Expert: Mark H. Miller - 7/7/2008

Question
We have a set of Thomasville dining room chairs that used a single piece of
synthetically reinforced fabric approximately 18"x20" in size as webbing. We
can't find anything like it to replace it, except for the 2" and 3" elastic and jute
options now that we need to reupholster. Should we just go to the crosshatch
method instead of the single sheet of webbing? Thanks!

Answer
Hi,

Yes, you should replace the existing webbing with rubber webbing and weave it or as you say crosshatch,  leave about 1" space between strips.  Nail or staple one end,  stretch it about 2 or 3 inches and nail the other end.  It may take two people to do the job safely.

The reason you may not have been able find the single piece of webbing is that it takes a large machine with hydraulics to stretch those large pieces in place and then the machine also staples it in down while it stretches the webbing.

Perelli webbing is the best rubber webbing and more comfortable than jute.  You can purchase Perelli webbing on line from upholstery suppliers.

I hope this helps.