Expert: Mark H. Miller - 10/20/2010

Question
I can upholster a perfect square, but I need to put vinyl over a rectangle that has a long, slender U cut down the middle of it. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hello Sarah

It does depend on how thick the wood is that you are upholstering,  if it is just a piece of ply-wood up to 1/2 thick begin by laying the vinyl flat as if the cut-out wasn't there,  but don't pull the fabric very tight.  Place a few temporary tacks or staples around the perimeter of the piece,  spaced about very 3 to 4 inches apart.  Then cut the vinyl down the center of the U cut.  Wrap the vinyl to the bottom of both sides of the cut.   For the very top of the cut, the inside of the U you will have to make very small cuts almost up to the U.  If you use an ordinary hair dryer you will soften the vinyl and it should mold to the shape of the wood very easily.  Then when you have the inside of the U completed do the outside edges,  again if you use an ordinary hair dryer to soften the vinyl the job will go much easier, now pull the vinyl very tight to the outside edges and that should remove any wrinkles you have around the U shape.  Do the U first and then upholster the outsides as you would for a perfect square.

I hope this helps.  Have fun.

Mark Miller.