Insurance framing work

[Not your average framer]

Hi,
I've been contacted by a major company to see I am interested in undertaking regular cleaning, restoration and repair work for them. Their clients are major insurance companies, who engage them to clean, repair, re-decorate, etc., after accidents such as fires, floods, similar claim situations.

It sounds like a good opportunity and I am adequately trained, equiped and well stocked with the necessary materials and consumables, but I was wondering if anyone has any sage advice, experience or warnings I should be heeding before I get involved.
Thanks,
Mark

[Roboframer]

When I read the topic heading I thought it would be about adequate insurance for items received, and after reading it, that would be my advice!

I.e. if you are already equipped and experienced, just make sure you are covered!

[Not your average framer]

Thanks John,

Yes, I am very well insured indeed. I have a shop & salon policy with Norwich Union which is a very well suited and extremely comprehensive package, my goods held in trust cover is massive, from memory it's about £2M.

I also will very carefully cover myself with specific terms and conditions for the work and the customer has already agreed in principle that a deposit will be paid before I start work. Some matters I am currently thinking about is identifying materials requiring replacement such as the qualities of the originally fitted glass, mountboard and etc.

Having got a micrometer, I can easily measure the thickness of glass, which will give me a pretty good idea as coated glasses are expected to be thicker than normal. However, it won't be so easy to know for sure if the original mountboard was conservation quality or just a reasonable white-core board. Obviously, I need to talk issues like this through before getting in too deep.
Cheers,
Mark

[JFeig]

I have gone after this type of work for over 20 years. It can be profitable and it can also be a pain in the rear.

Be sure to charge enough to cover for the following:

storage (before and after the work is done)
estimates that do not result in work
pickup and delivery
slow pay
contamination issues for regular work (extra housekeeping in the shop)
extra equipment (work gloves, new covers for counters/tables, ionizers etc)

[Dermot]

Talk or email Jerome (Gerry) Feig is a regular on this board.

Gerry handles a lot of work like you describe, and is very knowlagable of how it works……….and you will be glad to know he is also very knowlagable of how things work in this part of the world………

I had the great pleasure of having Gerry visit and satay with me a few years ago and I went to his part of the world two years ago and we then went on to the framing show in Atlanta…

If Gerry can help you in any way he will be more than willing to inpart his knowlage…………….

Good luck with your new venture

http://estlite.scenes.biz/phpBB2/profil ... ofile&u=70

[Dermot]

Snap.................Gerry posted at the same as myself....

[Roboframer]

However, it won't be so easy to know for sure if the original mountboard was conservation quality or just a reasonable white-core board.

Of course it won't, and the chances are it won't be conservation quality, esp if framed a while ago.

Why not just make it simple and offer just one standard - artcare - alphamat or rag. Personally if I were to replace an old mount with a 'normal whitecore board' - I'd have to buy it in specially and it would be a downgrade from my bog- standard (default) board.

Regardless of what it is painted ON or stuck TO (you could probably unstick it though) you'll be adding something that not only will not add to problems but will help.

[Roboframer]

I had the great pleasure of having Gerry visit and satay with me a few years ago

He cooks too - WOW!

(SORRY!!)

[Dermot]

Ha ha

Spell check did not work.........but yes Gerry is a very good cook........

[Not your average framer]

Hi again,

Two of the ladies who manage the company asked if it would be o.k. to visit me today, apparently just to look around, but they arrived with three flood damaged pictures for me to quote for cleaning / repair.

As it turned out things are far less complicated than I had expected and I'm about to quote for the work involved and they have agreed to paying a reasonable deposit up front to if my quotes are accepted. So far, so good - I'm hoping this is as good as it sounds.
Cheers,
Mark

[JFeig]

One thing to remember about insurance work ......... be ethical with both sides of the loss. That is, do not charge for services not rendered and do not charge for work that will enrich the owner of the property.

As far as enrichment is concerned .... if the original glass was regular glass - only regular glass can be charged to the insurance company. If mounts were done with pulp board - conservation boards should not be charged.

That does not mean that you can't approach the claiment and be paid the differential charge for upgrading to conservation work by the owner of the art.

[Not your average framer]

Thank Gerry,

I've already told the company that I expect them to handle all contact with the insurance company concerned and the owner. As far as I am concerned, it's is impossible to be even handed if you have to be piggy in the middle.

I also feel that I must maintain a degree of isolation and independance as my professional opinion will be sought as to what damage is consistant with the circumstances of the claim and whether any damage is not consistant with these circumstances and therefore pre-existant to the event being claimed for. No doubt this will have implications which must be carefully addressed from the start.
Cheers,
Mark

[JFeig]

... what damage is consistant with the circumstances of the claim and whether any damage is not consistant with these circumstances and therefore pre-existant to the event being claimed for.

you caught the omission to my comments that I forgot to include. Pre-existing damage repairs should not be charged to the insurance companies --- unless there is no other way to perform your services. In the same manner, a midrange moulding should not be used to replace a budget moulding.

[Not your average framer]

Hi Gerry, (Ofcourse others may answer too!)

I already had a quick look inside the three frames on friday night before going home. Since then I have been thinking about the implications of what I've found and would appreciate your comments.

1. Often when undertaking repairs where the glass is particularly dirty and will possibly be difficult or time consuming to clean, I don't bother and just fit new glass, customers generally accept this. My reasons are:
a. If you spend a long time cleaning the glass it may be cheaper to just fit new glass. This obviously depends upon the size and therefore the cost of the piece of glass in question and your hourly rates.
b. You can't always see the condition of the glass while it is still dirty and may still need to replace it anyway, if you can't get it as clean as it should be, as some contamination appears to be almost impossible to remove.

2. One of these frames is an unfinished pine moulding which has by virture of it's age darkened to give the typical antique pine colour. Unfortunately it has been in a flood and during drying has split and some bits have lifted and curled away the the rest where the grain has permitted this. The exact moulding profile is no longer available, but I have identified one which is reasonably similar, but not exactly the same profile. I am rather unsure what would be the proceedure in this case, also I would feel inclined to stain the new moulding to match the old.

3. I normally fit new D-rings and restring any repairs as a matter of course. This is for my own satisfaction that these are upto the job and to be sure that things don't drop off the wall latter. Would this be considered correct practice for such work?
Thanks,
Mark

[JFeig]

when there is moulding that is no longer available (or other materials) the concept of "replacement equivelant" is the way to go. A moulding of an original value of $5.00 a ft is replaced with a moulding of $5.00 a ft - or as close as possible to that concept. There are times when the claiment will want a different look. If it is the same price - I see no problem with the subsitiution.

In the event that the value of the object exceeds replacement, a simple "cash out" comment on you quote is alll that is necessary. Since were are for the most part not certified appraisers - that is all we should do in estqblishing a value. An example of that is an old family photo in a bargin store frame.