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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Questions Answered by Expert Mark H. Miller
| Subject | Date Asked |
| club chair t cushion cover | 1/24/2012 |
| Q: Mark, I am nearly finished with reupholstering my club chair but am stuck on finishing the seat ... A: I assume that sensuede is a synthetic suede and as such perfect for a beginner. If you follow the ... | |
| club chair t cushion cover | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: Mark, I am nearly finished with reupholstering my club chair but am stuck on finishing the seat ... A: You should sew the welting on the cushion first and not on the boxing. Sew the stitch for the ... | |
| REPLACING A CANE BACK WITH UPHOLSTERY | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: I have cane back dining room chairs. My set is old and the cane back of one of them broke. I was ... A: Remove all the existing caning material, just cut it away with a sharp knife. Using 1/4 inch thick ... | |
| replacing Pirelli webbing | 11/30/2011 |
| Q: I am repairing a Chaise Longue that has pirelli webbing held in place with metal clips clamped on ... A: The solid brown Pirelli webbing is the best there is in my opinion and a prime example that you get ... | |
| replacing Pirelli webbing | 11/30/2011 |
| Q: I am repairing a Chaise Longue that has pirelli webbing held in place with metal clips clamped on ... A: The method to calculate the amount of stretch is the same regardless if you are using the solid core ... | |
| Marshall Unit construction | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: I'm recreating a seat cushion for a leather club chair. It takes a Marshall unit which is new ... A: Yes, just cut the extra marshall unit so that you have one long row of springs and then add to the ... | |
| Rocker | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: I recently wrote asking about how best to cover a rocker that had been stripped. There is no padding ... A: Although the metal strips are old they are not original to the chair and were used to replace jute ... | |
| Sand like residue in upholstery fabric | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: I recently bought a used set of 2 loveseat with a nubby upholstery fabric. It was not until I got ... A: If the foam is the problem it would be very obvious - the whole piece of foam would be a hard mass ... | |
| Sand like residue in upholstery fabric | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I recently bought a used set of 2 loveseat with a nubby upholstery fabric. It was not until I got ... A: Realistically most cushions eventually end up at the city dump or in a landfill. I recommend that ... | |
| Sand like residue in upholstery fabric | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I recently bought a used set of 2 loveseat with a nubby upholstery fabric. It was not until I got ... A: Only you can tell if this is actually sand or looks like sand. If it is sand then you should vacuum ... | |
| Pirelli elastic webbing | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: I'm replacing some elastic webbing on a small 2 seater sofa/daybed with Pirelli. Can you advise me ... A: If you are using the Pirelli webbing that is solid and beige in color stretch it by hand as much as ... | |
| Domar Club Chair needs recovering | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: They need to either be recovered or slipcovered - I am using them in an office so thinking slipcover ... A: I founded Domar with my partner Donald - hence the name Domar, we ran Domar for 20 years and ... | |
| Chair support | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: I'm building a living room chair and am trying to decide what support system to use. I would like ... A: I would like the chair to be low profile so I've decided against coil springs. Coil springs ... | |
| reupholstering over existing zigzags | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: I have an armchair with an upholstered seat that has zig zag springs. After I removed all the ... A: Is it ok to use the springs as they are, - Yes, in fact, I would encourage you to do ... | |
| How do I measure a length of no sag spring? | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: I'm having trouble understanding how no sag spring should be measured since it comes with a ... A: The spring should be about 3 inches less than the distance between the clips. Cut the spring in the ... | |
| Springs | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: I am not sure of the age of the chair but it smelt badly. I have read all your Q&As on springs and I ... A: I am not sure of the age of the chair but it smelt badly. In that case you did exactly the right ... | |
| What length helical springs in no sag install? | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: If I install no sag springs every four inches for a seat, what size helical spring do I use? ... A: The helical spring should be slightly stretched, it also doesn't have to connect loops that are ... | |
| Sinking into couch | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: We have a leather couch that we all sink into a bit. When my mom visits, she sits on the very edge ... A: I wish I had better news for you but adding a pad on top on the springs as you suggest will do ... | |
| Installing no sag springs in Arts & Crafts Chair | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I'm building a turn of century (1900) chair and will install no sag springs. The frame for the ... A: Could you explain how the clips are nailed/screwed to the inside frame. I understand the design ... | |
| Fabric over fabric | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: I am doing all the seats at a bar; What, if any, are the issues with putting the new fabric over the ... A: The new fabric may slide over the existing fabric. Re-upholstering without first removing an ... | |
| Installing no sag springs in Arts & Crafts Chair | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: I'm building a turn of century (1900) chair and will install no sag springs. The frame for the ... A: No do not nail your no-sag springs on top of the inner frame but instead on the inside of the inner ... | |
| Installing no sag springs in Arts & Crafts Chair | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: I'm building a turn of century (1900) chair and will install no sag springs. The frame for the ... A: You are correct in that the 3/4 X 4 rails will break under the pull of a no-sag spring. I suggest ... | |
| automobile foam headrest | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: the rear foam headrest(not removable) in my car is deformed (flattened) by the belt from my ... A: I am not familiar with automotive foam but think there is probably little difference other than ... | |
| Sewing machine | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: I am considering a sewing machine purchase. I live in Yellowknife NWT and no one is doing anything ... A: You need an industrial sewing machine. The best brands now are Yuki, Pfaff, Chandler and Singer. ... | |
| Permanent Removal of Seat Springs | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a Victorian style chair with springs in the seat. I have stripped the chair down to the ... A: Yes, to do that remove everything from the seat, including the springs and nail or staple the ... | |
| Permanent Removal of Seat Springs | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a Victorian style chair with springs in the seat. I have stripped the chair down to the ... A: No, you do not have to replace the springs if they still have good tension. Regardless if you use ... | |
| Marshall unit for seat cushion | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing the cushions on a Morris Chair and would like to use spring units, as was original. ... A: 1) I recommend you wrap the spring unit with cotton batting, but under the cotton batting you ... | |
| Attaching springs to webbing | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Miller, What is the best way to attach furniture springs to jute webbing? Thank you, Judith A: One way is to sew the springs to webbing, using a strong twine and anchoring the spring in three ... | |
| Horsehair Stuffing/Down Cushions/Nails in Wood Trim | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: I inherited a chair which I assume has horsehair stuffing in the back (an upholsterer indicated that ... A: Exactly, if you are going to keep the existing stuffing then the upholsterer should use cotton ... | |
| Horsehair Stuffing/Down Cushions/Nails in Wood Trim | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: I inherited a chair which I assume has horsehair stuffing in the back (an upholsterer indicated that ... A: If the stuffing is horsehair, is it not worth reusing, given the inherent dust? If it were my ... | |
| Horsehair Stuffing/Down Cushions/Nails in Wood Trim | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: I inherited a chair which I assume has horsehair stuffing in the back (an upholsterer indicated that ... A: If the hair stuffing in the back is white it is hog hair - which is the best, if it is black it is ... | |
| metal straps | 2/9/2011 |
| Q: In stripping down an upholstered club chair, I have found metal straps which were used as a means of ... A: The metal straps are a very important part of the seating support and should not be removed or left ... | |
| ATTACHED LEATHER CUSHIONS | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO RESTORE ATTACHED LEATHER CUSHIONS? THE LEATHER IS FINE THE CUSHIONS HAVE JUST ... A: Yes, it is possible to restore attached leather cushions, unfortunately to do so is extremely ... | |
| SQUEEKY DR CHAIRS | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: MILLER, I HAVE PURCHASED OLD DR CHAIRS WITH THE SMALL BUTT CUSHION PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE ... A: The brackets you considered placing will do absolutely nothing to stabilize your chairs and you ... | |
| Reupholstering Scandinavian Dining Chairs | 12/30/2010 |
| Q: The 'bottom' is easy. The removal of the 'back' was straightforward but how is the fabric attached. ... A: First you must pry out all the old staples, to do that you can use an ordinary screw driver that is ... | |
| restoring tooled leather chairs | 12/24/2010 |
| Q: Miller, I've been looking through the archive of questions you've answered and I'm really impressed ... A: Phillips, Thank you for the compliments regarding my past replies. I believe that a great amount ... | |
| Frame for Pirelli webbing | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: I'm building a window seat / sofa. After looking at your answers to other questions and other ... A: I suggest that you increase the width of the wood to 1 X 4 or to 1 1/4 X 3, alder wood or similar ... | |
| recovering very old chair seat | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: I took apart very old D.R. chair seats (they drop in and are secured by screws) and found on top of ... A: You are correct, the zig zag springs could last another 100 years. It may not be necessary to ... | |
| replacing springs in upholstered fabric | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: I have an old (antique?) settee that I want to reupholster. How do I know if the springs are ... A: You check first by pushing down on the seat with both hands, if you can push the seat down more ... | |
| Upholstering an awkward shape | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I can upholster a perfect square, but I need to put vinyl over a rectangle that has a long, slender ... A: It does depend on how thick the wood is that you are upholstering, if it is just a piece of ... | |
| Old rocking chair rebuild | 10/14/2010 |
| Q: I am following up a previous question about cone type coil springs. You replied that this type ... A: Yes, if the size fits then this is the perfect replacement for your rocking chair. And should work ... | |
| damask pattern | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I am an Interior Designer in Australia and I have had an upholsterer recover a very expensive ... A: In my opinion there is a long list of "could have and should have here" the way I see it there is ... | |
| Bay Window Cushion | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I asked you a question a few months ago. Thank you again for your help. Now I'm finally getting ... A: you mean that I should sew the boxing in a continuous loop. Yes, at least for the front part, if ... | |
| Bay Window Cushion | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I asked you a question a few months ago. Thank you again for your help. Now I'm finally getting ... A: You should begin by sewing the welting first, make certain you sew the cording inside the welting ... | |
| Re-upholster chair seat and back | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: I have 4 SCAN dining chairs that I want to reupholster. It is easy to unscrew the seats and ... A: Most likely the dowels are also glued in - which is the reason they will not come out. You will ... | |
| chair cushion | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: ready to go- just one more question- when I cover the foam with the dacron batting- do I wrap the ... A: You should have one or two layers of Dacron on the top and bottom surfaces, depending on the amount ... | |
| new filling for old spring seat cushion | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: About 5" thick with a layer of burlap (?) between the batting and springs. What do you recommend I ... A: What you have is a drop-in seat unit. You are correct in that the old padding has fallen between ... | |
| new filling for old spring seat cushion | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: About 5" thick with a layer of burlap (?) between the batting and springs. What do you recommend I ... A: When you say cushion, I interpret that to mean a loose cushion that comes off the chair and can be ... | |
| new filling for old spring seat cushion | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: About 5" thick with a layer of burlap (?) between the batting and springs. What do you recommend I ... A: After removing 5 layers of fabric you have the remnants of what once was a spring cushion. The ... | |
| nap direction for couch cushions | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I recently read your answer regarding the direction of the nap when reupholstering covers for a ... A: First I would like to clarify an important point. You say that you have a couch, a couch is a sofa ... | |
| Window Seat | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I forgot to mention that the window seat height without a pad is 17.5 inches. I'm concerned that if ... A: you are right on both counts, 3 inch is the size I recommend, make certain the foam is firm so the ... | |
| Re-webbing couch | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a Ethan Allen "Old Tavern" couch and loveseat from the 1970's that has the Pirelli 2" webbing ... A: Assuming you are right handed, beginning on the left side as you face the sofa, working toward the ... | |
| What is the professional method for installing no-sag springs? | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: Greetings, I am in the process of building 2 morris chairs. The chairs have been built and I am ... A: Greetings, I am using 1.5" wide x .75 thick poplar for the frame,doweled and glued, with supports ... | |
| No-sag springs mounted to side of chair rails | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: Most references show no-sag (zig-zag) springs mounted to the top surface of the chair rails with ... A: There are numerous methods for attaching no-sag springs, in my opinion the best is where the ... | |
| Sagging cushions | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: Stumbled onto this site & noticed someone asked this ? but did not reply to your answer. Here goes. ... A: Well if the sofa is only two months old you should not have to do anything. With that said, adding ... | |
| how to make a zig zag spring seat firmer | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I am reupholstering a chair that has zig zag springs in the seat. This chair is approximately 50 ... A: There is only one way to make a zig zag seat firmer, and that is by connecting all the springs ... | |
| Remove Upholstered insert on chair back | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: I want to recover the back of my dining chairs. They have an upholstered insert and it appears to ... A: Hammer a small flat head screw driver directly into the center of the plug and pop or break it out - ... | |
| Dacron threads coming through upholstery | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased two very beautiful sofas from Thomasville. The sofas have a tight back. The ... A: If relying on the manufacturer's goodwill and integrity fails then you have several options, you ... | |
| Dacron threads coming through upholstery | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased two very beautiful sofas from Thomasville. The sofas have a tight back. The ... A: Padding material is supposed to stay inside the furniture. If a unique characteristic of your ... | |
| Dacron threads coming through upholstery | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased two very beautiful sofas from Thomasville. The sofas have a tight back. The ... A: What does the dealer mean by "tough" since you used COM? To me it's a no brainer, from what you ... | |
| antique platform rocker | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I am repairing a very old platform rocker and find that the zig-zag springs are broken. How can I ... A: If you can locate coil springs on a steel bar that is the better way to go. They are tied like coil ... | |
| zig zag springs | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: If I have several broken zig zag springs in a chair, where can a get replacement springs? How do I ... A: There are several resources to purchase upholstery supplies on-line. Type "upholstery supplies" ... | |
| how do I stretch vinyl? | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: Mark, Thanks for your answer to my previous question on the curved back chair. Your answer was ... A: With only an inch to stretch over a distance of probably around 18 inches there are several ways to ... | |
| Dining room recover | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old Drexel dining room table and chairs. The original chairs has a weird ... A: I have contacted Foamorder.com and they do sell to the general public, they are the best site for ... | |
| furniture | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: Is there an easy way a layman - non expert can tell if the quality of upholstered furniture is good ... A: Yes, if you are not certain about the quality of a new piece of upholstered furniture there is one ... | |
| Do zig-zag springs wear out? | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I have inherited a couch and love seat with zig-zag springs on the bottom. When I sit in either ... A: The answer to your question regarding if zig-zag (no-sag) springs wear out is no, they never wear ... | |
| Dining room recover | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old Drexel dining room table and chairs. The original chairs has a weird ... A: Oh I see, the single sheet of webbing can only be applied using a hydraulic machine that is able to ... | |
| Dining room recover | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old Drexel dining room table and chairs. The original chairs has a weird ... A: Since your seats originally had rubber webbing you should do the same again. The webbing that I ... | |
| Covering tables with upolstery material | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: Mark, the coffee and end tables in my living room are not 'real' wood, and over the past 21 years ... A: Yes the job you propose to do is definitely possible. By faux leather I assume you refer to ... | |
| Replacing ancient stuffing | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: What should I use to replace the thin batting and spanish moss type material I found laid on top of ... A: Yes, you should have a sheet of burlap over the webbing, the reason for that is that over time the ... | |
| Replacing ancient stuffing | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: What should I use to replace the thin batting and spanish moss type material I found laid on top of ... A: The best material to cover the foam is a layer of bonded Dacron, or bonded polyester fiber. That ... | |
| antique chair seat springs | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE THIS OLD CHAIR THAT IV'E STRIPPED TO FIND THE SEAT HAS ABOUT 15 SPRINGS WHICH 7 ARE BROKEN, ... A: type "upholstery supplies" into your search engine and many sights will come up, or go to ... | |
| replace caning with upholstered seats? | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: Can I replace caning with upholstered seats? I was thinking I could take off the caning, figure out ... A: Actually you are right on the mark, usually the plywood seat is cut so that it is at least a little ... | |
| what parts do I need to replace? | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a sofa that sags badly. I am not sure of the springs if they are coil or conical springs. ... A: the springs in your sofa are coil springs, and this is called a drop-in spring unit, these springs ... | |
| Custom reupholstery workmanship quality standards | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I'd appreciate your expert advice on the minimum quality workmanship standards required of a custom ... A: I am going to rely completely on your statements and will rely on your word that nothing you say is ... | |
| upholstery prices | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: i recently started upholstery work and got a call for a repair and i really don't know how to price ... A: You certainly are on the right track, the job is not difficult mechanically but often difficult ... | |
| webbing for chair support | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I have an almost fifty year old maple swivel rocker. The seat is a cushion supported by a webbing ... A: You need to buy new webbing strips, the name of the product is Pirelli Webbing, that should be ... | |
| covering top of cedar chest | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: I also have a cedar chest that I would like to cover with padding and fabric -can you tell me how ... A: I think the picture you refer to is from someone else's cedar chest. I recommend that you cut a ... | |
| "old loveseat" | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Miller, I recently inherited this loveseat, which I know was stripped down of the old red dye ... A: the love seat you inherited is a wonderful piece, I would treasure it. Your love seat dates back to ... | |
| springs | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: We are rebuilding a settee and can't decide on no-sag springs or pocketed coil springs. We have some ... A: absolutely go with the no-sag springs, pocketed coil springs are not firm enough for a seat, they ... | |
| antique chair springs and padding | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: The frame and structure of the chair is in great shape - barely a nick on it. But the seat has ... A: Sorry for the delay in answering, I was away over the weekend and did not check my email. You ... | |
| Leather Sofa | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: My name is Tena and I own a leather sofa. The problem that I am having is the filling located on the ... A: Well in the event that you have lost the original paperwork all may not be lost. Upholstered ... | |
| dacron for hog horse hair | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: Is 2 inch Dacron a good substitute for the original hog/horse hair fill in my upholstered, web ... A: From the floor to the center of the seat should be 18 inches, do not include the cotton batting when ... | |
| dacron for hog horse hair | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: Is 2 inch Dacron a good substitute for the original hog/horse hair fill in my upholstered, web ... A: No, it is not, the best substitute for the original hog/horse hair pad is firm foam 1" to 2" thick, ... | |
| Zigzag spring underneath settee | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: I had a spring replaced recently underneath my settee which had snapped. It lasted for a few months ... A: Everitt. The spring is supposed to have a slight bend to it at the very end so that it will not ... | |
| tieing couch springs | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: i have zig zag springs in my couch. I just replaced the clips that hold them and am trying to tie ... A: Well I have good news for you, the hard part - which is replacing the clips, you have already done. ... | |
| Replacing Webbing on wood chair | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I have noted your answer to Caroline about elastic Webbing. I bought 3 5/8 synthetic webbing and a ... A: It is best to place them as close as possible, leave no less than 1 inch and no more than 3 inches ... | |
| dinningchair | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: i have a dinning chair with a fabric back that contains only cushion in between.the chair has an ... A: You are right on as far as the order of upholstering goes. First the outside back, then the padding ... | |
| sinuous spring in chair | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I am refinishing a chair. I am ready to reupholster the chair but when I sat in the chair it sank a ... A: I'm sorry that my original answer did not come, so I will write it again for you. The problem you ... | |
| dining chair seats | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I am restoring 4 dining chairs and having removed all the jute webbing I have been adviced to use ... A: I am restoring 4 dining chairs and having removed all the jute webbing I have been adviced to use ... | |
| The Mystery Chair | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: Mark: Thank you so much for your prompt reply about my chair. Now, I really don't know what to do. ... A: To me the solution to your dilemma is simple, the chair is wonderful the way it is. I believe it ... | |
| Trying to identify a chair | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: Miller: I have been corresponding with Eileen Cronk (Antiques & Collectibles) at AllExperts.com in ... A: The pictures are very small, from what I can see here are my finding. The chair is typical mass ... | |
| Down furniture pillow | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a McCreary sectional @ Macy's and the seat pillows are 9% down/feather combo-but now ... A: instead of directly with foam and it doesn't feel right. they claim it was beacuse people were ... | |
| what do I do next? | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I have started a reupholstering project of a seat and back chair with arms opened. The springs are ... A: Webbing is to hold coil springs in place, zig-zag or no-sag springs do not use any webbing, it ... | |
| Newly Upholstered Antique Couch | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: A few years back I had some reupholster an old mohair couch. I had new upholstery on the outside ... A: You should replaced the cushion cores with what is currently in them which is called a spring ... | |
| reupholstering | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: The back rest of my dining room chairs have those little pegs that cover the screws which are glued ... A: unfortunately there is not a good way to remove them, if they are not glued in place it may be ... | |
| reupholstering a couch, loveseat, and oversized chair | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: I have 3 pieces of micro-fiber, suede furniture that is in good condition, but I would like to cover ... A: You have several options, one is to cut the cushions loose and change the back to a loose pillow ... | |
| Leather Furniture | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: We are looking at buying some leather furniture and came accross something. Some sofas have ... A: Loose and removable cushions are preferable over attached cushions. The furniture with the loose ... | |
| re-webbing | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to make sure I know what I am doing before I attempt to re-web my parents' couch. The ... A: don't take off the braces and try to re-use them, the whole thing will come apart if you did that. ... | |
| Down filled furniture cushions | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a couch which is about 5 years old and it seems to me that the cushions which are down ... A: Seat cushions which contain a combination of down and feathers, such as 25/75 which is the most ... | |
| sagging seats of dining room chairs | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: The dining room chairs I have are in great shape except for the seating cushions. The cushions are ... A: your first suggestion is the best one, replace the rubber webbing with ply-wood. 1/4 inch thick ... | |
| Fixing dining room chairs | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I am so happy to have found you. I have been searching for some help! I have four cane back chairs ... A: The job is very easy to do and fairly common when people do not want to replace the damaged cane. ... | |
| fix button on couch | 12/25/2008 |
| Q: One of the 5 buttons that go across the back of my couch has fallen off. These are directly on the ... A: to replace the button is a fairly simple procedure and can easily be done by someone who is handy. ... | |
| glue piping back on back of chair without seeing edge | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: Starting a new project. I just bought a fabulous antique french dining room suite (Andrew Malcolm). ... A: No, there is no way to do that, you would need a special foot on the sewing machine to create two ... | |
| pry fabric off back of dining room chair | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: Starting a new project. I just bought a fabulous antique french dining room suite (Andrew Malcolm). ... A: The double welt currently on the chair should be glued on, rarely are there also staples, so yes, ... | |
| Squeaky dining room chairs | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: We bought a Charles Barr Dining Room set some years ago. The seat pads are upholstered but are ... A: If indeed the chair frames are sound - and to just confirm that do the following, remove the loose ... | |
| reupholstery | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: My'40's sofa is stuffed with straw and I would like to keep it original when I reupholster.It is ... A: The only way to clean the existing stuffing it to thoroughly vacuum it. Straw, cellulose fiber, ... | |
| Couch with Spring Cushion Inserts | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: Do you know of any manufacturers that make a couch with spring inserts in the cushions? Or a store ... A: spring cushions are rarely made any longer in new furniture, so unfortunately I can't give you the ... | |
| Foam salvaging/alternatives | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I was given a small sturdy kitchen table with 2-chairs which were structurally sound, but had an ... A: All foam, by it's nature will turn to an ugly unsightly brown as it ages, so if the foam looks bad ... | |
| Bernhardt Atrium Dining Room Set | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a question for you regarding the dining room chairs that accompany this set. I just purchased ... A: I suppose this may have been done to create a more comfy seat? Most likely that is the ... | |
| importance of the grain of the fabric | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I have dining room chairs with a seat, front and back of the chair. I need to lay out the 3 pieces, ... A: The direction in which you cut the fabric has absolutely no bearing on whether the fabric will ... | |
| living room side chair | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: I am re-upholstering a pair of side chairs for my LR. They were manufactured in 1972. The back is ... A: I'm worried that it's because the original chair had buttons. Yes, you are correct, the ... | |
| Replacing Leather Sofa Cushions | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: I recently acquired a brown leather/polyurethane sofa that appears to be in excellent condition. ... A: Somewhere on the sofa should be a label that in small print states "do not remove under penalty of ... | |
| Repair Thomasville Dining Room Chairs | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: We would like to have firmer support than the webbing offers on our dining room chairs. Is there a ... A: yes, that is exactly what you should do. Use 1/2 plywood, rather than the standard 1/4 plywood ... | |
| Old? Rocking Chair | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I just reupholstered an old(?) rocking chair. It had sinuous springs and a burlap covered box of ... A: I think you are most likely correct, based on your observations it appears the chair may date back ... | |
| How to Refill Attached Cushions on a Leather Couch and Refinish the Surface | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6 year old Black Leather Couch and Loveseat. Some of the cushions have flattened out a bit ... A: Those pictures help a lot. The reason there is cloth on the back of the leather cushions is to let ... | |
| How to Refill Attached Cushions on a Leather Couch and Refinish the Surface | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6 year old Black Leather Couch and Loveseat. Some of the cushions have flattened out a bit ... A: It may be possible to open the zipper and add filling material, but you must add to the bottom and ... | |
| changing loose cushion seat to attached uphostered | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I want to change my dining room chair seat from a loose cushion seat attached by tassels to an ... A: Well I just advised someone not to change their traditional style sofa to a contemporary one. Your ... | |
| Wooden Hope Chest | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: The chest is lined with very nice cedar,the out side has not been finished, it has wood simliar to ... A: By coincidence I had exactly the same thing with a chest that my mother had. I covered it in suede ... | |
| Foam couch cushions with spring inserts | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: Where can you buy replacement couch cushions that have spring inserts wrapped in foam? My old couch ... A: H.R. stands for high resilience, which is a superior quality. Available from Foamorder.com the # ... | |
| Dining Chairs Webbing | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: We have a set of Thomasville dining room chairs that used a single piece of synthetically ... A: Yes, you should replace the existing webbing with rubber webbing and weave it or as you say ... | |
| dining room cushion - SEAT BASE | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: We bought our solid oak dining set 13 years ago. The furniture (buffet, hutch, etc) is well-made; ... A: Particle board is very poor for chair seats and and will break as you have experienced. No, it is ... | |
| Foam couch cushions with spring inserts | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: Where can you buy replacement couch cushions that have spring inserts wrapped in foam? My old couch ... A: I suggest you contact Cushion Works, 3320 18th St., San Francisco 415 552 6220, they make ... | |
| Leather Sofa Upholstery | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: I've a nice leather sofa I'd like to keep. The leather is still great but the attached seat cushions ... A: It is also possible that there is a zipper on the back and that you can add filler material from the ... | |
| Frame for upholstering back of dining room chair | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I'm making my own dining room chairs and am working on my second prototype but I've been putting off ... A: I saw the sketches of your chair. To make the back without any welting or braid along the sides you ... | |
| Frame for upholstering back of dining room chair | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: I'm making my own dining room chairs and am working on my second prototype but I've been putting off ... A: Without seeing the chair itself the question is a little difficult to answer, however, from what you ... | |
| can coil springs sag? | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: Here's a question for you all the way from the Netherlands: I recently bought a set of 1930's ... A: Six coil springs in a dining chair seat is the proper amount, and yes, they do loose their tension ... | |
| Upholstering over curved chair backs | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: however I think I did not explain my problem clearly. I would like to know how to upholster over a ... A: You are right on and should have very little difficulty doing the job since you are so well on the ... | |
| reupholstering sofa and chairs | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: Mark, I just had my furniture reupholstered. It was done in velvet. When I interviewed them, they ... A: I am not familiar with Massachusetts furniture laws, most States do have strict furniture and ... | |
| reupholstering sofa and chairs | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: Mark, I just had my furniture reupholstered. It was done in velvet. When I interviewed them, they ... A: The experience you describe is about as bad as it gets. I do not know what state you are located in ... | |
| recovering diningroom chairs | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I have 8 diningroom chairs to recover and the wood frame seat has elastic webbing. Should I replace ... A: You are right on with your suggestions. There are several web sites that sell upholstery supplies ... | |
| Synthetic leather recliner | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a synthetic leather recliner and recently the leather on the headrest gets stiff and ... A: What you describe is indeed normal for ultra suede, it has a small nap, like a velvet or a carpet ... | |
| Reuphostering a U shaped chair seat | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to upholster a 1952 chair. The chair seat is shaped like a U...the back of the seat is ... A: The fabric you select will be very important, it must be very soft and pliable, if it is stiff and ... | |
| cain chair seat replacement | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: Is there a replacement for a cain seat? It's a 15 1/2" round piece that's cain with the slots for ... A: There is a very simple way to remedy your problem. Cut a piece of 1/4 inch thick plywood large ... | |
| Synthetic leather recliner | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a synthetic leather recliner and recently the leather on the headrest gets stiff and ... A: Unfortunately there is little that can be done, the drying out and cracking is caused by salt on ... | |
| bumps on leather | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: Are small, round bumps on leather a "natural" defect of the leather and what is the cause and do ... A: the answer to your question is both yes and no, let me explain. Leather is a natural product and ... | |
| Sofa springs and webbing | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: First of all, great insight to your previous questions... I have an old Queen Anne sofa that ... A: To replace the webbing, nail or staple the webbing along the back edge of the sofa by folding an ... | |
| reupholstering an old wooden rocker | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I received this piece already stripped down to the 6 springs in the seat. The springs are still ... A: this is the order of padding, 1. cotton batting over the springs to prevent squeeks. 2. burlap over ... | |
| Reupholster Dining Room Chair backs | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I have already done the seats w/o problem but how do I do the backs of my dining room chairs? The ... A: this is a fun question, there are two things here, one; for someone to do the job for you for $ 25 ... | |
| Diningrooms Chairss | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: Mark, Just found your site and am very impressed. I want to recover my dining room chairs - they ... A: Only remove the brass nails if you plan on reupholstering the chairs, if you do not plan on ... | |
| Leather Couch Sags | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a leather couch that has attached cushions. The couch has begun to sag badly. I have ... A: yours is a very common problem. From what you describe there are no springs in your sofa, that is ... | |
| reattaching a no sag spring | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a now sag spring that has come loose from the frame of a double recliner. Since there is ... A: The job is very dangerous and I believe you should take it to an upholsterer to have him or her do ... | |
| Reupholstering dining room chairs | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased a new dining room table and six chairs. I do not like the new, existing ... A: Great question, yes you can upholster right over the existing fabric since it is new. Scotchguard ... | |
| replacing coil springs | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautiful old sofa with nice show wood from the 40's. I want to install no-sag springs in ... A: great question. You are doing a smart thing, it is a trade secret that once you sit on a sofa there ... | |
| webbing replacement | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: We have 4 dining room chairs that were re webbed 20 years ago. They have become squeaky because of ... A: The webbing you have is BFM webbing, 100% jute. It has a life expectancy well up to 15+ years if in ... | |
| Upholstering dining room chairs | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: I need to re-upholster my dining room chairs. The seat is simple and I understand how to do it. ... A: Most likely there is a groove around the perimeter of the oval. The fabric is stapled into the ... | |
| webbing | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: I need to reweb some dining room slip seats.What should I be looking for - I've seen reference to ... A: regular jute webbing is the best. For seats, it has two black stripes, which indicates it is heavy ... | |
| cushion problems wih chair and sofa | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a Stickley chair and sofa that are a little over 1 year old. The cushions on the back are ... A: the foam used in your cushions is of an extremely poor quality, cheap junk. There is a white law ... | |
| leather recliner repair | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I have a leather recliner and hassock. The swivel feature on the bottom of the chair--the lazy ... A: the swivel base was manufactured by Leggitt & Platt. They may be able to tell you what retailer ... | |
| Lost finish on Leather "chesterfield style" captains chair | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: We bought a green leather chesterfield style captains chair. When we got home my wife gave it a ... A: First of all you are very lucky to live in a clean house. Your wife may inadvertently have removed ... | |
| Seat Cushion sag | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: I have a new recliner. I'm a big guy. The floor model in the store doesn't sag but my seat cushion ... A: The problem you experience is a common one, the reason the cushion in your chair has sagged from ... | |
| Upholstering dining room chair backs | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I have dining chairs with cane inserts. I would like to totally cover the front and backs of the ... A: Nail from the front of the panel toward the back of the chair. The brads will go through the panel ... | |
| Upholstering dining room chair backs | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I have dining chairs with cane inserts. I would like to totally cover the front and backs of the ... A: The job is not difficult. You can remove the cane or leave it, if the cane is woven with round ... | |
| down filled cushions | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: I live in Burlington, Ontario but I am close to the Buffalo NY border and I can also order online. ... A: There are several approaches to changing the filling in your chair cushion, the best would be to ... | |
| Converting boxed cushions to slip cushions | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: On my dining room chairs, I would like to reupholster them but would also like to make them less ... A: yes it is possible to change a slip seat with welted detail to a pull over style which is less ... | |
| Leather/Pleather recliner | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: I am wondering what would cause the leather to become "sticky". I had a casmier throw over the chair ... A: assuming that nothing has been spilled on the chair either by you or someone who has not told you. ... | |
| Replacement seat for Stickley Rocking Chair | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: I recently purchased a L & J. G. Stickley Mission Rocking Chair Model No. 836. It is missing the ... A: Stickley furniture is usually constructed with a seat that has a wood frame, on top of that webbing, ... | |
| flat leather cushions | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 leather couches with seat cushions that are attached. They are now flat as a pancake. How ... A: It is not possible to refill or add filling to attached cushions without first taking most of the ... | |
| bergere chair and ottoman | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: I just obtained an almost new bergere chair and ottoman on eBay and want to reupholster it. You ... A: A bergere chair should be easier to do than a wing chair. Since there will be some curves, be sure ... | |
| leather recliner more detail | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: I have a Bradington-Young leather recliner that I purchased at Furnitureland South. It was on ... A: it is possible to re-glue the frame but doing so will be costly. I would deal with Furnitureland ... | |
| upholstering furniture | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: Mark Miller, I have a yearning to learn to upholster furniture. Could you possibly share with me ... A: The talents you should possess to become an upholsterer is the ability to work with your hands. If ... | |
| Upholstery and Hot tub | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a indoor hot tub in my basement and I would like to know what type upholstery for my basement ... A: Great question, in my opinion if you purchase a dehumidifier you should not have much of a problem. ... | |
| Replace foam in recliner loveseat cushions | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: This is my first time viewing your site. It is wonderful and I thank you for efforts! I have a ... A: You should also check the back of the cushion to see if the is a zipper there, if there is it may ... | |
| attached cushions | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: I am shopping for a leather couch and they all seem to come with the back and bottom cushions ... A: your observation is very good. The reason is that with leather cushions it is not possible to have ... | |
| Upholstering back of new dining room chairs??? | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: I have 8 new dining room chairs with some carving on the chair back. The seats are already ... A: it is never a good idea to change a high quality chair style. However, there are reasons one may ... | |
| Upholstering vinyl over dining room chairs | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: Origonal message was:I am trying to do the dining room chairs of my daughter with vinyl for ... A: I suggest you begin by completely removing the existing upholstery material. You can pry the ... | |
| reupholstery of teak DR chairs | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I have lovely Wim and Karen teak dining room chairs that are about 20 years old and need recovering. ... A: I recommend that you purchase HR (high resilience) foam, medium firm density. That quality foam ... | |
| reupholstery of teak DR chairs | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: I have lovely Wim and Karen teak dining room chairs that are about 20 years old and need recovering. ... A: There is no place to buy precut plywood seats, you would have to go to a lumber yard and buy ... | |
| chairs: replace foam without removing fabric? | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a set of 4 vintage klismos-style dining room chairs with semi-circular back rests and ... A: Repairing "from the bottom" is sometimes possible, and good for you for considering that. The ... | |
| chairs: replace foam without removing fabric? | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a set of 4 vintage klismos-style dining room chairs with semi-circular back rests and ... A: Great question, and Klismos style chairs are indeed wonderful. Very valuable. There are no other ... | |
| Reupholstering Scandinavian dining chair | 8/11/2007 |
| Q: We are able to remove the upholstered back of our Scandinavian dining chair, but unable to see how ... A: it just occurred to me that maybe there is a row of staples in a groove along the bottom. If that ... | |
| recliner loveseat mechanism | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: however, I did notice you answered a question about recliner repairs so I'm hoping you can help. I ... A: Mechanical furniture as it is called in the trade is sold with the idea of a lifespan and is then ... | |
| chairs | 7/15/2007 |
| Q: I obtained 2 identical chairs but one is a little larger than the other, upholstered with wood trim. ... A: I think you are very lucky, from the description that you gave me your chairs probably date back to ... | |
| rrepairing wicker seat frame and springs | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: The springs in the cushion of our antique wicker chair is lop-sided. I removed the cushion frame ... A: You should be able to do the job yourself. Go on the Internet and type in "upholstery supplies" ... | |
| Reupholster attached leather cushion | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: Is is possible to recover only the top portion (the part you sit on) of an attached leather couch ... A: I suggest that you advise the furniture store that you intend to file a complaint with the Bureau of ... | |
| Reupholster attached leather cushion | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: Is is possible to recover only the top portion (the part you sit on) of an attached leather couch ... A: What you would like to do is a very good idea and would increase the life of your sofa. The problem ... | |
| Removing chair back | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: I want to reupholster my dining room chairs. The backs are upholstered where there is fabric on the ... A: There should be a decorative trim glued on, such as gimp, braid or decorative nails. Remove that ... | |
| SOFA | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: Mark Hi, I have a leather sofa and the middle top cushion goes in, it sinks. The cushions are not ... A: The cushions you have are called attached cushions. If there are buttons in them it may be possible ... | |
| Couch cushions | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: We recently purchased two used couches and have noticed an unpleasant odor coming from the cushions. ... A: first of all you do have to replace the fillers, the odor will never come out. Measure the cushion ... | |
| coil springs | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: I have inherited an old couch. It seems to be a very well made piece, frame is well braced with two ... A: Yes, you can do the repair yourself or take it to an upholsterer and ask them to do so for you. The ... | |
| couch cushions getting too small | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: When I bought our couch, the three cushions fit very well. Over time, they have compacted such that ... A: I think to solve your problem you should replace the cushion fillers. Most likely they currently ... | |
| Recliner handle | 4/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a Chateau d'Ax recliner. The pull handle on the side is broken. There is no resistance on the ... A: most recliners are what the trade considers disposable furniture, which means it has a life ... | |
| Plantation Shutter repair | 3/31/2007 |
| Q: The staples that are used to connect the levor to the blind slats are needing to be replaced. My ... A: Although your question has nothing to do with upholstering furniture I do think I have the answer to ... | |
| can't find a comfortable pitch on any sofa deck | 3/10/2007 |
| Q: Over the years, have bought several low-end and high-end sofas. NONE had a comfortable seat deck, ... A: what you may have done without realizing it is purchase sofa's that had what is known as a soft ... | |
| SOFA REPAIR | 2/17/2007 |
| Q: Mark Hi, I am in the process of reparing a Sofa, when you sit down the center of the seat pard goes ... A: Most likely the reason you sit down too low is that the coil springs no longer support the proper ... | |
| Upholstering Dining Room Chairs | 2/15/2007 |
| Q: Mark, We have successfully re-upholstered our dining room chairs. Is it necessary to screw the ... A: if the slipseats sit behind a recessed groove, so they do not lay loose on top of the seat and can ... | |
| replacement of seat cushion foam | 12/22/2006 |
| Q: I recently purchased an used mid century chair but the foam needs to be replaced, both for the back ... A: you can take the cushion covers to Cushion Works on 17th street near South Van Ness and they will ... | |
| chair back insert replacement | 12/9/2006 |
| Q: The vynal chair back inserts for my old dining room suite keep falling out of the chair back. I ... A: the reason they fall out is not because the glue dries so fast, but hotmelt glue will not stick to ... | |
| Recliner repair | 11/26/2006 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old leather recliner that sustained damage today when a 300 lb.+ individual sat in ... A: recliners are considered disposable furniture in the industry. That means that they are ... | |
| furniture plugs | 11/14/2006 |
| Q: What's the best way to remove these to get at the screws? I'm planning on simply drilling and ... A: you are 100% on the right track, and should remove them exactly as you propose to do. It is ... | |
| removing the back from dining room chairs | 10/23/2006 |
| Q: My husband and I want to reupholster our dining room chairs. The seats are a no brainer but the ... A: the backs have to come out without breaking the dowels. I am confused when you say there are two ... | |
| attaching skirt | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: I've been doing so well up until now. I am attaching a gathered skirt to my wing chair. I guess I ... A: usually that is remedied by using larger staples. 9/16 length is the largest upholstery staples ... | |
| putting on the back | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: I put the flex tacking strip across the top of the back and was going to reuse the metal tacking ... A: you can not re-use the prenailed tack strip that came off with the old fabric. Put the plygrip on ... | |
| flexible tacking strip | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: Great, quick, reply Mark. It is a bit confusing but I will try. A diagram will help if you can send ... A: I will wait a few days to see if you can do the job without a diagram. It is really more difficult ... | |
| flexible tacking strip | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: I am doing my first upholstery project and am stuck at the flexible tacking strip. I can't figure ... A: sure, the product you are refering to is called ply grip strip. The side with the round holes goes ... | |
| How to repair the wicker part of a chair | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: Miller, I hope you can help me out with this question. My mother has a dining room set, which she ... A: There are several factors to consider here, first of all what was the original (wicker) cain. Look ... | |
| Re-stuffing leather dining room chairs | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: I am considering buying a very cool set of dining chairs from an antique shop. The leather is in ... A: I doubt very much that removing the old leather and then replacing it can be done by either an ... | |
| Nap direction on sofa reupholstering | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: I'm reupholstering my couch in a velvety fabric. Is there a standard convention as to direction for ... A: You are correct, the nap - smooth should go down on the back, both the inside back and outside ... | |
| Bay window cushion | 8/2/2006 |
| Q: I'm planning to make a cushion for the bay window. Is it better to make it with foam pads or pieces ... A: I am not sure what you mean by pieces of foam, are you talking about schredded foam?? Here is what ... | |
| scope of upholsterer work | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: How do I find an upholsterer to recover a sofabed and dining room chairs and do they also clean and ... A: I believe that the best way to find a good upholsterer is from a personal referal, someone who has ... | |
| Locating Someone to Make a Sofa | 6/21/2006 |
| Q: I am having trouble finding a sofa to fit in with the style of our Texas farmhouse. Everything in ... A: Yes, first of all I would not go to a small upholstering shop that primarily reupholsters furniture ... | |
| Refilling leather couch cushions | 6/15/2006 |
| Q: Would you mind going a bit more into details on why bonded dacron is not as good s quilted? Thanks ... A: Bonded dacron is held together by a process whereby the outer dacron fibers are heated, this causes ... | |
| Refilling leather couch cushions | 6/15/2006 |
| Q: How hard is it to renew a leather couch by refilling the bottom cushions that have gone flat? Where ... A: my first recommendation is that you take the cushion to an upholstery shop and ask them to add ... | |
| LOVE SEAT | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: Mark Hi, I purchase a Chateau D'AX love seat from Macys 2 years ago and have problems with one ... A: The problem is not with the cushion, in all likely hood. The material the repairman added is bonded ... | |
| Dining Room Chairs | 3/9/2006 |
| Q: Followup To Question - I am a senior who owns a contemporary solid oak dining room set etc. I ... A: Spinali, Almost any upholsterer is qualified to do slip seats, since they are very simple to do. ... | |
| Dining Room Chairs | 3/8/2006 |
| Q: I am a senior who owns a contemporary solid oak dining room set...one regulation size rect. table ... A: Spinali, The seats you want to reupholster are called slip seats. After 20 years of use it may be ... | |
| Cleaning Upholstery | 2/13/2006 |
| Q: We recently purchased a 5 yr old couch (Broyhill cloth) and are attempting to remove a few stains in ... A: The reason manufacturers discourage removing cushion covers is that it is not always easy to ... | |
| Bed Box Spring | 1/17/2006 |
| Q: We have purchased and moved into our first home. However, our 1.5 year old box spring will not fit ... A: I very seriously doubt that you can cut it without ruining it. Most boxsprings are very flimsy in ... | |
| spare bed | 7/1/2005 |
| Q: Which is better to buy--a sofa bed or a futon?I need a spare bed for occassional use and space is ... A: A futon the way I understand it is a folded plad and usually doesn't have a frame, so I can't give ... | |
| spare bed | 7/1/2005 |
| Q: Which is better to buy--a sofa bed or a futon?I need a spare bed for occassional use and space is ... A: Great question !!! I vote for neither. I also live in a small space and bought one of those ... | |
| Reupholstering an old sofa | 5/31/2005 |
| Q: None were surprised by the questions and they were all happy to talk about their work. I have one ... A: Computers apparently are not as fast as we think they are, guess what, your response to the ... | |
| Reupholstering an old sofa | 5/30/2005 |
| Q: My husband's great aunt has left us an old (maybe antique?) sofa-- it is in lovely condition (it was ... A: First the fabric, will the upholsterer allow you to supply your own or must you buy it from him. ... | |
| Type of Chair | 2/21/2005 |
| Q: Mark, Maybe you can help me. There is a furniture website called Horchow.com. On this week's site, ... A: sometimes this chair is also called a canape chair, or wing chair with a top, enclosed wing chair, ... | |
| straw(?) stuffing | 2/18/2005 |
| Q: I bought an ottoman at a thrift store a couple of years ago and have finally opted to make a new ... A: highly unlikely that it is actually stuffed with straw, but possible, no matter it can't be very ... | |
| slipcovering | 2/18/2005 |
| Q: I have recently moved into a home twice the size of my previous home and need some furniture to fill ... A: there is no way that you can increase the size of furniture by slipcovering it. That would require ... | |
| office chair question | 2/11/2005 |
| Q: I'm about to engage in my first reupholstery project. It's an office chair. I've managed to remove ... A: You are not clear what you are trying to remove the back from, but it's either from the seat or from ... | |
| Discoloration on Leather-Like Sofa | 1/8/2005 |
| Q: Sir: I have a dark green leather-like sofa of very nice quality. Trouble is, something discolored ... A: it's very difficult to re-dye leather, I suggest you check to see if there is an outlet for leather ... | |
| tying springs | 12/4/2004 |
| Q: I have printed out some information on tying the springs for a sofa. The springs in front of the ... A: your goal is to tie the springs so that the surface of the "deck" - which is the surface the ... | |
| channel back sofa | 10/20/2004 |
| Q: I am taking apart an old sofa. It has got to be one of the best upholstery jobs ever. I want to ... A: use the existing batting, rather than new. It is actually cotton that has been rolled. Wrap the ... | |
| Desk Chair Upholstery | 9/3/2004 |
| Q: I have an old desk chair that was my fathers. The seat is completely gone. I am taking it down to ... A: there is no kit to do this. An upholsterer may sell you the supplies you need. The seat is ... | |
| Reupholstering a couch. | 6/10/2004 |
| Q: I am thinking of reupholstering a couch. I have already reupholstered my car seats and found it ... A: Automobile and furniture upholstering are two different skils. Automobile upholstering requires ... | |
| sofa | 5/29/2004 |
| Q: , I have a federal revival sofa from the 20's--I wonder if you could tell me approx. how much it ... A: In a large metropolitan area the labor should start at around $1,500.--. The fabric the sofa will ... | |
| chair reupholstering | 5/6/2004 |
| Q: I have an eames-style lounge chair and ottoman that I need to get reupholstered and I had a few ... A: Your first question I can't answer because even within a city prices can vary from shop to shop ... | |
| Suede Leather sofa | 4/20/2004 |
| Q: I was delighted to find your name associated with my recent purchase of a second-hand Domar ... A: I'm glad that you have a Domar sofa, and that you like it so much. Domar was in business 20 years ... | |
| sofa | 3/3/2004 |
| Q: I currently looking at building a mission style sofa for our home. In looking at the drawings, they ... A: either an oldfashioned spring cushion, made with a center spring and then wrapped with foam and ... | |
| becoming a certified journeyman | 2/29/2004 |
| Q: What qualifications do I need to obtain a "journeymans card"? (in cabinetry) A: By joining a labor union in that field. After completing an aprenticeship the labor union should ... | |
| Rocker repair | 1/24/2004 |
| Q: My wife has an old oak rocker that has one of the rocker pieces broken at the round rear leg tenon. ... A: I'd definitely replace the existing rocker with a new one, rather than attempt to repair the ... | |
Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks
Answers by Expert:
Mark H. Miller
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
custom furniture upholsterery. Became journeyman custom upholsterer in 1969. Certified by Upholsterers Intl. Union. Worked at San Francisco`s most prestigious upholstering shop as senior upholsterer. Am now president of Domar Upholstered Furniture Inc. Have upholstered for Presidents Reagan, Nixon, Clinton and the Queen of England. formerly taught classes in custom upholstering at the San Francisco Community College. Happy to answer all your upholstering questions.
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