In the search for the perfect compromise in buying a new trailer, My wife and I were wondering if anyone had the couch re-upholstered. How easy was it? Cost? Did you go to a furniture or trailer specialist. Any info or pictures would be appreciated.
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Steve Heywood
Ferndale, WA
2005 Ford F250 CC Powerstroke
1997 30' Excella (SOLD)
We had ours re-upholstered by an upholstery shop. There is nothing special about them that should cause any problems. We just removed it and took it to them.
Cost for ours was a little over $500, including the $40/yd fabric. Someone on the forums once posted that they had theirs done in leather at $2,000, so I guess that gives you something of a range.
Do not scrimp on the foam. Foam comes in many grades, and you will want a very good quality foam if you are going to use the couch.
There is one photo of mine which can be seen by clicking on "photos" below. It is partially blocked by the folding table, but you can still see it pretty well.
We did. Our Airstream had been remodeled by a PO, they had removed the couch and put in a computer desk. Once we got "The Tube" we found (what luck!) a used Airstream couch just about 40 or so miles from our house which we purchased and installed in place of the computer desk. It was not cheap to have it redone as I requested they get rid of the early 90's loose fabric look and create a more traditional sofa. To have the couch restyled and re-upholstered, the fabric bumpers (or runners) behind the twins beds and bedroom cabinet inserts recovered cost me a wopping $995.00. Now here's the rub. I'm so concerned about getting my "new" $$$ couch dirty I keep it covered with a blanket! Oh well, maybe I'll take the blanket off just long enough to let folks admire the couch.
__________________ Michelle & Leon
WBCCI # 7032 Region 1, New England Unit
Looking for a WBCCI Unit filled with fun loving folks to camp and travel with in the New England area? Well, you've just found it:
First, try to find a discount fabric/upholstery shop that you can find what you like for less than a fortune, a lot of places have sales too. Then find a place that will reupholster the couch with the fabric you have purchased.
9 times out of 10 the upholstery shop is up-charging the fabric you've picked out, therefore costing you more.
-Ron
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Ron ... now in Newport, Washington
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Good advice Ron!
But
Please be aware many if not most upholstery shops WILL charge you a cutting fee if you bring in your own fabric. This will range from $10 to $20 or more per yard. Find out what the shop you plan to use charges. Next, go to the fabric store, select something you like, and add the cutting charge to get true cost. now go back to the upholsterer, and look at fabric in that price range.
The cutting charge represents their profit per yard on fabric they sell.
Elizabeth in Iowa
__________________ The carpeting is gone! The carpeting is gone! Long live the cork floor!
The calculation on how much fabric is required for dinette cushions/sofa depends on several factors:
- how wide is the upholstery fabric vs the length/width of the cushions;
- can the fabric be "railroaded" i.e. can the cushions be laid out such that the length of the cushion is parallel to the fabric selvage;
- does the fabric have a pattern/stripe that has to be matched, in which case extra fabric is required;
- does the fabric have a nap, i.e. like ultra suede where all pieces need to have the nap flowing in the same direction;
- are the cushions going to be made as boxed cushions or "bull nosed";
- are you going to use another fabric on the bottom, such as vinyl?
To get a good idea for yardage, get some graph paper, cut out pieces for all cushions cut to scale, mark "up" & down" (for grain/nap), remember that if you use the same fabric for top & bottom then figure each piece x 2. For the boxing (sides), add the measurements of all 4 sides. This is the length & the foam width = fabric width. The boxing doesn't have to be in long long piece; however, seams should be hidden at the side or back. Take your "to scale" pieces & lay on your graph paper to scale for the fabric. Remember that most upholstery fabric is 54" wide or greater.
Steve - noted that you are in Ferndale - if you are ever in the Olympia area, there's a great place to buy fabric as well as foam: Foam & Fabric Outlet 3444 Martin Way Olympia. They have great prices & believe that they also do custom work.
I had mine recovered last year. A wholesaler who buys from us for his farmstand also reupholsters furniture (his full time job). We traded him a bin of corn for the work! It was SWEET! I purchased the fabric online. I took pictures of the couch to two different shops & one would charge $350, the other $500. Then I found out about the guy who buys from us & the deal was made! He did a fabulous job.
I realize the initial post is old, but I feel it is worth responding to. My wife and I made some "slip cover" style covers for our couch and dinette last winter. We simply covered the original dated / stained material with material we bought at a local fabric store. It cost us about 150.00 to cover the couch and dinette. So far it has held up very well to our 5 and 3 year old sons. You can see our results if you click on my images in my avatar.
I realize the initial post is old, but I feel it is worth responding to. My wife and I made some "slip cover" style covers for our couch and dinette last winter. We simply covered the original dated / stained material with material we bought at a local fabric store. It cost us about 150.00 to cover the couch and dinette. So far it has held up very well to our 5 and 3 year old sons. You can see our results if you click on my images in my avatar.
I love what you did inside the 94! It looks really great!
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The carpeting is gone! The carpeting is gone! Long live the cork floor!
1994 F-350 7.3 IDI Turbo, C6, Dually
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