Whether you’re shopping for new furniture or looking to restore the current pieces in your home, it’s important to understand how to do furniture repairs. This can save you time, money, and effort.
Repairing furniture is also an eco-friendly alternative to purchasing new pieces. Often, old furniture ends up in landfills, contributing to deforestation and other environmental problems.
Upholstery
Upholstery repair is a term that includes everything from cleaning and making mends to completely reupholstering furniture. It may seem like a lot of work, but it can be worth it in the long run for your antique pieces.
The type of upholstery repair that you choose will depend on the damage. Some damages can be minor and require a cosmetic fix, such as scratches or dents in upholstery or minor cracks or spots on wood products.
Some damages can be more severe, such as tears in upholstery fabric or even major structural issues. Depending on the nature of the problem, the costs associated with fixing it can be quite expensive.
If you’re dealing with a torn or damaged piece of upholstered furniture, it’s usually best to call a professional upholsterer. A reputable upholstery shop will have the right chemical cleaners for your piece and can do a better job than you could.
Sofas
If your sofa has been used extensively and is looking a little tired, you may want to consider repairing it. This can extend the life of your sofa and be much less expensive than buying a new one.
However, it is important to think about suitability before making a decision. Is the sofa a valuable piece that you want to save, or is it something you would like to sell?
Leather sofas can be prone to damage over time and this often means that you need to consider repair or restoration before it becomes too late. The cost of a full restoration will vary depending on the quality and style of the leather as well as any extra work required such as fixing springs or supports.
In addition, any changes made to a sofa can affect its value. This is especially true if the original leather is removed and replaced with different leather.
Chairs
Chairs are a vital part of the furniture in our homes and offices. They are often the first thing we see when we enter a room and they provide comfort and support. When they wear out, it is important to have them repaired.
Chair repairs can be simple or complex, depending on the type of joint involved. Common joints include mortises and tenons.
If you have a loose joint in a mortise, you can usually repair it with new hide glue and some clamping pressure. For more stubborn repairs, you might need to use a high pressure syringe and drill a hole under the joint and into the mortise.
Nonstructural rungs and spindles can also be repaired by separating the broken ends and applying liquid hide glue to each piece. Apply the glued pieces together, securing them firmly with a strap clamp or rope, and then letting it dry completely.
Tables
If you own a dining table that’s been passed down through the family, it might be worth considering repairing and restoring it instead of replacing it with something new. The cost and logistics of such a project are important factors to consider, but it’s also worth looking at the sentimental value that this furniture might hold for you and your family.
Thankfully, there are some easy and affordable ways to repair a few nicks and scratches on your tables. The best part is you don’t need to be a furniture expert to make these repairs yourself, and they can be made even by those with a little experience.
For the best results, use a colored wax stick that matches your table’s color, or purchase a touch-up paint pen that is designed to be used on wood. These are available at hardware stores. Stipple in small dabs of the cover color to the waxed area to make the repair look more like part of the rest of the furniture, and let it dry completely before polishing it off with a soft cloth.