Restrapping Patio Furniture Let The Professionals Help
Now that the weather has finally warmed up and summer is fast approaching, it is time to think about sitting on the patio, catching some rays, and grilling with family and friends. However, the comfortable vinyl strap patio furniture that you purchased many years back may be starting to show its age. The professionals at The Southern Company are experts at Restrapping Patio Furniture. After much use and years of sitting in the sun, the vinyl straps may be loose and the color may have faded, while the metal frame structurally remains in very good shape. The question is whether to replace the furniture or repair it. Repair or Replace Your Patio Furniture? Vinyl patio furniture has been popular forRead more
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S On Reupholstering Vinyl Strap Patio Swivel Chair
Step 1. Measure the width of your chair seat and how long you want to make it. Add an inch for seam allowance. Then measure how wide the strap is, add that measurement in inches together with how long you just measured and cut two pieces of fabric this size plus a few extra inches around each edge just in case.
Step 2. Put one of the fabric pieces on top of the other, right sides together, and line up your corners so that you can make a straight cut across both layers at once. The first edge is done by lining them up with how long they are if this doesnt work for how wide your strap is then just try to get as close to it as possible while leaving plenty of room to sew later on.
Cut along where the two lines meet and repeat in order from side to side until all edges have been sewn together.
Step 3. Carefully turn the cover inside out and tuck under any excess fabric down into the seam allowance so that nothing is peeking out.
Step 4. Sew the edge of the cover down by machine stitching very close to the fabrics edge and securing with a blind stitch at either end.
Step 5. Reattach any hardware that was detached during this process, including all screws for however many are needed on your specific chair model. Replace swivel locks if necessary too.)
Use a needle threader to pull one string through each hole in your new webbing strap until it reaches the front tie them together so they dont come undone as you start sewing over the top of them later on.
Upholstery Tear Down Is A Dirty Job But Necessary In The Process Of Reupholstering A Chair
Yes, the old padding is nasty and dirty, but that is not the only problem with taking a shortcut and only recovering and not reupholstering. When you watched the tear down you saw what else we found when we removed all the padding.
The support systems were shot. So think about this: You purchased and put on your beautiful new fabric which was not inexpensive and you left the old padding . But that also means you didnt have a way to see what was happening to the support underneath all of that.
So now youve got your new fabric on your not so clean chair and 2 years down the road you go to sit in your chair and that old, worn out support system lets go. Oh no! Now your butt is falling through the bottom and you are really annoyed that you took that short cut.
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Simple Way To Reupholster Patio Furniture
Updating patio furniture with a new look isnt complicated or expensive compared to replacing it with new furniture. If the frames are sturdy, whether they are wood or metal, they can be refinished. However, an even less complicated project involves reupholstering the cushions. New fabric on foam outdoor cushions makes the furniture look new and adds a designer touch. New covers can be sewn if youre handy with a sewing machine but if not, a hot glue gun simplifies the project even more.
How To Reupholster A Patio Seat Cushion
Before you tear into your patio seat cushion reupholstery job, choose a fabric meant for outdoor use. If you don’t get the right fabric, the cushion will fade quickly and even come apart at the seams from weathering. Don’t let all your hard work go to waste by choosing the wrong fabric. Boxed and welted cushions are not that hard to sew, as long as you use the old cushion cover as your pattern.
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Wash and dry the fabric before you cut it. This preshrinks it and makes it easier to work with. Set it aside.
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Insert the seam ripper between the seams of the old cushion to remove the threads. Run the seam ripper up the seam to cut the threads. Repeat this for all the fabric seams. Do not cut through the fabric — you will use the old cushion pieces as the pattern for your new cushion. Remove the cushion and set it aside.
3
Remove the dangling threads along the seams of the cushion pieces. Place the individual pieces, which consist of a top, bottom and four sides on the ironing board to iron each piece. You want the fabric to lay as flat as possible.
4
Lay the cushion pieces on your new upholstery fabric. Pin them in place with quilting or sewing pins.
5
Cut the new cushion panels from the new upholstery fabric following the pattern of the old pieces.
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Measure the seam allowance on the old pieces so you know the seam allowance needed for the new cushion panels.
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References
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Install The New Sling
Insert the sling spline through the sling pockets . Starting at the top, insert the sling into one sling rail slide the sling to the end of the rail. Do not allow the sling to fold over the top of the sling rail, or it will tear. Detach the sling rail and install the sling in the other sling rail.
FIGURE 4
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Round Up Your Materials
When you shop, buy ‘upholstery grade’ fabric for its strength and stain resistance. Fabric prices vary wildly you might find something for $5 in the bargain bin or spend 10 times as much. We bought our fabric, foam and batting at a fabric store. For the dust cover, we used landscape fabric from a home center.
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Woodard Vinyl Strap Replacements In Tennessee
Attached are the before and after examples of our lounge restoration.We plan to do four chairs next. We started with the brown straps to see how it would go and it was not surprising how well they looked. This patio deck set is 28 years and counting. I dont know why I waited so long. The replacement was not difficult and results well worth the decision.Willie & Mary Ann NelsonFranklin, Tennessee
How To Reupholster A Round Chair Seat
Start stapling! You will need to use a heavy duty staple gun. I stapled following the order of the numbers in the photo below. Every time I stapled, I made sure to smooth out the fabric and pull it tight. Thats why you always staple one side, then go directly across from it next it helps pull the fabric tight.
After youve stapled a lot, youll end up with bunches of fabric that stick up. Pinch them into triangle shaped pleats like this:
Then staple them in three places, like this:
Continue around the whole circle until everything is stapled down nice and tight.
You should be left with a perfectly reupholstered seat cushion!
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How To Reupholster Leather Chairs
Leather is a thicker material and it takes some specialized tools to work with. At a minimum, if any stitching is involved, you’ll need to get an industrial sewing machine as the one you use for day to day tasks will simply not be up to the task.
Other than that, though, the selection of leather as a reupholstering material doesn’t materially change the process. You’ll want to refer to the specific type of furniture you’re working with for tutorials on how to best approach the project.
Get Your Sewing Machine Ready
You dont need special tools to work with outdoor fabric, but here are some tips for helping your project run more smoothly:
- Most sewing machines come with more than one foot. The usual ¼ inch foot used for regular fabrics will work fine but, if you have a walking foot, it will create more lift, which makes it easier to feed thicker outdoor fabric through the machine. By using a walking foot, you wont have to worry about bulk build up. It will also help control your rate of sewing, which helps if your outdoor fabric is a bit slippery.
- Finally, a regular needle will work but, when working with thicker outdoor fabric, needles made for quilting, denim or even leather will give better results. Youll also want to keep a few spare needles on hand in case you need to change it. Needles can dull quickly when working with outdoor fabrics, which can cause snags or shred your thread.
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How Do You Reweb A Lawn Chair With Clips
You can put webbing or vinyl straps on your chair by using screws, nails and a staple gun. If you are using clips to hold the straps in place:
Step 1. Start with one clip at the top of the backrest where it meets up with armrest if applicable
Step 2. Secure across the bottom edge of the seat . You will need as many clips on each side as you can get. The more secure it is, the less likely your chair will fall apart when people sit in them!
Outdoor Furniture Repair And Refinishing
Furniture is a staple for making an outdoor space look beautiful, but what happens when good quality furniture begins to run down because of heavy use, rain, and UV rays? Over time furniture can chip, paint can peel and crack, and straps and slings can run down, fade, or tear. We saw a need for a better solution to this problem than just throwing away an entire set of quality furniture just because of surface level wear and tear. Good quality furniture can last a long time and has a strong structure, so here is the solution. We take existing furniture to its metal base by cutting off old strap and sling material and by sandblasting off old paint. Then, we powder coat on fresh new paint and install new straps and slings. Furniture comes out looking brand new since it went through the same process as it did when it was first made. The best part is that customers are left with furniture that looks new without having the expense of buying a complete new set of outdoor furniture.
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Installing Your Replacement Sling
Included in your sling replacement kit are detailed, easy-to-follow instructions. The instructions will also list a few tools that you will need to help with the installation.
The first step is to remove the old, damaged sling. This is simple to do by using scissors or a box cutter to slice through the middle of the sling and then pull the sling from the left and right sides of the frame through the sling rails.
The key to properly installing a replacement sling is to make sure you pull it taut to ensure that the sling lasts well into the future.
If you have any questions along the way, do not hesitate to call. We are here to help you.
Before you know it, you will find yourself enjoying your just like new sling furniture. Show it off to your family and friends. You may even be able to fool them into believing that you bought a brand new set of patio furniture!
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Staple The Front Edge
Working from the center outward, install staples along the front as you lightly tension the material with your hand. Stop 2 in. from the corner. Flip the seat over several times to check the pattern as you go. Repeat the process along the back edge and sides. Place a section of batting-4 in. wider in all directions than the size of your chair seat-on a flat work surface, then set your foam and seat on top. Lightly stretch the batting and drive one staple along each edge.
Flip the seat over, then center your material on top . Cut the material so you’ll be able to wrap it up onto the chair bottom at least 4 in. in each direction. With the seat facing up and the front edge overhanging the work surface, drive one staple through the bottom to hold the material in place. Rotate the seat 180 degrees, then tack the back the same way.
Check your pattern alignment one more time, then flip the seat upside down. Starting at the front middle staple and working toward the corners, use the palm of your hand to lightly stretch the material, then drive a staple every 2 in. . Keep the staples within an inch of the edge, and secure the batting and fabric at the same time. Use your entire hand, not just fingertips, to tighten the material. This way you’ll avoid little dips and puckers in the pattern.
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How To Replace Fabric On A Patio Sling Chair
Sling chairs are a popular choice for outdoor seating. Theyre great for dining or lounging and are comfortable, weather resistant and low maintenance. If your sling chairs are looking faded, saggy or ripped, replacing the fabric is an easy DIY project that will give your chairs new life. Well show you how to replace that old fabric step-by-step in our how-to video.
Before you get to work on your chairs, youll need to decide on a new sling fabric to use. We stock two different brands of sling fabric here at Sailrite®: Phifertex® and Sunbrella® Sling. Both fabrics have been designed with sling chair applications in mind, are sturdy, and come in a variety of colors and styles. You can read our helpful guide Selecting Patio Sling Chair Replacement Fabric for a more in-depth look at the pros and cons of each brand.
Once you have your fabric picked out, use the Sailrite Fabric Calculator to determine how much yardage you need. The Fabric Calculator is an incredibly useful tool that we offer to our customers to help you estimate how much fabric you need for a project. We also show you a rendering with measurements so you know how to lay out and cut your fabric panels. We have a Fabric Calculator for pillows and cushions, awnings, canopies, shade sails, window treatments, sling chairs and more. At the bottom of any webpage in the blue bar, select “Fabric Calculator” under the “Resources” section.
How To Reupholster Patio Chairs
Also answered in this section: How to Reupholster Outdoor Chairs
Ultimately, this depends on the type of patio chair you’ve got. If you have lawn chairs or sling back chairs on your patio, we refer you to those sections of this article. If you have some other type of chair, then odds are, all you’ll really need to do is reupholster the seat. Here’s a tutorial for that:
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Outdoor Patio Furniture Restoration And Repair
The Chair Care Company patio furniture restoration experts have be restoring high-end outdoor patio and garden furniture to its original beauty since 1985. By replacing worn or broken vinyl straps, replacing fabric slings, and powder coat finishing metal frames, Chair Care will have your beloved patio furniture looking brand new again allowing you to use it for years to come. Whether you are looking for a complete restoration, repair, cleaning, cushion replacement, or a place to store your furniture over the winter months, weâve got you covered. No job is too big or too small.
Major brands that we restore include Brown Jordan, Woodard, Winston, Tropitone, Knoll, Cast Classics, Carter Grandle and more. As a member of the Better Business Bureau, we pride ourselves on providing personalized service, outstanding quality and the quick return of your furniture.
LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEEDWE WILL BEAT ANY QUOTEJust bring us a competitors written quote and weâll beat it!
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Patio Chair Sling Replacement
The Chair Care Company makes custom replacement slings for your patio chairs. Mesh slings are designed to be durable and withstand the elements, Read more
Patio Furniture Restrapping
The Chair Care Company makes vinyl strap replacements using only the highest quality virgin vinyl. We have over 50 colors to choose from in four Read more
Metal Frame Refinishing
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The Joy Of Jigsaws And Hand Sanders
While Im enthusiastic about the oilcloth, I am equally as excited about pulling out my jigsaw. Its been awhile. I dont think Ive ever mentioned that my jigsaw has an LED light. Im not sure who came up with the idea to put a light on a jigsaw, but they deserve the highest realm of glory in tool creators heaven. At least in my humble opinion they do.
Anyway, not only did I need to replace the cushions and the fabric, but the wood of the seat had become pretty well rotted, too. So I bought some 3/4 inch plywood and traced the old seat onto the new wood. I zipped the seats out in no time with my trusty Ryobi jigsaw.
Then I used my handy dandy hand sander, and I sanded the cuts to soften them a bit so the fabric doesnt get weak over time because of the edges.
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