It is complicated to open and fix the chair seat as it was before. If the seat position hole gets bigger or breaks the side of the seats while working, it will worsen the case. You may hire a professional but it will cost you a good amount to fix the chair but the result will be fantastic.
However, if you want to do it by yourself then How to Reupholster a Dining Room Chair Seat and Back? Fine, I Know some easy tips to reupholster the dining chair and back which I will share with you today.
Is it Difficult to Reupholster a Chair?
As I have said yes, it is a difficult task to reupholster the dining chair seat and back. For professional carpenters, It is a simple task but tough for beginners as they have no idea about reupholstering. However, if you have done it before or have any idea, you may easily complete the task.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need:
To complete reupholstering we need some tools and materials. Before we start the process we should gather the essential tools. Otherwise, it may cause a mess if we have to find the tools again and again which destroys our attention. Now make sure you have the following tools.
- Upholstery fabric
- Upholstery Staple Remover or aTack Puller
- Cotton padding
- Old Socks (Optional)
- 60 Grit Sandpaper
- Staple gun and staples
- Exacto Knife
- Upholstery Stud trim
- Upholstery Hammer
- Fabric Scissors
How to Reupholster a Dining Room Chair Seat and Back?
How to Reupholster a Dining Room Chair Seat and Back? There are two parts of the chair: the seat and back, their reupholstering process has a bit of difference too. To reupholster the dining room chair seat use the below-mentioned step. Then we will show you the reupholstering of the chairs back.
Step 1: Dismantle Chair
To remove the old upholstery you have to make the chair upside down. Use a wrench set to remove the bolts from each corner. Then push the old foam seat downward to remove the old seat.
Step 2: Remove the Old Seat and Cushion
Use the pin remover stapler to pull the pins from the side of the seat which are pinned to stick the cushion with the seat. Pull them out and keep them in a safe place to put them in the bin because these may pin your legs and injure you.
Step 3: Make a New Seat
If the old one is decayed you should replace it with a new one. You can use plywood to make a new seat. Anyway, it is better to use a new one to make it durable.
- Place the old seat on the new one to take the measurement.
- Draw a shape on the new plywood with a marker pen.
- Use a jigsaw to cut the seat from the new plywood.
- Soften the edges of the seat with sandpaper.
Step 4: Cut the Foam in the Shape
Now you should cut the foam according to the actual size. Take a foam that is 1” thick then use the following metrics to cut the foam properly.
- Place the old foam over the new foam and draw an accurate line.
- Cut the foam with an Exacto Knife but don’t tear the foam while cutting.
- Use light pressure with short strokes carefully to make it nice.
Step 5: Attach the Batting With Foam and Plywood
Simply attach these three elements with a pin with the following instructions.
- Place the batting on the table to cover the foam and plywood.
- Put the foam at the center of the battings and make sure the batting has no folds at the bottom
- Place the plywood seat over the foam exactly to make it parallel with the seat.
- Fold the extra batting upward and use the pneumatic stapler to staple at the mid of the fold.
- Just put one staple in all four folded sides with tightening the fabric upward.
Step 6: Center the Pattern
You can buy your favorite colored fabric according to the old size. Choose the best layout you prefer then place the fabric over the seat you have made a while ago. Keep the fabric parallel at every side and fold it. Again use the pneumatic stapler to staple the fabric with the seat.
Step 7: Staple the Front Edge
Reverse the covered seat and fold the access fabric outward from each side one after another. Staple the fabric to the newly made chair seat. Remember to keep the staple 1” away from the edge of the fabric. Do it in sequence and then the corners are left. Here is the critical task you may worry about.
You can fold them inward and staple the corners. Otherwise, you can easily cut the batting corners with scissors that are left unused. To make the corner nice, create a butterfly corner. Fold the center under and tuck the material to each side. Flip the seat and staple the corner for a stronghold. Apply the same method to the rest of the three corners.
Step 8: Attach a Dust Cover at the Bottom of the Seat
In the last step use a dust cover to protect the seat. Flip the seat and place the dust cover at the center and staple it. And it is all done, now fix it with the chair by fixing the existing bolts.
How to Reupholster the Dining Chair’s Back?
To reupholster the back of the dining chair we will go through the same process. But we will have some changes in the steps as the structure is not fully similar to the seat. Okay, let’s start the process.
Place the Back of the Chair on the Ground:
Place the back of the chair on the ground to take off the fabric. The manufacturer may use glue or a pin to attach the fabric cover with the backrest. You can use a chisel or a pin remover with the following instructions to take off the cover and fix it.
- Take off the double piping using a chisel. Gently push the chisel to take off from the corners. Then start pulling slowly.
- If it is stapled, use the pin remover to take off the pin carefully.
- Once you have done with the piping again use the chisel to take off the fabric.
- The fabric is attached with some pins and glue, so check the pins and take them off.
- Slowly take off the fabric so that it doesn’t destroy. Or you can reuse it if needed.
- Separate the foam from the backrest. Replace it with new foam.
- The soft plywood is attached with glue, just take it out.
Fix the Back of the Chair:
Only the back fabric remains as it was, then do the following to set up the plywood and fabric.
- clean surroundings of the seat hole including its extra glue and existing pins.
- Take a new cover and place it over the remaining fabric. Fold it from the edges and pin it to attach.
- You can put some webbing using glue then put new foam.
- Place the fabric and push the edges inward with a gouge.
- You can staple them or use glue then attach the webbings in the same way. Use pins in the corners and glue to the rest of the areas.
Is it Cheaper to Reupholster or Buy New?
Well whether it is cheaper to reupholster or buy a new one depends on the conditions of the chair. If the chair is still strong with its structure then it may be cheaper to reupholster. Because a new fabric, padding, and other supplies may cost you around $1000 to reupholster the chair.
Moreover, sometimes it costs more than a new chair. It can happen with your living Room Chairs for Lower Back Pain or with your study chair. Therefore it is important to know if it is cheaper than buying it or not?. Here are some points to consider the fact.
- If the chair is well made and sturdy enough to last longer.
- If the frame is solid and made of hardwood.
- How much do you like the piece? Or if it is a sentimental piece.
If these are the conditions it may be worth reupholstering the chair. However, if the foam and fabric can be reused then it will be cheaper than a new one.
Conclusion
Sometimes we throw away our favorite furniture just because of some faults. Or, because it is expensive to reupholster things. If you are facing the problem you can save your favorites by using the methods of How to Reupholster a Dining Room Chair Seat and Back that we have mentioned above. However you can apply these techniques to fix the same category of furniture, and you can create a design with decorative trim to make it gorgeous.
