Picture Frame Repair & Restoration Houston

 

Not every framing problem means you need a new frame. Sometimes a treasured frame just needs a little care — a broken corner re-glued, a chip filled and retouched, a cracked piece of glass replaced, or an antique gilded moulding brought back to its original beauty. At Hollywood Frame Gallery, frame repair and restoration is a craft we’ve practiced for 30 years, and we approach every repair with the same attention we’d give a brand-new custom frame.

When Repair Makes More Sense Than Replacement

There are frames that can’t simply be replaced — an antique that belonged to a grandparent, an ornate gilded moulding that came with a painting purchased from a gallery, or a frame that’s been part of a family home so long it’s become part of the story. In these cases, restoration is almost always the better choice. It preserves the character and history of the original piece while extending its life for decades more.

Even for more contemporary frames, repair is often faster, more economical, and produces a better result than starting over — especially when the damage is limited to a corner joint, a section of moulding, or the glazing. We’ll give you an honest assessment of what we think makes more sense for your particular piece.

What We Repair

Our repair and restoration work covers a broad range of issues:

  • Broken or separated corner joints — re-glued, clamped, and reinforced
  • Chips and gouges in wood moulding — filled, sanded, and retouched to match
  • Damaged or missing gilding on antique frames — carefully restored using appropriate techniques
  • Cracked, broken, or scratched glazing — replaced with matching glass or UV-filtering acrylic
  • Warped or bowed frames — assessed and where possible, corrected
  • Damaged or deteriorated backing — replaced with archival-quality materials
  • Mat board replacement — recut to original dimensions with fresh materials

Antique Frame Restoration

Antique frames — particularly ornate gilded and carved pieces — require a level of care and knowledge that goes well beyond standard repair. The gold on a traditional gilded frame isn’t paint; it’s gold leaf applied in delicate layers over a gesso ground, and repairing it authentically requires understanding the original process. We approach antique restoration with patience and respect for the original craftsmanship, matching the finish as closely as possible so repairs are invisible rather than obvious.

If a piece has significant damage or requires specialized conservation work beyond frame repair — such as cleaning or stabilizing a very fragile or historically significant frame — we’ll tell you honestly and can refer you to a specialist conservator if needed.

The Value of Before and After

Some of the most satisfying work we do involves frames that come to us looking genuinely distressed — corners held together with tape, gilding worn down to bare gesso, glass shattered in three pieces — and leave looking like they were just finished. If you’ve inherited a piece and aren’t sure whether the frame is worth saving, bring it in. Often what looks like a lost cause is actually a solid frame that just needs skilled hands.

Bring It In for a Free Assessment

Frame repair is almost impossible to quote accurately without seeing the piece. The same visible chip can be a fifteen-minute fix or a multi-hour restoration depending on the moulding profile, the finish, and what’s underneath. Come visit us at 2427 Bissonnet Street in Rice Village — we’ll take a look, tell you honestly what we’d recommend, and give you a quote before any work begins. Call (713) 942-8885 or drop by Tuesday through Saturday.