When to reupholster
So, you found this cute little chair you think you would like to upholster. But how do I know if it’s a good enough piece for upholstering? Or, you just love the sofa you inherited from Grandma, should I reupholster it? How about that chair in your family room, it’s comfortable, in pretty good shame, and it fits perfectly in that corner, but I want a new look
This is an example of what not to upholster!
- The chair itself is very light weight
- The frame is built with plywood
- frame is stapled together
- joints are not glued
- gaps between the pieces of the frame
- bands of rubber webbing for support
- low density padding
Accessing the quality of the piece before you reupholster
- Is the piece heavy when you pick it up? A good piece of furniture is made with kiln dried hardwood, from trees such as oak, maple, cherry, or walnut. Kiln dried has 93% of the moisture removed, therefore it won’t warp or shrink as time goes by. The hardwood will hold a staple or screw, unlike a piece of plywood or particle board. A frame built with hardwood weighs considerably more than one built with plywood.
- A well-constructed frame has reinforced joints that are doweled and glued together. Along with screws instead of staples.
- quality furniture has 8 way tied springs. One way to know if the piece has springs or not is to rub your hand across the deck of the chair. Or push on the deck, it should spring back so that you feel some kind of springs. 8-way tied springs are considered the best quality, but vertical s-shaped coils have proven to provide comfortable seating and are fairly durable and good quality.
- When you choose to reupholster your piece, we will replace all the padding from the frame up.
- Your cushions may need replaced. We will recommend what you need to provide the perfect balance of support and comfort for the seat and the back.
For more about our upholstery services visit our upholstery page