How to Repair a Vinyl Lawn Chair

A vinyl lawn chair is a fixture at any pool or patio deck because of its portability, durability and affordability. The vinyl straps that allow for comfortable and flexible positioning of the body, but the chairs can become damaged due to sun and water. They can be repaired by simply replacing the straps.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Cloth measuring tape
• Vinyl straps
• 3/16 drill bit
• Pot for boiling
• Thongs
• Gloves
• Plastic rivets
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Remove old straps and rivets from the lawn chair by cutting the straps in the middle and pulling them from their holes in the frame.

2. Measure the width of the chair with a cloth tape. Wrap the cloth tape around each support frame and then across the width of the chair, mimicking the way the vinyl strappings would wrap around the frame.

3. Cut new vinyl straps. Use the measurement acquired from the frame and multiply it by .85 and add an inch to that measurement. The last measurement will be used to cut new vinyl straps. The measurement is reduced because the straps are designed to expand when heated.

4. Drill holes a 1/2-inch from each end of the straps with a 3/16-inch drill bit. Then cut one corner of each ends of the straps so that it will not protrude when inserting them into the frame. Cut the corner as a 45° angle.

5. Boil a pot of water, and leave the new vinyl straps in the pot for five minutes. This will allow the vinyl straps to stretch. Remove the straps with thongs.

6. Insert the straps in the the frame of the chair before they completely cool down or else they will cease to stretch. Use gloves if the straps are too hot to handle. Attach each end with a plastic rivet into the holes of the frame. Use a hammer to insert the rivets in place.

References

• Chair Care Patio: How To Install Single Wrap Vinyl Strap