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A Note From Marina Hey ~ Have you ever asked yourself if you should reupholster an old sofa or buy something new? If you’ve ever furnished a house
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Hey ~
Have you ever asked yourself if you should reupholster an old sofa or buy something new?
If you’ve ever furnished a house or an apartment, it’s highly likely you’ve asked yourself this question. While you are saving this furniture from potentially going to a landfill, know that reupholstering an old sofa could end up costing more than you would pay for a new one. You will need to make sure that it has a sturdy frame and good lines to be considered worth reupholstering. You will also need to consider how much new fabric you’ll need and how much the fabric will cost before making the decision. Then there is also the cost of labor, which varies from shop to shop because there is no industry standard.
This months newsletter is full of additional information that will help you decide if reupholstering is the way to go. If you are working with a designer they will be able to quickly tell you if it your sofa is worth recovering and if so, they can help with the fabric selection, understanding the costs and provide a recommendation to a great upholstery company. If you are not working with a designer but are interested in doing so, click here to learn about our complimentary referral service.
While there are certainly high-end exceptions, most experts agree that much of the furniture manufactured today isn’t well made and therefor is not worth the cost of reupholstering. However, reupholstering your sofa may be worth it ....keep reading to find out if yours is!
Just for YOU!
Marina
Marina Dagenais, The Design Matchmaker |
If it is a Family Heirloom:
If the sofa has been passed down from a previous generation and has special sentimental value, you may want to hold on to it. There are certain things which are irreplaceable, and you cannot put a monetary value on them. |
If it is a Valuable Antique:
When you have a sofa that dates back over a century, and you have invested good money in it, reupholstering it may make sense. Since this is not something that can be replaced by something brand new, you are actually restoring an antique by having it reupholstered. However, we would only suggest doing so if you absolutely love the sofa! |
 This sofa would not be worth recovering, |
If it has Good Bones:
It makes sense to reupholster if your sofa is very high quality, and the cost of reupholstering it would be less than buying a new sofa of comparable quality. This is not very often the case as typically it is more than just the fabric that needs to be replaced. |
If it Costs Less:
If it is a very good quality sofa, and the cost of reupholstering it comes out less than getting a sofa of comparable value, by all means go for it. You may want to get quotes from two or three different reupholsters for all fabric and parts, and then weigh it against what you would pay for a new sofa of the same quality. Remember, your designer can help with the selection and performance of fabrics as well as the recommendation of a quality upholsters company. |
Most people do not understand that there is a difference between re-covering and reupholstering. Re-covering involves just replacing the fabric, and it is more of a cosmetic procedure. The majority of the time you will need to do more than that to restore a sofa.
Reupholstering could involve replacing the padding and springs, mending the frame or re-staining any wood. As you can see a complete reupholstery job involves a lot of labor and replacement of material, and is more structural in nature. It’s going to be comparable to a new piece of furniture because you are essentially getting a new piece of furniture. It’s the same frame, but otherwise a new piece. Thus the saving are not as great as most think. |
Squeaking, wobbling, and dead spots where the springs don't spring (or you can feel springs through the padding) are all signs that a piece of furniture needs structural attention. Such things are frequently repairable.
Here are a few tests you can use to judge for yourself:
1. If you grip the sofa and shove its back from behind, does the frame resist firmly, or is it loose and does it shake back and forth?
2. If you lift the sofa by one of its feet leaving only the diagonal foot on the floor, does it stay together tightly or do different sections droop unevenly?
3. Does its feet touch the floor at the same time when you let it down slowly?
4. Does the sofa frame wobble?
5. Do you springs squeak? If so, your springs probably need tightening or replacing, which is something a good upholsterer would do for you anyhow.
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The short answer: the older is better. Anything that is at least 15 to 20 years old was typically built better – besides If it was going to fall apart, it would have by now!
Coil springs and solid wood are also indications of something well-made. To check for coil springs, remove the seat cushions and press your hand down on the seat. If it feels like coil springs, it’s probably a decent piece and worth considering reupholstering.
If you can pick up a sofa super easily, it’s probably not good quality wood. |
So many factors go into figuring out a price that it’s impossible for an upholsterer to provide an exact estimate without seeing a piece in person.
Some factors that determine price include: the size of the piece, its condition and the style. For example: How many seat cushions does it have? (More cushions cost more.) Is it a loose back or tight back? (A loose back will cost more.)
For a sofa, the starting price range for the upholsterly only runs between $700 to $1,200 (not including fabric); to have a dining chair seat re-covered, the starting range is $45 to $90, not including fabric.
How much fabric will I need?
The amount of fabric depends on the size and style of the furniture, whether the fabric chosen is a solid or a pattern (you’ll need more with a pattern), the number of cushions and pillows needed and any extras, such as adding a skirt.
Some upholsterers will let you e-mail a picture of your furniture and they will e-mail you back estimates for fabric yardage and the price of labor.
What are additional costs that might come up when having something reupholstered?
In addition to possible pickup and delivery charges: replacing cushions or pillows, repairing or rebuilding a frame, re-tying springs, and any extras, such as having a skirt made, replacing the legs, changing loose cushions to a tight back or adding tufting or nailheads. |
Great Service!
Highly Recommend It!
Marina helped me select a designer using the portfolios that she has. The designer that I selected has been terrific in helping me as much or as little as I want in each room. The designer has worked with the styles that my husband and I like steering us away from mistakes and towards things we like and that will work better. She is very aware of any budget constraints that we have and is very respectful of our time. I would highly recommend this service. |
Complimentary Consultation
Do you or a friend need some help transforming your house into the home you have been dreaming of. If so, we offer a no obligation in home consultation.
During your complimentary consultation I will ask a lot of questions to get to know you better and to make sure I understand your goals for your home. I will share a slide show of over 21 designer portfolios and recommend designers that meet your needs, style, personality and budget requirements.
I will then set up phone or in person interviews with the designers selected- all of this is provided at no cost or obligation to you!
Contact us to learn more or to arrange a meeting.
Click here to read an article about our complimentary service “Design Matchmaker the Ultimate Personalized Service” |
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it:
Marina, the "design matchmaker," launched Designer Premier to offer a no-cost, customized service to find pre-screened and accomplished professionals—designers, architects, builders, general contractors and landscapers. With these connections at her fingertips, Marina recommends a design professional with the right creative talent and approach who will listen, interpret your vision and respect your budget. With one phone call to Marina, you can relax, knowing your project will be handled in exactly the way you want.
If you are thinking of doing some work on your home and are considering using a designer contact Marina and sign up for her FREE subscription of her JUST FOR YOU e-Zine at
DesignerPremier.com |
For more than 10 years, Marina Dagenais has found the perfect professional for homeowners and their projects.
Saving client's time and headaches, she matches the design professional to them, taking pride in each designer's ability to create a comfortable and inclusive working relationship so vital to the success of the project.
Marina, the "design matchmaker," launched Designer Premier to offer a no-cost, customized service to find prescreened and accomplished professionals—designers, architects, builders, general contractors and landscapers. With these connections at her fingertips, Marina recommends a design professional with the right creative talent and approach who will listen, interpret your vision and respect your budget. With one phone call to Marina, you can relax, knowing your project will be handled in exactly the way you want.
With DesignerPremier.com creating the home of y our dreams is easier than you think. |
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