Armchair reupholstery

Whether it is a mid-century classic, a Victorian heirloom, or a comfortable wingback that has lost its bounce, professional reupholstery restores both comfort and aesthetic appeal. This process allows you to customise your interior decor while keeping quality craftsmanship out of the landfill.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Initial Assessment: A thorough inspection of the frame, joints, and spring systems to identify any structural weaknesses or woodworm.
• Stripping Back: Removing all old fabric, staples, tacks, and degraded foam or horsehair stuffing to reveal the bare "bones" of the chair.
• Structural Repairs: Tightening loose joints, replacing broken springs, and installing fresh webbing to provide a firm foundation.
• Padding and Filling: Applying new high-density foam, polyester wadding (dacron), or traditional fillings like coir and wool, ensuring they meet UK fire safety standards.
• Fabric Cutting and Tailoring: Precision cutting of your chosen fabric, including careful pattern matching for stripes, florals, or tartans.
• Final Upholstery: Stretching and securing the fabric, adding decorative trims, piping, or deep-buttoning, and finishing with a professional bottom cloth.

Typical Costs

The cost of reupholstering an armchair varies significantly based on the chair's size, the complexity of the design, and the price per metre of your chosen fabric.

Labour rates are higher for intricate work like deep-buttoning (Chesterfield style) or working with difficult materials like velvet and genuine leather. Always clarify if the quote includes the "sundries" (internal materials) or just the labour.

How Long Does It Take?

• Simple "Recover" (Fabric only): 1–2 days of workshop time once the fabric has arrived.
• Full Strip-back and Restoration: 3–5 days depending on the state of the internal springs and frame.
• Fabric Lead Times: 1–3 weeks depending on the supplier's stock levels in the UK.
• Total Project Turnaround: Typically 3–6 weeks from the initial consultation to final delivery.

DIY or Professional?

While a simple seat pad can be a DIY project, a full armchair reupholstery requires specialised tools such as pneumatic staple guns, webbing stretchers, and industrial sewing machines. Professionals possess the "tensioning" skills required to ensure fabric doesn't sag or pucker over time.

Crucially, professional upholsterers ensure all materials used comply with strict UK Fire Safety Regulations, which is vital for your home insurance and personal safety.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Qualifications: Look for members of the AMUSF (Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers).
• Review Portfolios: Ask to see "before and after" photos of chairs similar in style to yours.
• Fabric Samples: A good upholsterer should provide fabric books or recommend reputable showrooms.
• Questions to Ask:
  • Do you strip the chair back to the frame, or just go over the old fabric? (Always opt for a full strip).
  • Will you provide a fire safety certificate or permanent labels?
  • Is the cost of new foam and fillings included in the estimate?
  • Do you offer a guarantee on the stitching and internal repairs?

UK Regulations

• Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988: All domestic upholstered furniture must meet specific ignition resistance levels.
• Fire-Retardant (FR) Treatment: Fabrics must either be inherently FR-rated, treated with a back-coating, or used with a schedule 3 interliner.
• Labelling: Professional work should include a permanent fire safety label, usually found under the seat cushion.

Common Problems

• Hidden Frame Damage: Once the old fabric is removed, you may find cracked wood or woodworm that wasn't visible during the initial quote.
• Fabric Grain Misalignment: Inexperienced upholsterers may fail to align patterns or grains correctly, making the chair look "crooked."
• Inferior Foam: Using low-density foam might look good initially but will lose its shape and support within 12 months.
• Poor Tensioning: If the fabric is not stretched correctly, it will develop ripples and premature wear points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to reupholster or buy new?

Reupholstering a high-quality chair is often similar in price to buying a mid-range new one. However, the result is usually superior in quality to modern mass-produced items and is tailored exactly to your style.

How much fabric do I need for a standard armchair?

A standard armchair typically requires between 5 and 7 metres of fabric. If your fabric has a large pattern repeat, you may need an extra 1–2 metres to ensure the patterns align perfectly across the cushions and back.

Can I provide my own fabric?

Most upholsterers allow "COM" (Customer’s Own Material), but they may charge a small handling fee. You must ensure the fabric is suitable for upholstery and meets UK fire regulations.

What is the difference between recovering and reupholstering?

Recovering simply places new fabric over the old. Reupholstering involves stripping the chair to the frame, replacing worn internals, and building the comfort back up from scratch.

Can you reupholster a leather chair with fabric?

Yes, but it requires a full strip-back. Leather and fabric behave differently, so the internal padding may need adjusting to ensure the fabric sits correctly without slipping.