How to Replace the Upholstery of Old Furniture
Upholstering something at home is an incredibly useful skill. Once you learn how to tug a chair, you can turn all kinds of thrift store trash into useful, beautiful furniture.
The tools you need
As a last resort, you can secure the fabric with a handheld stapler , but it’s much better suited for securing wires or doing home improvement projects. Some hand stapler guns require two hands to be used, which is difficult when working in confined furniture spaces, which can be tedious.
Upholstery work is best done with a motorized stapler that quickly stitches fabric and attaches to wood with little effort. Upholstery staple guns are available in electric or pneumatic (pneumatic) models.
Electric staplers
Electric staple guns are extremely handy. They are easy to transport (no need to carry the compressor) and set up (just plug it in). Without a compressor, there is no loud annoying noise.
But the electric stapler lacks the power and performance of the pneumatic stapler. The staples will go through the chipboard, but for hardwoods they often require more downward pressure to make good contact. Electric staplers can run into problems due to the staples only halfway into the tree, which requires you to either pull the staple out or hammer it in. These performance issues waste time and make upholstery work much more difficult.
The DuoFast and Maestri electric staplers (hard to find in the US) are probably the best in performance, but they’ll cost around $ 200.
Pneumatic staplers
Pneumatic staple guns are pneumatically driven and require a separate air compressor to operate. Staples are cheap, ranging from $ 23 for a simple Harbor Freight stapler to $ 80 for a quality Porter-Cable stapler . But an air compressor can cost you at least $ 100 more. The compressor can be used to work with other pneumatic tools such as impact wrench, nailer and spray guns.
If portability is not an issue, then a pneumatic stapler is for you. This is what the pros use and is arguably the best way to hammer staples in the shortest amount of time.
The video below shows a great comparison between an electric versus pneumatic stapler. Pay attention to the power and speed of the pneumatic stapler.
When shopping for an upholstery stapler, consider these three features.
- Extra Long Nose: This will help you work in tight spaces. Found only on pneumatic staplers.
- 22 Gauge Stapler: This is the standard staple size used for upholstery, but you can use 18 gauge. Smaller staples are easier to work with.
- Narrow Crown Staples: These staples are 1/4-inch wide, giving you much more flexibility when using them for upholstery.
How to find the right chair
There are many reasons why you might want to re-seat a chair, but the main one is sentimental value. If you have an old, worn item that has been in your family for years, it is probably worth replacing the upholstery. It is also worth saving on a piece of furniture suitable for a certain area.
You can start learning in this chair, or go to any thrift store, The Salvation Army or Goodwill and pick up a quality fabric-upholstered chair. The older the better. A chair 15-20 years old and older that is still standing is a great sign of quality.
Examine the chair by checking the legs and frame for cracks or cracks in the wood. You need a solid foundation to work with, and stool damage will take even longer to repair.
Look for coil springs in armchairs and sofas. Click on the seat, feel for the springs, and look under the seat to see the springs. A quality sofa should be heavy and not easy to lift, which is a sign of solid wood.
Time to refit
The best way to learn how to change upholstery is to demolish (disassemble) chairs and sofas. Once you understand how old furniture works, you will have a better understanding of how to repair, rearrange and cover it.
The most important decision in the constriction process is to choose a new fabric. Once you have made your selection, this table will show you how much fabric you will need. A typical sofa uses about 13 yards of fabric, and a typical chair uses about 7 yards. Upholstery fabrics cost between $ 20 and $ 70 per yard, or more, depending on quality. So keep in mind that re-upholstery on a typical sofa can cost anywhere from $ 260 to $ 910 or more, just because of the fabric. Visit your local Jo-Ann store or fabric store and pick up the fabric.
When you start restoring your furniture, work one section at a time. Line up the new fabric and secure with a stapler. Make sure there are no gaps, fold and fold the edges of each piece of fabric to make sure they are tight and smooth. Add extra batting and shock absorber as needed. Watch the video above to see how a professional works.
You can also learn how to pull upholstery by taking a group lesson. Students will work on different subjects and each learns on different types of furniture. There will also be tools provided to save you the initial investment, especially if you find you don’t like it. Visit your local community college or continuing education centers. You can also call local upholsterers in your area and ask for their suggestions.