About Furniture Re-Upholsterers

Before you throw that old chair or sofa out, consider taking it to a furniture re-upholster. These professional craftsmen are skilled in breathing new life into an old or out-of-date piece of furniture. In fact, whatever your looking to get re-upholstered, there's a shop that can fulfill your needs.

Function

The function of a re-upholster shop is to replace a piece of furniture's old fabric with new. After you've made the choice of what material you'd like, their job is to cover your furniture with it. They will also guide you, making sure your choose the appropriate fabric for your living situation, while taking your desires into consideration. The end result should be a re-upholstered piece of furniture looking better than ever.

Types

There are several type of re-upholsters, with some specializing in certain aspects of the craft. There are also businesses that can do it all. The basic types of re-upholsterers are antique re-upholsterers, marine re-upholsterers, commercial re-upholsterers and general re-upholsterers. Antique re-upholsterers specialize in recovering antique furniture. Their expertise in dealing with old furniture would make them a prime choice if you have an antique in need of repair. Marine re-upholsterers specialize in recovering seats, covers and anything else needing fabric replaced on your boat. Commercial re-upholsterers specialize in recovering office furniture for businesses large and small. General re-upholsterers specialize in recovering modern furniture and wall panels.

Considerations

The main thing you need to take into consideration is the price for re-upholstering. Re-upholstering can be expensive and it's best to get several price quotes from various businesses so you can get the best deal. Go with a reputable company that has the experience to do the job. Since recovering a couch can cost anywhere from $500 into the thousands, decide if a new replacement would be cheaper. Of course, if you have an antique, re-upholstering will only add to the value. Once again, you need to make sure the re-upholsterer is experienced and knowledgeable in handling the furniture project you are offering them.

Time Frame

Re-upholstering is not something that can be done overnight. Most skilled craftsmen want to do a good job, so it may take some time to get your furniture project completed. Depending of the difficulty of the project, you should be prepared to be without your piece of furniture for several weeks up to a month. Before you sign the contract, get an estimated from the contractor specifying how long they expect the job to take.

Benefits

The benefits of re-upholstering furniture are many. A skilled professional should be able to turn an old, outdated piece of furniture into a showpiece again. This will save you money in the long run because it means less new furniture you'll have to purchase. They will also be able to make an antique or sentimental piece look new and modern. Furniture with a new cover will add life to the room it's been living in.