Backing board options

 Art-Bak® - Standard, the modern alternative to MDF!

Strong, smooth and rigid . . . Art-Bak® benefits from a unique curve in the board, which will keep your artwork flatter in the frame. Carbon neutral manufacture and made from 100% recyclable material. Buffering with Calcium Carbonate guarantees they remain pH Neutral for at least 300 years!

This is a versatile board with a traditional appearance. Now triple walled for extra rigidity. 2.9mm thick. 

 Hardboard and MDF once dominated the market as rigid frame backing boards, but their high acidity requires a protective barrier card to prevent artwork damage from off-gassing. They are also prone to warping from moisture. Consequently, modern framing has shifted toward fluted cardboard options, which present fewer health risks during handling and offer far better long-term protection for art.

 Grey board center with brown Kraft paper on both sides.  An excellent alternative to MDF with no formaldehyde and very little dust. Makes for a very stable backing board that is easy to work  with. Solid, rigid and strong. This is a poplar choice paired with an acid free barrier card.

To combat moisture-prone environments like kitchens and bathrooms there are pecialized water-resistant variants of fluted boards. Brands like Art-Bak® Aqua and Corri-Cor® Mark 3 feature a unique moisture-resistant waxed coating on the reverse exterior side. This protective layer helps reduce humidity from penetrating the back of the frame, preventing the board from warping or transferring dampness directly to the artwork. 

 Premium products like Corri-Cor® WR Conservation combine this external, shiny water-resistant barrier with a fully archival, acid-free alpha-cellulose face inside, ensuring that protection from the elements does not compromise chemical safety. For extreme dampness, we frequently step up to 100% moisture-proof Correx fluted polypropylene sheets, paired with an aluminium-backed sealing tape to form a defensive barrier. 

  For museum-quality conservation and archival framing, traditional engineered woods like MDF and hardboard are completely rejected in favour of chemically stable materials. True archival backing requires 100% acid-free, lignin-free fluted boards, with premium specialist products like Corri-Cor® and Art-Bak® leading the industry. The conservation-grade variants of these brands—such as Corri-Cor Mark 4 and Art-Bak Conservation—feature alpha-cellulose or calcium-carbonate-buffered linings to ensure a neutral pH value over hundreds of years. Furthermore, their lightweight, micro-fluted structures are manufactured with a intentional, gentle bow to apply constant, even pressure, keeping the artwork perfectly flat without the warping or toxic off-gassing risks of older materials.