WHY RECOVER
If you like your old furniture why not recover it.
There are several factors to keep in mind when considering
recovering your furniture.
recovering your furniture.
The main ones to consider are: recover v new, the frame
quality, the advantage of fabric choice, whether to recover or re-upholster.
quality, the advantage of fabric choice, whether to recover or re-upholster.
Recover v new
It is often cheaper to recover an existing piece than to buy
a new one of comparable quality. A quality piece of furniture would be
more expensive to replace than to recover, therefore if buying new or custom
made furniture you should buy the best quality that is affordable because your
purchase is amortised across many years and will have good enough “bones” to
have it recovered from time to time. Inexpensive furniture can break, pop
springs (although cheap furniture wouldn’t have those), and look worn and out of
shape within a couple of years due not only to poor quality frames but also
because the foam padding and fabric generally won’t stand up to frequent
use.
a new one of comparable quality. A quality piece of furniture would be
more expensive to replace than to recover, therefore if buying new or custom
made furniture you should buy the best quality that is affordable because your
purchase is amortised across many years and will have good enough “bones” to
have it recovered from time to time. Inexpensive furniture can break, pop
springs (although cheap furniture wouldn’t have those), and look worn and out of
shape within a couple of years due not only to poor quality frames but also
because the foam padding and fabric generally won’t stand up to frequent
use.
A lot of retailers will guarantee the frames for 10 years, which sounds great but should there be a problem it will often be claimed to be due to the furniture not being treated right and the other 2 main components that make up your furniture, the padding and fabric are not guaranteed for very long at all.
High quality foams such as Dunlop Enduro are guaranteed for life or 10 years for domestic use. Retailers of cheap furniture will not use this foam.
Workmanship, foam and fabric is generally guaranteed for a year when buying a new lounge suite. When you have your furniture recovered by Cover It Upholstery Sydney we guarantee workmanship for 10 years, and only use Dunlop Enduro foam for all extra padding or for when we replace seat, back or arm cushions. Fabric companies will give a maximum of 3 years warantee for domestic use which is standard but good quality fabrics can easily last 15 to 20 years. Cover It Upholstery Sydney can recommend and advise you on the right fabrics to suit the kind of wear your furniture can expect to get over it’s lifetime.
Repeatedly buying cheap new furniture might seem like a good idea in the short term but in the long term will actually cost you more.
With our planet’s resources already stretched due to our throw-away society it will not only save you money, but may also help save our planet!
Quality frame construction
Good frames are made from hardwood or a quality plywood at
least 25mm thick, or a combination of both. They should be joined with double
dowels and support blocks and screws. A quick way to test the quality of the
frame in your furniture is to lift it, if made from hardwood it will be heavy,
and if the furniture is 10 or more years old and has very minimal or no
movement it is also an indication of a well constructed frame.
least 25mm thick, or a combination of both. They should be joined with double
dowels and support blocks and screws. A quick way to test the quality of the
frame in your furniture is to lift it, if made from hardwood it will be heavy,
and if the furniture is 10 or more years old and has very minimal or no
movement it is also an indication of a well constructed frame.
Frames made with metal braces, and those where staples are
used without dowels are generally not the best. The wood used in such frames is
usually of a lesser quality and doesn’t wear well.
used without dowels are generally not the best. The wood used in such frames is
usually of a lesser quality and doesn’t wear well.
If however you have such a piece and are fond of it because
it has a style you like and couldn’t find again, or it fits a particular space
etc, it can be repaired and strengthened so that it will last as long as any other hardwood frame.
it has a style you like and couldn’t find again, or it fits a particular space
etc, it can be repaired and strengthened so that it will last as long as any other hardwood frame.
The advantage of fabric choice
The choices of fabrics available are practically endless and
you will be able to find exactly the right fabric to suit your decor and your
budget.
you will be able to find exactly the right fabric to suit your decor and your
budget.
When selecting fabric it is important to take into
consideration the amount of wear it will need to withstand. There are natural
and synthetic fabrics, and off course leather.
consideration the amount of wear it will need to withstand. There are natural
and synthetic fabrics, and off course leather.
As a general rule synthetic fabrics are more durable,
colourfast and soil resistant than natural fabrics but once stained also harder
to clean. Natural fabrics absorb stains easier but are also easier to clean
than synthetics. Natural fabrics take to dyes differently and can be richer,
more subtle. Therefore a combination of synthetic and natural gives you the
best of both. Fabrics can be treated with soil-resistant finishes but the
finish doesn’t last forever so the fabric should be cleaned from time to time
and the treatment re-applied.
colourfast and soil resistant than natural fabrics but once stained also harder
to clean. Natural fabrics absorb stains easier but are also easier to clean
than synthetics. Natural fabrics take to dyes differently and can be richer,
more subtle. Therefore a combination of synthetic and natural gives you the
best of both. Fabrics can be treated with soil-resistant finishes but the
finish doesn’t last forever so the fabric should be cleaned from time to time
and the treatment re-applied.
Recover or Re-Upholster
If your furniture is in good condition and the springs and
padding are still in good shape, a recover is all that would be required.
padding are still in good shape, a recover is all that would be required.
If you find the springs and/or padding is in bad shape it is
best to fully re-upholster the furniture, which means, repairing/replacing
springs and to re-pad with new quality padding, whether traditionally or with
modern materials such as foam.
best to fully re-upholster the furniture, which means, repairing/replacing
springs and to re-pad with new quality padding, whether traditionally or with
modern materials such as foam.
It is best to use the top quality “High Resilience” foams
rather than the standard type if the furniture is to be in a frequent use
situation.
rather than the standard type if the furniture is to be in a frequent use
situation.
Below
is an extract from an article describing the benefits of having a traditional
Club lounge recovered.
is an extract from an article describing the benefits of having a traditional
Club lounge recovered.
… she has a good eye for a bargain; so she was very
excited when she found a fantastic 1930s-era Club lounge suite by the side of
the road in a recent council clean up. Although the suite had seen better days,
she thought it would be a crime for such a treasure to go to the tip. Instead,
she decided to have it restored by a professional upholsterer. It was recovered
with Gosh Australian leather in ‘Glenrowan Bark’, which has a soft, suede-like
finish.
excited when she found a fantastic 1930s-era Club lounge suite by the side of
the road in a recent council clean up. Although the suite had seen better days,
she thought it would be a crime for such a treasure to go to the tip. Instead,
she decided to have it restored by a professional upholsterer. It was recovered
with Gosh Australian leather in ‘Glenrowan Bark’, which has a soft, suede-like
finish.
She
found an upholsterer and accepted a quote, making sure it included all the work
to be done. One company may be cheaper than another, but this usually means
they’re not listing hidden extras such as casters or wooden detailing or other
materials, or doing the job right.
found an upholsterer and accepted a quote, making sure it included all the work
to be done. One company may be cheaper than another, but this usually means
they’re not listing hidden extras such as casters or wooden detailing or other
materials, or doing the job right.
You
can choose from a range of fabrics and vinyls, but the most luxurious covering
has to be leather!
can choose from a range of fabrics and vinyls, but the most luxurious covering
has to be leather!
The
three-piece suite cost $5800 to restore. This sounds expensive, but buying a
new quality modern lounge suite can cost in excess of $8000, and you’d never be
able to buy a classic 1930s Club lounge for that price. The reconditioned
lounge suite was independently valued at $12000.
three-piece suite cost $5800 to restore. This sounds expensive, but buying a
new quality modern lounge suite can cost in excess of $8000, and you’d never be
able to buy a classic 1930s Club lounge for that price. The reconditioned
lounge suite was independently valued at $12000.
Original
cost: free
cost: free
Cost
to restore: $5800
to restore: $5800
Valued
at: $12000
at: $12000
Profit:
$6200
$6200