Hand-Stretched Canvas Since 1981
Canvas Stretching & Framing
Rolled canvases, unstretched paintings, gallery wraps, floater frames, and re-stretching for sagging or warped pieces — built by hand in West Roxbury. Whether you bought a painting on vacation that needs stretching or you're an artist with a stack of unstretched canvases, we handle it all.
Walk-ins always welcome. Bring the piece in and we'll design and price it together.
Stretching a canvas properly is a craft. The tension has to be even on every side, the corners need to be tucked cleanly, and the stretcher bars have to be sized exactly right for the painting. Done well, the canvas hangs flat for decades. Done poorly, it warps within a year.
We've been hand-stretching canvases in West Roxbury for over 40 years — for working artists, galleries, designers, and customers who picked up a painting they love and need it finished. We build custom stretcher bars to size, stretch by hand for proper tension, and offer gallery wraps, floater frames, or traditional framing depending on the look you want.
What We Frame
How It Works
From walk-in to finished piece — a careful, hands-on process built over four decades.
Bring the canvas in
Bring the rolled or unstretched canvas in. We'll measure, look at the surface, and discuss the right stretcher bar depth (standard 3/4", gallery wrap 1.5", or extra-deep) based on the look you want and where the piece will hang.
Custom stretcher bars built to size
We build stretcher bars to your canvas's exact dimensions — kiln-dried wood with proper keys at the corners so the canvas stays tight over time. No off-the-shelf compromises.
Hand-stretching
Each canvas is stretched by hand for even tension on all four sides. The corners are folded cleanly. For valuable or vintage pieces we use archival, reversible methods so the painting can be re-stretched in the future without damage.
Gallery wrap, floater frame, or traditional
Decide how you want it finished — gallery wrap (no frame, edges painted or wrapped), floater frame (modern look with a small gap between canvas and frame), or a traditional moulded frame with optional liner. We'll show you options for the painting.
Pickup
Standard turnaround is 5–7 business days. Larger or oversize pieces may take longer. Rush jobs available.
Why It Matters
Hand-stretched (not pneumatic) for proper, even tension
Custom kiln-dried stretcher bars built to exact size
Multiple bar depths — standard, gallery-wrap, oversize
Re-stretching service for sagging, warped, or aging canvases
Gallery wrap, floater frame, or traditional frame options
Archival, reversible methods for valuable or vintage canvases
Oversize canvas capacity (the shop has the space and gear)
Wholesale rates for working artists, galleries, and designers
Why Boston Trusts Us
Boston has a serious working-artist community, a strong plein-air tradition, and dozens of galleries from the SoWa district to the South End to the North Shore. We've built relationships with artists, galleries, and designers across Greater Boston for over 40 years. Plenty of customers also bring us paintings they bought on vacation — Cape Cod, Provincetown, Newport, Italy, the Caribbean — that need to be stretched and finished once they're home.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to stretch a canvas?+
Every canvas is custom — pricing depends on size, stretcher bar depth, and whether you want a gallery wrap, floater frame, or traditional frame. Bring the canvas in and we'll measure and quote it together. Quotes are always free.
What's the difference between a gallery wrap and a floater frame?+
A gallery wrap has the canvas wrapped around the sides of the stretcher bars with no frame — a clean, modern look. A floater frame surrounds the canvas with a small visible gap between the canvas edge and the frame, so the canvas appears to 'float' inside it. Both work well for contemporary paintings; gallery wraps cost less, floater frames look more finished.
Can you re-stretch a sagging or warped canvas?+
Yes. Older canvases often loosen up as the wood settles or the canvas relaxes. We can pull the canvas off the original bars, build new stretcher bars if needed, and re-stretch it properly. For valuable or vintage pieces we use reversible methods that don't damage the painting.
How big can you go?+
We've stretched canvases up to gallery-wall scale and beyond. The shop has the space and equipment for oversize work. Bring it in or call ahead so we can plan the build.
Do you offer wholesale rates for artists or galleries?+
Yes. Working artists, galleries, and designers who use us regularly get wholesale pricing. Stop by or have your studio manager get in touch.
How long does it take?+
Standard turnaround is 5–7 business days. Oversize, vintage, or restoration-style work takes longer. Rush jobs available — call ahead.
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Learn MoreReady to Get Started?
Walk in anytime or book a consultation. Bring the piece — we'll design and price it with you in person. Pricing is always quoted in writing before any work begins.
1741 Centre Street, West Roxbury · Free parking · Walk-ins always welcome