Should I Re-Upholster?
Thank you for visiting our website. Hopefully I will be able to help you by either educating you on the art of Re-upholstering and/or assisting you with the selection and upholstering of your items.
The most asked question I get is: "Is it cheaper to re-upholster something or just buy something new?". Answer: It depends.
When I go out to a client's house, to look at their furniture, I use three methods of evaluating their items. I ask them the following questions:
- Is the piece an antique, or family heirloom?
- Is it of good quality? - Is it a hardwood frame?
- Is the piece of a unique style or design?
Antiques and Family Heirlooms
This category is usually fairly easy to evaluate. Most antiques (if you like antiques) are worth re-upholstering. Family heirlooms also carry the added sentimental value that buying another piece can't provide.
Quality
Not all furniture is built to last or built with quality materials. The biggest difference is the type of wood used. Good quality pieces are made of solid wood, such as oak, mahogany or cedar. Less expensive furniture is made of pine and pine plywood.
Unique style or design
This category is like the Antiques and Family Heirlooms. If you have a custom built one-of-a-kind, or something that is very unique then you can't replace it with a new one just like it.
So, with these questions asked, I then evaluate the piece.
- Is it structurally sound?
- Quality of frame: solid wood vs. plywood or pine
- Arms securely attached?
- The Accordian Effect: This is where the fabric over the arm, sides, and back can be pushed without resistance. This means that there isn't any webbing or chipboard across the opening before the material was put on. This can lead to saggy material and often results in damage from knees.
- Broken springs and legs that may need to be replaced.
After evaluating the furniture, I give my clients a approx cost of my labor to re-upholster the piece. This will include removing all of the old materials down to the frame. I then fix any problems that I find (i.e. broken springs, retying springs, re-gluing joints).
Then I give an approx amount of fabric that is needed to redo the piece and any additional materials that may be needed (i.e. foam).
With all of this information and possible price ranges for different types of fabric comes the big question. Is it better to re-upholster it or go out and buy something new?
I always suggest (except in the case of the antiques and unique styles) that my clients then take sometime and look at furniture stores to see if they can find something in that price range that they like better.
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