Upholstery Techniques - Group A

Taking Down & Frame Inspection

Taking down is a processes of removing layers of upholstery right down to the frame. Taking down in this way allows for each layer to be inspected and upholstery techniques noted so re-upholstering can be performed in the same manner in which it was made.

Every piece of furniture Plumbs re-upholster is inspected to determine which layers of upholstery can be kept and which needs to be replaced. The top layers of upholstery are generally discarded while springs, padding & stuffing, if in good condition, can easily be repaired or tightened.

We start the process by removing all the bottoming, which includes all old tacks, staples or studs. The utmost care is taken to ensure the frame is not damaged. This allows us to start stripping the old top cover.

The top cover, if removed carefully, can be a great guide when it comes to measuring replacement fabric. Once the top cover is removed we can assess the quality and take note of the type of padding & stuffing used.

At this point, on more modern pieces of furniture we may be able to start the re-covering process. If, however, the stuffing and padding is too worn, or the springs (if any) and frame need attention, we continue the taking down process.

With most materials now stripped down, we are able to fully inspect both springs and frame for damage.

-Jodi