People who reupholster old furniture are known as reupholsterers. This may entail simply removing the old upholstery and replacing it with new upholstery, or it may entail a more extensive repair. Reupholsterers may need to remove old cushioning or batting, replace springs, replace structural elements, and perform other inspections to determine the furniture’s overall condition and repair requirements. A reupholsterer can work solely in this capacity or also as an upholsterer, cutting and installing upholstery on new and used furniture.
The outer covering of a chair or piece of furniture, the cushioning or batting, the springs, and the webbing that holds all of the components together are all considered upholstery. Reupholsterers usually work with used furniture that needs to be reconditioned, and they’ll need to be able to talk to customers about upholstery options. A reupholsterer’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the used chair is properly reconditioned without causing further damage to the unit, and that it is otherwise restored to usable condition. Before any work is done, a visual inspection is usually performed; however, once the outer layer of upholstery is removed, further examination may reveal additional work that needs to be done.
Reupholsterers may need to replace old springs in the chair or piece of furniture. This will prevent sagging when a person sits in the chair, as well as any further damage to the furniture’s structural elements. Webbing, a strip of fabric that can be used as a structural element or as a reinforcement for other materials, may need to be replaced as well. Other layers of fabric may be present to conceal springs and structural elements, and reupholsterers are frequently hired to replace and repair these as well.
Furniture restorers may hire reupholsterers to work exclusively for them, though these positions are more difficult to come by than other types of upholstery work, such as working for a larger furniture manufacturer. A reupholsterer may work on warranty items or simply as an upholsterer who adds upholstery to new furniture. A reupholsterer may work on both the upholstery and the structural elements of a piece of furniture; for example, he or she may work on both the upholstery and the structural elements of the piece of furniture.