Re-upholstering a chaise longue

[OwlCapone]

In a clear case of heart over head, I bought a dilapidated chaise longue from a charity shop. It needs total refurbishment! The carpentry repairs my dad I can cope with.

However, it is "springs on top of webbing" and I have only a vague idea of how to go about this due to 15 minutes with Google. The springs look fine so I think it is just [ahem] a case of putting new webbing on and then tying the springs down and to each other.

What do I need? Webbing, a stretcher, tacks and string...? (Plus foam, padded layer and fabric but it may be a while before I get to that stage!)

Thanks!

Have you done upholstery before? If not, it may be worth getting a book, as you don't want to waste lovely expensive top covering fabric on doing it too loosely underneath.

You will need a fabric underlay and one to go on top, before the top cover. Yes, a webbing stretcher. Also appropriately coloured thread for seams, any cord to go round it ( and hide dodgy bits). I haven't done it for ages, so can't recall too much.

What sort of chaise longue? If rectangular a bit easier than the rounded version.

Thanks :) It'll be a long while before I get to the top covering I think! It won't be expensive fabric though - I have pets and children. If I can work out a way to make a cushion with a removable cover (which I've made before) I will but that is in the future. The only thing I've never done is springs really, the rest doesn't scare me much.

It is, needless to say, rounded. With a wedge shaped back that goes over a scroll shaped back... :o I'm approaching it one step at a time so carpentry first, then the spring part.

I've "unupholstered" it now so I have a good idea of how it as constructed and the old fabric will provide a rough pattern. I hope.

It matches the construction of a dining chair tutorial I found online so I am perhaps over confident I can do it.

You do need string for the springs, are they in good order? Press them down to make sure.

I love the roll.

You'll be fine.

If you get stuck, however, see if you can find instructions on line by Myra Cazalet. She was a great upholsterer.

They all look good insofar as they all look the same height and aren't bent or anything. They are utterly filthy though! When I sat on it in the charity house clearance place it all felt good (bar the dodgy foot end which needs serious repair.) The back rest is sprung too. It's difficult to tell properly at the moment as the webbing is so loose under them all.

I'll look up Myra Cazalet. Thank you.

I think my first task should probably be to clear the garage up and put together the old Ikea table that's in there so I have a better working height! my back won't survive a whole restoration's worth of bending down to floor level.

Apart from that, my plan is

1. deconstruct
2. strip varnish, repair and clean
3. webbing, springs and the bit that goes over the springs
4. think!

It's a shame it's so big and my parents too far away or I'd haul it down to my dad's workshop. I can't fit the children and the dog in the car at the same time as the chaise despite it being an SMax and cavernous:)

The scrolly bit is what attracted me to it. I've hankered after a chaise longue for ages but the modern ones are all dull and soulless and they rarely pop up in this house clearance place. Kirstie bloody Allsop has a lot to answer for!

As you deconstruct, take notes and photos. Honestly, it seems time consuming but is the best guide.

To check whether springs any good, press down with flat of your hand. If they bob up evenly, they are fine. If they don't or fall over in one direction, replace.

I'd use an upholsterer's knot to tie them in place. Easy to learn, on line.

Clerkenwell always used to be the place to do to get eg ducks for lining.

As and when you come to the final cover, decide whether you want racks and cord, or appropriately covered studs.

Foam is fine, if unhistoric. Will need replacing sooner than horsehair, but having pets and children means you prob need to replace sooner anyway.

Am sure you are brilliant on the repair, but best tip I was taught was fill holes with mixture if sawdust and pvc glue, and woodstain. Does the biz, even enough to hold tacks.

Thanks :)

I don't think "historic" is a priority for me personally - anything I do can be undone insofar as the stuffing part goes so I'm going for ease and practicality. It was stuffed with a "mattress" made of horsehair/straw/something that looked like vast quantities of pubic hair!! I've seen the black stuff online so I know it isn't :)

I'm going to take photos of how the springs are laid out before I take those out and I think the online instructions I found had knots.

My dad is a keen woodworker so I had heard of the PVA/sawdust thing. I've used to it fill gaps in laminate flooring before! I'll have to visit him and ask for a bag of his workshop hooverings :o

I am worried that this has been recovered multiple times so has a lot of tack holes in it - my concern is that it is like honeycomb.

Yes, it will be horsehair. It's brilliant. All you do is put it in a pillow case and dump it in the washing machine and re use. Lasts for generations.

Don't worry about the honeycomb but fill every hole with the magic mixture. I had to do this on a nursing chair. Much much stronger after I had done it.

i have a chaise like that...and two matching chairs.

I WILL one day reupholster them...atm they are covered in mushroom coloured dralon.

Mine doesn't have the button back though...unless I discover it in a previous layer!!

Ps, sell the horsehair on eBay to an upholsterer or use it on the compost, breaks down brilliantly. Wonderful stuff.

Do I need to haul the bin sack in from outdoors? The "mattress" had disintegrated.

The washing machine... Seriously?

I think I may have been overly optimistic in assessing my skills. The whole back is sprung, including the very top of the scroll. Gulp.

Still, there is remedial carpentry to deal with first so I am ignoring it for one!

It's really dusty and filthy inside [sneeze].

Obv you don't have to. But put it on the compost heap if not. Or dig in around your roses..

Yes, that's why you need to strip right down and get rid of all the old fabric.

It will be hugely satisfying once you have done it all.

I'm down to frame and springs now. I hoovered it yesterday in preparation for removing the webbing and springs today. Plus removing about 50000 tacks that prior reupholstering attempts have left behind. I will be labelling the springs as the back rest ones seem to be 3 different sizes!

Then that's all the really dull and dirty stuff done!

It is now at the carpentry repair stage and I am working my way round it with PVA and a clamp. I'm also stripping the shiny varnish off and waxing the wood instead, simply because that's the look of wood I prefer. I need to work out how to replace broken dowel to re attach the for end and I think this involves gently drilling out the old ones.

After that it'll be upholstery time!

I know this is an old post, but would love to know how you got on with this... just starting on a very similar looking chaise (also with a honeycomb frame 😂)