How to Frame Your Motawi Tile

Congratulations on your purchase of a handcrafted Motawi tile and Dard Hunter Studios frame. Properly assembled, they combine to create an heirloom-quality art piece that will last generations, and provide years of beauty in your home. 

Framing your tile is a simple process that should only take a few minutes if you follow this handy guide.

We offer two basic frame styles: Oak Park (flat, two inches wide on face), and Legacy (beveled, three inches wide on face). These instructions cover both types of frame, and we've noted where specific steps need to be taken to accommodate your frame type.

Step 1 | Gather Your Materials

In addition to your frame and tile, you'll need the following items:

  • Stable, padded work surface (a dining room table and a sheet of bubble wrap work great)
  • Phillips #2 screwdriver
  • Small hammer or rubber mallet
  • Corrugated cardboard shims (provided)
  • Metal tile clips (provided)
  • Phillips round-head screws (provided)
  • Glue dots (provided)

All our frames come with a framing hardware kit that includes cardboard shims, metal tile clips and screws (one for each pre-drilled hole in the frame), and glue dots. If any of these items are missing, please contact us and we will replace them for you free of charge.

Framing Tools and Materials

Step 2 | Protect and Orient the Frame

To avoid scratching the frame, lay it face-down on a padded surface (a towel or a piece of bubble wrap work great). Orient the frame so the hanging slot is at the top. Note that all of our non-square frames have two slots, one for vertical hanging, once for horizontal. Choose the slot that matches your tile.

Orient Your Frame

Step 3 | Place Your Tile

Place your tile facedown in the frame so that it has even space around it, with the notch on the back of the tile oriented the same way as the slot on the frame.

Place Your Tile

Step 4 | Center The Tile With Shims

Place the provided corrugated cardboard shims equally around the tile so that it is centered. You may need to slightly compress the shims to get the tile to center. You're looking for a nice, snug fit.

ProTip: If you place the bottom shim last you can use the notch on the tile to slightly pull the tile up toward the top of the frame to make the shim easier to place.

Place Shims

Step 5 | Apply Glue Dots to Metal Tile Clips

For each metal tile clip, place a provided glue dot on the part of the clip that touches the tile. Oak Park frames and Legacy frames differ on which side of the bracket should receive the glue dot. Follow the illustration below for your specific frame type.

Place Glue Dots

Step 6 | Locate The Pre-Drilled Screw Holes

Find the pre-drilled holes in the frame and orient your metal clip and screw as shown for the frame type you have. Remember that the glue dot should touch the tile back when you are finished.

Locate Screw Holes

Step 7 | Tighten the Screws

Using your Phillips screwdriver, carefully tighten the screws until they are snug, being careful not to over-tighten, as doing so might strip the hole.

Tighten Screws

Step 8 | Tap Down the Metal Clip

Using a small hammer or mallet, gently tap down the edge of the metal clip where it angles up over the tile. We recommend placing a small wedge of cardboard between the clip and the mallet to provide a bit of cushion. Be gentle and go slowly to avoid cracking your tile.

Typically this will be necessary only on Oak Park frames, but occasionally Legacy frames need this attention as well.

Tap Down Clips

Step 9 | Enjoy Your Framed Tile!

Congratulations! Your tile is ready to hang on the wall or display on one of our Roebuck easels. If you have any difficulty framing your tile, please feel to contact us directly. We're happy to help!

Finished Framed Tile