Professional Canvas Stretching Services | Custom Gallery Wraps NY
The Abbot Art Mechanical Standard
- Keyable Bars Only: We never use fixed "strainers." Our bars can be re-tensioned.
- Kiln-Dried Pine: Finger-jointed wood prevents warping and twisting.
- Hospital Corners: Precision folding. No bulky bulges on the edge.
- Oversized Expertise: Cross-bracing systems for canvases up to 12 feet.
- Archival Varnish: UV coating services available post-stretch.
- Volume Pricing: Scalable production for artists and hotels.
The Physics of a Perfect Stretch
Canvas is a living material. It expands with humidity and contracts with heat. If you stretch canvas over a static frame (known as a "strainer"), it will inevitably sag, ripple, or warp over time.
At Abbot Art, we don't just staple fabric to wood. We engineer a suspension system. We use Keyable Stretcher Bars—frames with mechanical joints in the corners. If your canvas ever loosens due to environmental changes, a simple tap on the corner "keys" (wedges) expands the frame, returning the surface to a perfect, drum-tight tension instantly.
Choose Your Profile Depth
The "Depth" (or return) of the bar dictates how the art sits on the wall. We offer three distinct archival standards.
0.75" Standard Stretch
The Classic Profile.
Designed to be placed inside a traditional picture frame. The staples are on the side, meaning this profile is not meant to be hung frameless.
1.5" Gallery Wrap
The Modern Standard.
The image wraps around the sides of the bar. Staples are hidden on the back. Ready to hang frameless for a clean, contemporary look.
2.0"+ Museum Wrap
The Statement Profile.
Extra-deep bars for large-format pieces or heavy-texture oils. Provides maximum structural rigidity and a bold, sculptural presence on the wall.
Why "Cheap" Stretching Costs More
| Budget/DIY Stretcher | Abbot Art Professional Bar |
|---|---|
| Solid Wood (Prone to warping/twisting) | Finger-Jointed Pine (Engineered straightness) |
| Fixed Corners (Cannot adjust) | Keyable Corners (Adjustable tension) |
| Flat Edge (Leaves "ghost lines" on canvas) | Beaded/Raised Edge (Canvas floats above bar) |
Oversized & Large Format Experts
Stretching a 10-foot canvas requires more than just wood; it requires structural engineering. We build custom Cross-Bracing Systems for every large canvas to prevent the frame from bowing inward ("hourglassing") under the immense tension of the fabric.
Need it shipped? We can build custom crates for stretched art, or provide "Rolled with Bars" shipping where we send the rolled canvas and the custom bars for assembly at the destination.