How to Mount a Canvas to a Floater Frame
This is the direct method: screws from the back of the floater into the canvas stretcher bars. It gives a very secure hold and it is more permanent than clips, so it suits a canvas that is staying in that frame. If you would rather be able to take it apart, use offset clips instead.
What you need
- A drill or screwdriver and screws long enough to bite into the stretcher bar without breaking through it.
- Cardboard shims, or something similar, to hold the gap even while you work.
- A tape measure for the depth check.
- Hanging hardware, which is not included with the frame.
Steps
- Check the depth. The canvas must not sit proud of the frame face. A 1-5/8" floater is built for a 1-1/2" canvas, so do not try to put a 2" canvas in it. A deeper floater can take a thinner canvas.
- Lay the frame face down on a clean, padded surface and set the canvas face down into the rabbet.
- Slide shims into the gap on all four sides so the reveal is even the whole way around. This is the spacing you will see once it is on the wall, so get it right before anything is fastened.
- Working from the back, drive a screw through the back of the frame into the stretcher bar on each side. Keep the screws in the middle of the bar.
- Add a screw or two more along the long sides of a large canvas so nothing can flex.
- Pull the shims and turn the frame over. The canvas should sit flush with the frame face or slightly below it, with the same gap all around.
- Add D-rings and wire and hang it.
Shop this
- Floater frames
- Offset Clip 1/4", Offset Clip 3/8" and Offset Clip 1/2" if you want the reversible method. Each floater product page lists the clip size we suggest.
- All hardware
Related
- How to Mount a Canvas with Offset Clips
- The Difference Between a Floater and a Traditional Frame
- How to Assemble a Ready to Assemble Floater Frame
- All framing tutorials
Need help? Contact us and we will talk it through with you.
Frequently asked questions
Screws or offset clips?
Screws through the stretcher bars are the most secure and the most permanent. Offset clips hold well too and let you take the canvas back out later.
Will the screws damage my canvas?
They go into the wooden stretcher bar, not the canvas itself. It does leave holes in the bars, which is why it is the more permanent of the two methods.
Can I use a floater that is deeper than my canvas?
Yes. A deeper floater can take a thinner canvas. If the canvas ends up sitting well below the frame face, ask us before you mount it and we will tell you how to bring it forward.
How much gap should there be around the canvas?
That is the float spacing you chose when you ordered. We generally suggest at least 1/8" on each side so the canvas fits comfortably, and 1/4" is our most popular option.