{"id":31321,"date":"2021-06-11T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T06:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/?p=31321"},"modified":"2024-02-12T17:34:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T17:34:53","slug":"five-upholstery-nightmares-and-how-to-solve-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/?p=31321","title":{"rendered":"Five upholstery nightmares revealed with tips on how to solve them"},"content":{"rendered":"

As an upholsterer – whether you\u2019re just starting out or have been at it for years – there are some things you come across that will cause your heart to sink. Unfortunately, no one is immune to the nightmares that lie beneath the surface or the hidden secrets that spell upholstery hell. Here are the five discoveries that strike fear every time!<\/p>\n

Moths<\/strong><\/h2>\n

They may look harmless, but when you see these tiny, winged creatures come into contact with fabric, it\u2019s a catastrophe. As an upholsterer, an infestation of moths is possibly the most disappointing discovery to make. If there was any part of the piece you\u2019re working on worth saving, the appearance of moths means it all has to go. Sadly, you can\u2019t take the risk of leaving anything other than the frame intact, so everything else needs to be ripped off and got rid of.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, I\u2019ve only had one completely disastrous run-in with moths in eight years, but it does surprise me how many households still suffer with them. Clothes moths mainly feed on wool clothing, carpets, and rugs and, of course, upholstered furniture. They will also feed on synthetics or cotton blends but are less attracted to manmade fabrics such as polyesters and velvets. Damage most likely appears in hidden locations like crevices and in between cushions. When they take grip, it\u2019s a disaster!<\/p>\n

The only solution is to strip everything away and let the bare frame sit. When you\u2019re sure there\u2019s no evidence of moths or their larvae left, the piece needs to be professionally fumigated. What a palaver!<\/p>\n

\"A-moth-bitten-brown-upholstered-chair-700x900\"<\/p>\n

Woodworm<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Next up on the list of things you really don\u2019t want to come across is another small but sinister creature – woodworm. An infestation of woodworm (the wood-boring larva of the furniture beetle) is relatively easy to spot as they leave a mass of tiny holes in the wood when the adults mature and fly away. If they\u2019ve got into the joints, you may find that the frame is wobbly too. One way to spot if they\u2019re active is to hit the wood. If a flurry of fine sawdust comes out, there\u2019s a good chance they\u2019re still busy!<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe appearance of woodworm doesn\u2019t make a piece of furniture a total write-off. But it\u2019s not a fun prospect to tackle.\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Chemical treatments involve injecting each and every hole. When purchasing and bringing old furniture into your home, check it over for indications of a woodworm infestation and ensure that it has been treated to drive out any remaining larvae and make it harder to take hold in the future. Older pieces of furniture that may have been subject to woodworm attacks in the past may need joints securing by drilling out and replacing dowels.\"A-woodworrm-bitten-brown-wooden-chair-with-multiple-mini-holes-700x900\"<\/p>\n

Bodge Jobs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019m fully supportive of anyone having a go at basic upholstery themselves, but it\u2019s important to know your limits and when to call in a pro. Bodge jobs, badly executed repairs and a lack of knack can create big problems. I\u2019ve come across all sorts of unbelievable cock-ups and makeshift solutions. People that use plywood instead of webbing, for instance \u2013 a common quick fix that does NOT make for a comfy landing.<\/p>\n

The trouble is that some chairs that have been done up look innocent enough from first inspection, but undercover all sorts of problems can be waiting. Having to fix issues, take away what\u2019s not right and re-tread old ground is one of the most frustrating upholstery challenges of all.<\/p>\n

Wonky Webbing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Just because you don\u2019t see it, doesn\u2019t mean it should be disregarded. For me, I always make sure every project I work on looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. In other words, get the foundations right before you even begin to think about anything else. When it comes to webbing, it\u2019s so common to see a poor job and people don\u2019t use enough. Sometimes I see it and wonder how the entire seat hasn\u2019t fallen through.<\/p>\n

These days, I\u2019m coming across more and more elastic webbing and I have to say I\u2019m not a fan. In my opinion, there is nothing as reliable as good old black and white, jute, herringbone webbing. And don\u2019t scrimp on it! A decent, structured webbing base will make all the difference between a chair you sit \u2018in\u2019 and a chair you sit \u2018on\u2019. And elastic webbing? Forget it!<\/p>\n

\"Chair-with-elastic-webbing-with-cracked-yellow-sponge-700x900\"<\/p>\n

Metal Back Tack (AKA Ply-Grip)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fixed with staples to fold fabric back over and create a blind seam, you may love Ply-grip, but I think its lethal! Like dealing with shark\u2019s teeth, it\u2019s a beast to come up against. While it may apply nicely, it creates a nightmare for anyone having to strip it away down the line. Not only does Ply-grip bruise velvet, you have to give the piece a real whack to fix it and it\u2019s vicious stuff. Call me old-fashioned, but I always favour a slip stitch. And that\u2019s the kind of satisfying process that definitely won\u2019t give you nightmares!<\/p>\n

\"Silver-metal-ply-stuck-within-brown-material-held-up-by-blue-gloves-700x900\"<\/p>\n

Thinking of learning the craft of upholstery? Sign up to my total beginner\u2019s guide Virtual Vintique: Upholstery Uncovered<\/a> and take\u00a0<\/strong>the first step towards seeing if learning upholstery could be for you. You’ll learn how to solve common upholstery nightmares like we’ve discussed above.<\/p>\n

If you need help with an upholstery project,\u00a0drop me a line for an initial, no-obligation quote by filling in the\u00a0online contact form<\/a>. Alternatively, you can email me directly at\u00a0hello@test.vintiqueupholstery.com<\/a>\u00a0or call me on\u00a007764 182 783<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As an upholsterer – whether you\u2019re just starting out or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":31327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-upholstery-tips","category-vintique-upholstery-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Upholstery Nightmares & How To Solve Them | Vintique Upholstery<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn more about five common upholstery nightmares and get expert tips from upholstery expert Sharon O'Connor on how to tackle them head on. 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