|
We are often ask "Is it
worth restoring" or hear something like, "That's more than I paid
for it when it was new!" You can waste a lot of money restoring a
piece of junk. Or, just as bad, through out a high end quality
constructed item and replace it with a new "bargain" priced item.
The insights provided here will enable you to make an informed
intelligent decision based on the facts.
Ask yourself some
questions.
1. Do I like the style
and quality of my present furniture?
2. Am I comparing quality and value or just comparing prices?
3. Do I know what to look for to determine the quality, i.e. frame
and
spring construction, style, design, fabric content and wear
ability, etc.?
4. What is the cost deference between replacement and
reupholstering?
OK, now be honest with yourself. Are you only trying to save money
and don't really like your present furniture? If so you'll spend
your money and still won't be satisfied with the end product. It
might be best to replace the item with something you will enjoy.
If you made it past the first consideration you'll need some
criteria to make a true comparison. Generally, the older your
present furniture the better the quality. However, if you bought a
low end item 10-15 years ago and compare it to a top end item today
this rule will not be true. Make sure you are comparing apples
with apples, not apples with oranges.
The true quality of an upholstered item can be deceiving. You can
find two almost identical chairs at different stores with the same
fabric and same color wood trim, but the cost could be $900 more
for one of them! Why? The difference is in construction. One is
low end. The other is top of the line. The quality in an
upholstered item is hidden under the fabric. A top end item has a
solid oak or maple frame that is glued together with dowels and
reinforcing corner blocks. Low end items are commonly put together
with many staples and use wood such as Pine, Fur, Poplar or even
plastic and cardboard for frame materials. The difference in the
frame translates to how long the item will last! Top end 20 plus
years, low end, 6 months to 3 years.
Same colored woods are not the same wood. Poplar can be stained to
look so close to Cherry most people and some "experts" can't tell
the difference. Cherry wood is harder and stronger than Popular
wood, yet both are classified as hardwoods. When a salesman tells
you "This sofa has a solid hardwood construction through out!"
Ask; "What kind of hardwood through out?"
Springs and filling also relate to the useful life of an item. Low
end furniture construction is often nothing more than a top deck
webbing (rubber, nylon or hemp), with a thick slab of firm rubber
over it. Although it feels as a well-built seat, the rubber usually
deteriorates quickly causing deformity and sagging fabric. Better,
but still low to middle end, is the "sig-zag" type spring
construction. Springs that look like a series of "s" connected and
stretched front to back on the top of the frame rails. This type
of spring puts a substantial and constant pressure on the front and
back rails. Often frames will bend, warp or even brake under this
pressure, over time, particularly on a weak frame of Pine or Poplar.
High end
furniture employs coil springs attached to a deck of interlaced
hemp webbing attached to the bottom of each side, front and back
rails. The springs are held in place by an "eight way tie" of a
resin coated hemp twine, then covered with burlap and desired
padding materials. Coil springs compress top to bottom against the
webbing and not the frame. One way to check if an item has coil
springs is to pat the dust cover on the bottom of an item. If it
doesn't feel drum tight it will usualy have a slab of rubber or sig-zag
spring type
of seat construction.
The right type of fabric for your type of life style is also
important. A cotton velvet may look beautiful on the show room
floor under accent lighting but, the first spill from the kids
while watching TV may ruin its look permanently. A ruff feeling
nylon will last until you get sick of the color, but in a formal
living room is out of place. When you reupholster your not limited
to a certain number of colors or fabric type to chose from.
Reupholstering lets you match the fabric you want to the
comfortable item you already own.
Another way to check for quality difference is by weight. A light
weight chair is most often the "through-a-way" type. Soft woods
are not as dense as hard woods and steel springs weigh more than
rubber. Generally the heavier of two comparable items has the
better frame and construction.
The bottom line? COST! If the item under consideration is top
end construction, you will save 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of replacement of
another
top end item. Upholstering an older lower end item may cost as much
or even a little more than replacement with a comparable item. The
saving on lower end is in value for dollar. Older frames were built
much better than what's coming off assembly lines today and your
choice of better fabrics is not limited. Top end reupholstering is
a dollar saving and lower end reupholstering is a quality up-grade
for about the same money.
You have
permission to reprint the article you just read. Use it in your
ezine, at your website or in your newsletter. The only requirement is including
the following footer:
Replace or Reupholstery? by Steve Nearman,
visit
FurnitureRepair.net for more original content.
For a free upholstery estimate or more help in making your decision
call The Master's Touch at 540-371-5566. We have over 35 years of
professional experience in the furniture restoration trade. Helping
you make the right choice is what we do best. Call today!
|
