In the course of owning a home, it is practically guaranteed that your furniture will, at some point, need repair. What is the cost of repairing furniture?The average cost to expect is $107 and $252, with larger repairs like re-upholstery of a couch costing considerably more. Here are some factors to consider in furniture repair.While there are many different pieces of furniture that may need repair, the most common furniture repairs involve dining tables, sofas, and recliners.In many homes, the dining table is a catch-all surface for grocery boxes and bags, school books for the kids, and everything else that comes into your home and needs a spot to rest. Using your dining table in this way can lead to scratches and dents in its surface.However, often the problem is that your table leg has become structurally unsound because of a large crack or break. If this happens, you will need to replace the table leg entirely, and possibly repair the bracketing that secures the leg to the table.
The cost of table leg replacement depends on several different factors, including:For popular table leg styles, you may be able to find pre-made matching table legs. The costs for this vary widely. If your table is older or is a style that is uncommon, you may need to find a woodworker to fashion a replacement leg for you. Many woodworkers charge an hourly rate of $25 to $30. Additional costs will include the cost of the wood itself and the cost of any refinishing that needs to be done to match your other table legs.The procedures and costs of repairing or replacing sofa legs are much the same as the ones outlined above for repairing or replacing table legs. Broken frames usually require replacement of the sofa. Methods of repairing upholstery vary depending on how extensive the damage is, where the damage is, and what type of material covers your sofa.For padding and upholstery problems, the same standard rates listed for sofas apply also to recliners. For bent reclining mechanisms and broken springs, costs can range from $200 to $350, making it often more cost-effective to replace than repair.
There is a big difference between the costs of repairing something that simply looks bad or repairing structural damage to furniture. For instance, repairing a scratch on the surface of your table will cost considerably less than replacing a broken table leg.When thinking about a repair, determine whether the repair is structural or cosmetic. Here are some common examples of each:Cosmetic repairs include things like:Structural repairs include things like:In general, cosmetic repairs cost substantially less than structural ones, with the possible exception of re-upholstery of a large piece of furniture, which is technically a cosmetic repair, but costs more than some structural repairs.You may need to re-upholster your furniture if the upholstery is seriously damaged or if the furniture requires structural repair that would necessitate removal of existing upholstery. The average cost of reupholstering furniture is $660, with small chairs costing as little as $150 and large pieces like sofas costing as much as $1500 or more, depending on fabric choice.
Often a piece of furniture that is damaged must be refinished after repairs are completed. Here are some typical costs for refinishing several types of furniture:When trying to decide whether to replace or repair a specific piece of furniture, you must consider several factors. You must gauge the value of the furniture, not only in monetary terms, but according to sentimental value as well. For instance, Grandma’s rocking chair may not be all that expensive monetarily to replace, but it may have extraordinary value to you if Grandma used it to rock generations of your family to sleep over the years.If you have no sentimental attachment to the piece, and are only comparing the cost of repair with the cost of replacement, the question becomes much simpler. Keeping in mind the costs of common repairs as listed above, here are some average costs for replacement.Of course, these costs vary greatly according to the quality of the piece. For instance, though the repairs for an older piece of furniture may cost more than a replacement, it is important to remember the intrinsic value of the piece.
Older furniture may have been handcrafted, whereas much of the furniture on the market today has been mass-produced and may be of inferior quality.When considering a repair, you must calculate additional costs as well, including possible re-upholstery or refinishing, and also determine whether the repair is largely cosmetic or structurally necessary. Taking all of these considerations into account will help you make wise decisions regarding furniture repair. 18 in. x 18 in. Pillow Covers in Burgundy (2-Pack)Wood Round Taper Table Leg Bed Riser Collection 6.37 in. x 6 in. Bed Risers in Black (Set of 4)Hardwood Round Taper Leg Folding Banquet Table Legs (2-Pack) Dual Top Plate Hardware for Table Assembly 3-1/2 in. x 3 in. H x 6.5 in. L x 6.5 in. W Bed Risers Ivory (Set of 4) Universal Size Rest Rite Headboard/Footboard Bracket Black Seat and Back for Director's Chair - Cover Only Gingham Ruffle Blue Rectangular Delightfill Rocking Chair Cushion Set
Gripper Non-Slip 15 in. x 15 in. Saturn Wedge Tufted Universal Chair Cushions (Set of 2) Saturn Celadon Square 17 in. x 17 in. Universal Chair Pads with Grip Dot (Set of 2) Gripper Jumbo Animal Lodge Plaid Rocking Chair Cushion Set Gripper Jumbo Horseshoe Rocking Chair Cushion SetW Bed Risers Black (4-Pack) 4 in. x 2 in. Early American Table LegEarly American Table Leg HardwoodI have a small retirement shop where I do furniture repair and refinishing. A customer wants the caning redone on a rocking chair, but also wants the rocker to sit so that it does not lean so far back. I hesitate to sit in the rocker as it leans so far back that I feel it will go over backwards. The rocker rails are approximately 1-1/2″ square wood. My question is how can this be corrected? Also, are there proper angles or degrees that a rocker should be designed? There are no manufacturer names or model numbers. I was told the rocker came from Cuba. I do not know what kind of wood it is made from.
The rocker seat is sloped approximately 17 degrees from the floor. – Al Gratrix, Sr. Rob Johnstone: Rocking chairs are great to have around and fun to make, but they are a bit curious in that there are few hard-and-fast rules regarding their design and construction. (On the other hand, dining room chairs and office chairs have a much more robust set of rules and relationships when it comes to their ergonomic design.) For example, the fact that your seat is approximately 17 degrees to the floor when the chair is at rest tells me that this is likely a handmade chair. In general, rocking chairs seats should be fairly “level” to the floor when they are at rest — when no one is sitting in them. When occupied, a well-made rocker will roll back and sit at a comfortable angle (at that point, 17 degrees will likely feel pretty good, but it would be extreme for me personally). By contrast, an office chair will keep its seat level with the floor as you sit at a desk. Adjusting a completed rocking chair is not an easy thing to do.
If the legs of the rocking chair can easily be detached from the rockers, you could adjust how far the chair leans back by moving the leg locations forward on the rockers. Again, if the legs can come free of the rockers, you could remake the rockers. (If you could temporarily attach the legs to the rockers — perhaps with hot-glue or something like it — you could test how the chair sits on the rockers. If it leans too far back when empty and at rest, move the legs farther forward.) And, once again, if the legs can come free from the rockers … you could shorten the front legs a bit and see if that shifts the center of gravity. But the bottom line is that in each of the above situations, it will be a matter of trial and error until you get it where you want it. Sorry I could not be more helpful. Order Woodworking Plans, DVDs and Supplies Woodworker's Journal Adirondack Lawn Chair Plan - Reprint$4.19Sewing Machine Cabinet Plan$7.39Woodworker's Journal Complete Collection DVD-ROM (1977-2012)$89.99Woodworker's Journal 25 Jigs and Fixtures, CD$14.99Woodworker's Journal Power Tool Maintenance DVD-ROM$9.99The Way to Woodwork — Mastering the Table Saw, DVD$29.99Woodworker's Journal September/October 2014$5.99Woodworker's Journal Winter 2015$9.99Woodworker's Journal - January/February 2015$5.992015 Home Accent Projects - Summer 2015 (Special Interest Publication)$9.99Woodworker's Journal July/August 2015 $5.99Woodworker's Journal - January/February 2016$6.99Woodworker's Journal 25 Outdoor Projects CD$14.99Woodworker's Journal