on June 04, 2026
A solid wood frame that's been well made will outlast most of the other objects in a room. The finish, however, will show wear over time — scratches, chips, fading in areas of direct sunlight, and gradual dulling of the surface. Most of this can be addressed at home with straightforward materials and a patient approach.
Assessing the Damage
Before doing anything, identify what you're dealing with. Surface scratches in a lacquered or painted finish are different from deep scratches into the wood itself. A chipped corner is different from a crack through the frame profile. Colour fading from UV exposure is different from dirty accumulation on the surface.
Each problem has a different approach. Attempting to restore a frame without correctly identifying the problem tends to make things worse.
Surface Scratches on Lacquered or Painted Wood
Fine surface scratches in a lacquered finish can often be minimised with a small amount of furniture paste wax, buffed in a circular motion. The wax fills the scratch optically without removing material from the surrounding finish.
For more significant scratches into the paint, a touch-up pen or paint in the matching finish, applied carefully and sanded lightly when dry, restores the surface. The match won't be perfect but will be significantly less visible than the bare scratch.
Chips and Corner Damage
Corner chips on wood frames are the most common damage — the corner is the most vulnerable point when a frame is moved or knocked. For solid wood frames, a wood filler in the appropriate colour, shaped to match the profile and sanded smooth when dry, can restore a chipped corner to a presentable condition.
For painted wood, apply filler, sand smooth, then touch up with matching paint. Multiple thin layers of paint produce a better result than one thick application.
Dull or Worn Surface on Oiled or Waxed Wood
ONE MAAY's solid wood frames use a quality finish designed to be maintained with periodic re-application. A solid wood frame that has dulled over time can usually be restored by cleaning the surface thoroughly with a dry cloth, then applying a thin layer of the appropriate finish oil or wax, working it into the grain, and buffing to a sheen with a clean cloth.
Allow the finish to cure fully — at least 24 hours — before hanging the frame or placing it in contact with other surfaces.
UV Fading
Fading caused by UV exposure typically affects painted finishes more than solid wood. If the colour has faded unevenly, the affected areas may need to be repainted fully to achieve a consistent finish. Spot-touching a faded area rarely produces a convincing match.
The best treatment for UV fading is prevention: keep frames out of direct sunlight.
When to Replace Rather Than Restore
A frame that's structurally compromised — a broken join, a cracked profile, a backing system that no longer holds — is usually better replaced than restored. Structural repairs to frame joins can be made with wood glue and clamps, but the repaired join is rarely as strong as the original.
ONE MAAY's solid wood frame collection offers a direct replacement for quality frames at every standard size.
