate protection to most areas of your frame.
Wrap the glass frame with several layers of bubble wrap, making sure to cover all sides and corners. Use packing tape to secure the bubble wrap in place for the best way to ship glass framed art.
Use a Full Overlap Slotted Box
Do not use a regular slotted box, like typical moving boxes. These are containers with flaps that meet in the center of the top and the bottom of the box. These do not offer adequate support in transit and heavier boxes on top of them can cause them to buckle in the center.
A full overlap box (FOL) is how to ship framed artwork with glass, because it offers physical damage coverage. The custom box flaps on FOL containers are completely overlapping to give the box extra cushioning and increased stacking strength. We strongly recommend double-walled corrugated constructed for the FOL.
Use Liners Inside Your Box
Insert cardboard liners provide extra safeguards within the shipping box to resist bending or rattling. The liner should surround the entire frame and have the corrugated flutes running in the opposite direction of the flaps on the box.
Secure with Packing Tape
Use a durable closure method to provide additional strength and to make sure the contents stay inside the box. We recommend using two-inch pressure-sensitive poly-packaging tape or three-inch waterproof tape. Clearly mark the box as fragile and indicate which side is up. This will alert the carrier to handle the package with care.
While some of these steps might seem unnecessary, it’s essential that your shipping box can withstand possible hazards such as puncturing, compression, impact, vibration, accidental drops, and drastic temperature or climate changes. Any of these dangerous conditions could severely damage the frame and artwork inside. The packaging materials must be able to withstand the possibility of physical damage affecting the framed art.
Buy Physical Damage Insurance
In addition to properly cushioning and securing your package, it’s important to pick a service with experience shipping glass-framed art. Choose a reliable shipping carrier that offers insurance and tracking information. This will help ensure that your package arrives safely and can be tracked in case of any issues.
Best Way to Ship Picture Frames with Glass
We rest easy knowing that all of our frames are fully insured and shipped out to our customers in Church Hill Classics’ specially designed SMARTboxes. These cutting-edge shipping boxes have been tested and approved by FedEx and UPS to withstand damage while in transit.
Our frames sit securely in sturdy cardboard inserts and are encased in our patented plastic sleeve. These protective measures safeguard against property damage, ensuring our frames will arrive safely at their destination. Best of all, SMARTboxes are environmentally friendly and are 100% curbside recyclable.
