4 Pitfalls You Need to Know About Wood Photo Frames

Wood photo frames are a favorite choice for displaying special photos however there are a few drawbacks that you should know about. Before you shop for that perfect wood picture frame, you need to be aware of these four pitfalls.Pitfall #1- Be Careful of Mistaken IdentityWhen shopping for a wood picture frame, you need to understand the difference between the three types of wood frames: solid wood frames, composite wood frames and wood veneer frames. These differences are important because the cost of the frame will vary widely depending upon the type of wood used to make it.Solid wood picture frames don't need any explaining but composite wood frames are made out of tiny wood pieces glued together with a special adhesive.  Decorative frames, frames with beaded borders, decorative round frames or oval frames are all made of composite wood. It's the most economical and quality conscious way to create a decorative wood edge without the high cost of hand carving or the poor appearance of glue-on wood ornamentation. Inexpensive “wood frames” are also made of composite wood which is why people often assume low quality with composite wood. However, composite doesn’t mean low quality. It is simply a more environmentally friendly and superior way to create decorative and ornate wood frames.Wood veneer gives a frame the real look of wood without having to use solid wood. Wood veneer is a thin sliver of real wood glued to a less expensive type of solid wood. The veneer can also be glued to composite wood in some cases. The beautiful look of burl wood is a great example of when a wood veneer is best used. High end hardwoods are very expensive and there’s no point in having a solid burl wood frame when you can only see the outside. A veneer of an exotic or high quality hardwood is a more economical way to make a unique frame and allows more frames to be made from this limited resource.Pitfall #2- Wood is Not PerfectMany people don’t stop to think that wood is from nature, with all its imperfections. Do not expect your wood frame to be perfect. For most people it's the color variations, natural wood grain and natural imperfections (like wood knots) that make wood frames beautiful. High quality frame manufacturers do minimize these variations however be aware that they can happen.Pitfall #3- Danger of Unfinished WoodYou may already be aware of this pitfall if you have purchased unfinished wood pieces before but unfinished wood can easily be damaged. Unfinished wood frames are made out of raw wood and have no protective lacquer or coating to help protect and seal the frame. Generally most frames are "finished" so the best way to spot an unfinished frame is to feel the rough natural wood texture. Unfinished wood frames can easily be damaged by water or any oily or sticky substance that may come into contact with the frame. Be especially careful with oily fingerprints as they can leave a mark that can be impossible to remove.Pitfall #4- Watch Out for Misleading ColorsWood frame manufacturers describe frames with words like walnut, rosewood, cherry and teak. Do not think of this wording as the type of wood used to make the frame. It's just easier to help people understand the actual color of the frame by relating it to a recognized wood color. Most frames are stained these colors but are rarely made of solid woods like cherry, walnut, rosewood or teak. Usually if a frame is made out of a solid wood, the description will say “solid walnut” or “solid teak. If it doesn't say solid, it's most likely just stained that color. Reading the frame description carefully or asking the frame retailer is the best way to know for sure if you are looking at a solid walnut frame, for example, or a wood frame stained a walnut color. Also, wood material like walnut, teak and cherry will be significantly more expensive than a stained solid wood frame.By remembering and avoiding these potential pitfalls when buying a wood frame, you'll be able to find a wood frame that's exactly what you want.