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Custom Framing & Frame Shops in St. George, Utah

Custom framing in St. George — and why ultraviolet-filtering glazing matters far more here than in most places.

Sun fades art quickly here

This is the local fact that should drive every framing decision. Ultraviolet exposure fades pigments, inks, dyes and paper, and this region delivers a great deal of it — through windows as well as outdoors. Photographs, prints, watercolours and textiles all degrade faster in a St. George house than in a cloudier climate, and the damage is cumulative and irreversible.

Which makes glazing choice the most consequential decision in a framing job here.

Ordinary glass offers minimal ultraviolet protection. Conservation or UV-filtering glazing blocks the large majority of it. Museum glass adds anti-reflective properties on top. The price difference is real, but so is the difference in what your piece looks like in fifteen years, and for anything valuable or irreplaceable it is the part of the quote worth paying for.

Acrylic glazing is worth asking about for large pieces, being lighter and shatter-resistant, and it is also available in UV-filtering grades.

Acid-free matters, and is not automatic

Acidic mats and backing boards yellow over time and cause permanent brown staining and embrittlement in the artwork touching them — a slow failure that shows up years later. Ask specifically for acid-free, archival materials for anything you care about, and ask how the piece is mounted: reversible hinging with archival materials is the conservation standard, while dry mounting is permanent and can destroy the value of an original work.

Local subject matter

Framing here does a substantial trade in landscape photography and art of this region, alongside work bought by visitors. If you are having something framed to travel, ask about acrylic rather than glass and about packing.

Practical points

  • Say if a piece is valuable or irreplaceable. It changes the recommendations.
  • Ask what is reversible. Good conservation framing can be undone without damaging the work.
  • Consider placement — even with UV glazing, a piece in direct afternoon sun will fade eventually.
  • Ask about turnaround, which is usually a few weeks.

Custom Framing & Frame Shops in St. George

  • Aaron Brothers Custom Framing

    Custom framing studio inside the Michaels store on River Road in St. George. Full-service custom picture framing with a wide selection of frame and mat styles.

    313 S River Rd, St. George, UT

    435-688-7005

  • ARTe Art Gallery & Framing

    Art gallery and custom framing shop on Dixie Drive in St. George, open since 2009. Offers custom picture framing along with original art and prints.

    415 S Dixie Dr, St. George, UT

    435-862-0303

  • Frugal Framer

    Longtime St. George custom framer on River Road with over two decades of experience. Offers custom and conservation framing, shadow boxes, creative matting, canvas stretching, mirrors and art restoration.

    778 S River Rd, St. George, UT

    435-634-9655

  • I've Been Framed

    St. George custom picture framing and art supply shop on Sunset Boulevard, offering custom frames, matting and framing services.

    946 W Sunset Blvd, St. George, UT

    435-673-4452

  • Sunset Framer & Art Gallery

    St. George custom picture framer since 1995, in the Phoenix Shopping Center on Sunset Boulevard. Offers custom framing, canvas stretching, shadow boxes, framed mirrors, stitchery blocking and corporate art consulting, alongside an art gallery.

    929 W Sunset Blvd, St. George, UT

    435-673-1710

Frequently asked questions

Is UV-filtering glass worth the extra cost?

In this region, for anything you care about, yes. Ultraviolet exposure fades pigments, inks and paper, and the sun here is intense enough that the difference is visible within years rather than decades — including through windows. Ordinary glass provides minimal protection, while conservation glazing blocks the large majority of ultraviolet. The damage is cumulative and cannot be reversed, which is what makes it worth paying for on original or irreplaceable work.

What does acid-free actually mean?

That the mats and backing boards will not chemically damage the artwork over time. Acidic materials yellow, and they cause permanent brown staining and embrittlement in whatever they touch — a slow failure that appears years after framing and cannot be undone. Ask specifically for acid-free archival materials for anything of value, and ask how the piece will be mounted: reversible hinging is the conservation standard, whereas dry mounting is permanent and can ruin an original's value.

Where should I hang a framed piece in this climate?

Out of direct sunlight wherever possible, even with UV-filtering glazing — conservation glass slows fading substantially but does not stop it entirely, and a piece hanging in direct afternoon sun will eventually show it. West-facing walls take the harshest exposure. Combining conservation glazing with sensible placement and, where relevant, low-emissivity window glass or window coverings is what actually preserves artwork long-term in a house here.

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