Reupholster existing suite or replace?

Gosh - I tried to get to get two very big sofas reupholstered last year. It would have cost £2500 each! I decided against, and bought good second hand sofas from our local British Heart Foundation shop. They also took away the old sofas, and I hope found a use for them.

I think I would try local artisans/reupholsterers next time. Look online for someone who doesn't have to pay for a shop front.

Thank you for all of your comments and advice. We contacted a local firm and someone is coming out this week with samples and a firm quote but his ball park indication from our chat was nearly half of ‘thumbs’ quote.
Will update in due course.

I had a settee and foot stool[Muliti York no longer in business] covered by thumbs 10 years ago and it cost £1300 then. Covers still going strong and wash well.Replacement cushion fillings packed up after about 3 years so had to be replaced at a lot of money. DD has had one from Loaf for 6 years and is already looking for a new one.

I agree, to avoid any company that advertises for anything nationally, always more expensive than a local company plus they don’t need to keep a good reputation (a sorry experience).
I bought a 1960s settee of ebay about 4 years ago, dark wood, caned back and sides, removable cushions in crunchy burnt orange leather (plus could completely come apart for transportation). I reupholstered the whole thing including webbing (with the help of him indoors). The materials and hardware and tools Were bought new, so in total the cost was well over £200 plus £165 for the sofa. It is now a vivid red velour and so comfortable. Was it worth the cost rather than new? Definitely. My local council charges about £70 to take away a sofa. Charity shops can only take goods with fire safety labels on. Freecycle or Trashnothing are great for giving stuff away, even furniture. Hope you have fun chosing the new fabrics or new sofa!

I wanted a bed settee recovered, so joined a traditional upholstery class with our local authority. They do a special rate for pensioners. Took me about a year of classes, but great fun, tutor is brilliant and the fellow students a great crowd, have made new friends and learnt a lot. DH subsequently joined a class for renovating furniture, and stripped and waxed a pair of Ercol chairs from a second hand shop, and I made cushions for them in the class. The materials you use are not cheap, though the tools can usually be borrowed from the tutor. I never did price what the total cost would have been, I’m afraid, it obviously depends on what you can reuse, and the fabric you choose, but we both enjoy the classes.

If you love your existing sofa/suite, and its comfortable I'd follow the advice of everyone and see if you can find someone local to re-upholster for you. An old comfortable sofa is like your favourite shoes.............not to be got rid of unless you have to!!

We gave our 15 year old Multiyork sofas to DS2. 15 years on he got new ones and had to chop up the original ones to take them to the tip. Oh how I wish we’d hung on to them and had them reupholstered. The frames were so well made it was a mission to destroy them.?

We are going to have our 2 sofas recovered & reupholstered. They will cost as much as new ones but the bases are much better made than the ones these days. I am assured they will be as new when we get them back. Fingers crossed. I found I was looking at ones in the same style if I bought new so this makes sense to me but I would do research on who to have to do the work.

My Mum worked as a Consultant for Thumbs, as hated it. She would go out and measure extremely carefully, receive the covers - go to fit and they didn't. Mum had to return to one house 6 times, she was mortified.

She also commented that the fabric was not good quality. I'd find a local upholsterer, they'll probably be cheaper and better quality, but still not cheap.

It's not just the covering that should be looked at for replacing. All the supports and foam/filling should given consideration. No points in new coverings if the strapping and cushions are all saggibg. Had an Ercol suite for years and wanted it recovered. Local upholstery company did the job, 3 seater, armchair and recliner for £1200. Cost may depend on material you choose. Kept it for a couple of years then when moving house decided to sell. Got recovering cost back plus more on selling.

Clevedon

We are looking at new sofas as ours is really not comfortable for my bottom and back! We are being quoted 14- 24 week delivery!!!! Anyone else? This is rediculous

I had to wait 6 months for delivery of my sofa a number of years ago as it was hand made in Italy and there was a long waiting list.

I’m had my house redecorating and am buying a few new bits to modernise the rooms. I’m finding that many items have long delivery times at the moment, my rug took six weeks and the plantation blinds for my bedroom were ordered at the beginning of December but I’m not expecting them until March.

Does it have exposed wood (other than feet)? If not, you might be better going for loose covers as the sofa is still comfortable.

We are looking at new sofas as ours is really not comfortable for my bottom and back! We are being quoted 14- 24 week delivery!!!! Anyone else? This is rediculous

No !!!!!!! £250 to stain and polish, not to re-cover or re-upholster. He did add a little bit of ‘filling’ on one of the well used cushions…..

I would be more inclined to look for a local upholstery firm to do the work for you as their costs will not include the cost of TV/Newspaper advertising for starters. And you can check them out by asking for examples of previous jobs they have undertaken. I live in the NE and was bowled over with the workmanship of a reupholstery job carried out on a relative’s suite.

My husband is actually an upholsterer. If the frame is a hard wood frame and you find the sofa comfortable and fits where you want.It is worth being reupholstered. Loose covers are really not value for money, not just saying that because of husbands work lol ?

Eeeeek £250 to recover a sofa!!!!!
Cost us £4000 for a sofa and chair and £500 for a chair.

I had a G-plan leather suite recovered as our friend's dog bit the arm off the sofa whilst borrowing our house. (they thought it was funny, I did not) However, the sofa part of a suit, never looked the same, it was done in brushed brown material and I never liked it after that so eventually gave the suite away. I never got a G-plan again after that which I regret, as I do love their designs.

Forsythia

We used ‘thumbs’ for our sofa suite but the luxury tailored covers shrunk and we were not impressed. They cost £3,000. Ended up giving it all to charity, with covers taken off, and buying a new Gplan set.

£3k ?????? What are you? Made of money or a mug? Scrap question you've answereyit yourself.

My advice is that if it’s still comfortable I would have it recovered or buy loose covers. Years ago my MIL bought a new Parker knoll suite which she found very uncomfortable. A few years ago I fell into the same trap! ( I have managed to resolve the problem by getting some softer pads for the seat! My MIL went for yet another new suite )

If you like the suite and it is good quality I would have it reupholstered.

CrazyH you did very well to get your son’s sofa recoloured etc, for £250. I have a black leather sectional sofa. One small area was faded so I had someone come to my house to strip just the seat and re-dye. Cost me £200. Worth it as sofa vintage and I’d never part with it.

do get quote from local upholsterer first if you go down this route we have a lovely chap who sorted out the cushions on our sofa "walking" cheap, quick excellent job and obviously local companies need the business

JaneJudge

if you've contacted the company that rhymes with thumbs it might be worth looking at whether you have any local upholsterers as this is what that company do anyway, they outsource

I got a quote from the company that rhymes with thumbs. The woman quoted me for 2 individual covers in different colours as requested on a special offer 2 for 1
When the quote came through by email I noticed the price was considerably higher than she said and only for one set of covers! I emailed back to point out the discrepancy. She didn't reply.
I bought a new sofa instead.
I absolutely hate dishonesty

loopyloo, take the existing cover apart and use it as a pattern, should be quite straightforward if you can sew?