Couch Re-Upholstering

[Steve Heywood]

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.

[j54mark]

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.

Good luck,

Mark

[myboyburt]

Hello Steve,

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.

[tin can luv]

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

[Cedars]

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

[gail]

How many yards of fabric did you need for dinette seats and a sofa? tx, gail z

[whitelight]

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.

[Becky B.]

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.

[starflyte1]

beckybillrea, Very nice!

[94Tri]

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.

[Airslide]

Originally Posted by 94Tri

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!

Vinnie

[94Tri]

Originally Posted by vlamica

I love what you did inside the 94! It looks really great!

Vinnie

Thanks vlamica. We really liked the silver in the material that complimented the aluminum interior skin.

[EmilyK]

We just bought our first Airstream! It's a 1989 Excella. Our sofa is the exact one that you (BeckyB) have pictured. I have a friend who recovers furniture and will make this one gorgeous. But, the fabric I have found is from a mill store, and I'm unsure if I have enough. Do you remember how many yards it took to recover your sofa??? Thanks!

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by EmilyK

We just bought our first Airstream! It's a 1989 Excella. Our sofa is the exact one that you (BeckyB) have pictured. I have a friend who recovers furniture and will make this one gorgeous. But, the fabric I have found is from a mill store, and I'm unsure if I have enough. Do you remember how many yards it took to recover your sofa??? Thanks!

I have no clue how much fabric was used.....I have a hard time remembering what day it is!

[sgschwend]

Industrial Rubbers yardage chart shows 9 yards for a like style couch.

Large fabric patterns/repeats will increase the amount of yardage needed.

Good Luck

[EmilyK]

Originally Posted by sgschwend

Industrial Rubbers yardage chart shows 9 yards for a like style couch.

Large fabric patterns/repeats will increase the amount of yardage needed.

Good Luck

And I bought a little over 10 from 2 cut pieces! Wahoo! I needed to know to be able to take this back long before we remove the sofa during our renovation and take it to the upholsterer. Thanks so much!

[airdreamers]

Originally Posted by Steve Heywood

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.

If you look at the thread "What did you get your trailer today" you will see in post #3535 the couch we had recovered in our 1985 25' Sovereign. The fabric was from Hobby Lobby here in FL. We bought 14 yards with 1.5 yards left over, $39.99 per yard less 30% off the rack. The reason for the amount of fabric being more then others is, it was railroad pattern (matching pattern) as you see. The labor cost as you will see was barter. Excellent workmanship, we are trilled with the results.

[EmilyK]

I tried your link, but I couldn't see post #3535. I'm new here, so please forgive my ineptness.

[airdreamers]

Originally Posted by EmilyK

I tried your link, but I couldn't see post #3535. I'm new here, so please forgive my ineptness.

Google "What did you get your trailer today?" then scroll to post 3535.