How to Fix a Broken Picture Frame

Written by Mark Rogers

You’re transferring a framed artwork from one room to another and it slips from your hands. Or you’re moving to a new city and a box with framed photos crashes to the ground. There are many ways your framed art can accidentally become damaged. Even the highest quality frames can chip or get scratched over the years.

Ready for an “FIY”project? Before heading back to the frame store, let’s walk through how to fix-it-yourself. At the end, I’ll share when it’s time to give up and purchase a new frame — and some cool things you can do to repurpose the battered old ones!

Repairing Warped Wood Frames

To repair a warped picture frame, you’ll need:

Panel of 3/4-inch piece of plywood - larger than the frame
Moistened absorbent rags
Eight C-clamps

First, remove the picture and the glass from the wooden frame, being super careful not to break the glass and risk cutting yourself. Lay the frame face-down on top of your plywood.

Next, cover all sides of the frame with damp absorbent rags. Using your eight C-clamps, clamp the frame to the plywood, making sure the clamps are evenly spaced. Don’t try to clamp all portions of the frame so they’re flush quite yet — you don’t want the frame to break. Just make sure the clamps are tight enough to hold down the frame securely. Remoisten the rags as necessary every day, as well as tightening each clamp, little by little until the frame is straight again.

Once the frame is flat, remove the rags, but leave the frame clamped for at least one week so can dry out.

Mending Bent Metal Picture Frames

To successfully fix a bent metal frame, you will need:

3/4-inch piece of plywood
C-clamps
Screwdriver
New L-brackets

Fixing a metal frame isn’t quite as time-consuming as a wooden one, though the steps are slightly similar.

Be sure to remove the glass and the photo from the frame before beginning. Lay the frame flat on the end of a table, making sure the bent part is hanging over the table’s edge. Lay the 3/4-inch plywood on top of the portion of the frame that is flush with the table.

Next, use your C-clamps to secure the plywood to the table. It’s important to not tighten the clamps too much or you may flatten the metal. Carefully take the portion of the frame that is bent (which should still be hanging over the edge of the table) and slowly bend it straight. If multiple sections are bent, rearrange the clamps and work on each section until they’re all flush. If there are bent L-brackets, unscrew them from the frame and replace.

Loose Corner Joints in Wood Frames

Loose corner joints are another common issue found in broken and bent frames, which are caused by humidity and constantly changing temperatures in homes.

For this DIY project you’ll need:

Needle-nose pliers
A flat surface
Wood putty
Sandpaper
Small clamp and wood glue

Remove the nails from the loose joints with your needle-nose pliers by carefully pulling the joint apart, leaving enough space for you to clutch the nail with the pliers. Once you’ve removed the nails, take the sandpaper and scrape away the old glue still lingering in the joints. Then fill any old nail holes with wood putty.

After the putty is dry, smooth out the surfaces with sandpaper. On the inner edge of each joint, spread a thin line of wood glue, press together, and then clamp until the glue dries. With your finger, check to make sure the glue is completely dry before reinserting the glass and your art.

When is it Time to Get a New Frame?

Sometimes, no matter how handy you may be, it’s time to throw in the towel. And the frame! If your wooden frame is completely warped, even after you’ve tried the steps listed above, it’s definitely time to purchase a new one. Additionally, if the nails split the wood when you’re attempting to fix the frame hangers, it’s time to head to your local frame shop. Frame Destination carries a practically endless selection of wood frames, with beautiful tones of walnut, honey maple, and mahogany — or painted white, black, and gray. There’s variety of style, as well: ornate, rustic, contemporary, and traditional.

For metal frames — especially lower-quality metal frames — when you try to bend them yourself, they might crack in the process. If there’s a crack in the metal frame, it’s time to purchase a new one. Cracked metal frames cannot be repaired, and you owe it to your painting or photograph, and yourself, to purchase a new one. Feel free to explore our array of sleek, modern metal frames, many with mats included, like our Florentine Black Square Frame with Antique White Mat or these tomato red or bright blue frames (mats sold separately).

Old Frames, New Purpose

Finally, if you’re an eco-conscious person who loathes to throw things away, or you simply enjoy the creativity it takes to breathe new life into something old, here are some ideas for a repurposing an old picture frame.

Custom Mirror
DIY Framed Chalkboard
Cork Board

If you’re on a creative roll, check out a few more fun ways to use old frames:

Whatever your end game, happy framing!

Last updated September 3, 2024