YOU CAN DO IT
Reupholstering a chair seat
By Peter Hotton, Globe Correspondent | April 7, 2005
Reupholster an easy chair? Cover an overstuffed or Victorian sofa with new fabric? The average handyman wouldn't touch such a project with a 10-foot tack hammer, leaving it to an upholsterer who could do a superior job for pretty good money. But all is not lost to the inexperience of the handyman. There are upholstery jobs he can do, and with results as good as a pro's. Such a project is replacing the fabric on chairs that have removable plywood seats, such as dining room chairs, kitchen chairs, and metal porch and patio chairs. It is a project that no one should shy away from. You can do it. Here is how to accomplish it, and the tools you will need:
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Tools:
-Screwdriver
-Staple gun
-Scissors for cutting cloth
-Tape rule
-Small claw
-Pliers
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Materials:
-1/2-inch staples
-Replacement fabrics
-Naugahyde covering
-Replacement screws or bolts
-Upholstery padding or foam
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Step 1: Turn the chair over and loosen the screws to release the
seat. You can cover the seat with your new material, right over the old
cover. Or, if the padding under the covering is compressed, remove the cover
and replace the padding. Use a screwdriver and pliers to remove staples.
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Step 2: If you replace the padding, cut the new pad to the
shape of the seat, plus a half-inch overlap all around.
This overlap will cover the edges of the plywood, making a soft,
comfortable edge that will not cut into the sitter's derriere. Some
chairs have a thick foam pad that folds over the edges to form a
comfortable, voluptuously rounded cushion. If you have to replace
such a cushion, use the same thickness rubber or latex foam.
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Step 3: Place the fabric on a flat work surface, then the
pad, then the seat, and fold the covering over the seat,
being careful not to create puckers at corners or on a
round seat. You might get some, but you can usually make
sure the puckers are on the bottom of the seat. Fold the
edges of the cover so you will have a double layer of fabric to
staple through, which will hold better. The plywood is usually
1/2 inch thick, so 1/2-inch staples will do. Avoid letting the
staples go through the plywood. It won't hurt to add a few
staples along the edges of
the seat. If the staples don't
go flush with the wood, give
them a tap with a hammer. If the fabric has a
pattern, make sure
it is properly
positioned when
you staple it home.
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Step 4: Set the new seat on the chair, turn it over and drive
home the screws. Sometimes you may have to replace the screws.
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