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- Reupholstering sofa armrests
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The armrests of the sofa experience serious stress.
They lean on them when reading a book or having a conversation, and put a pillow on them if they want to rest. In addition, pets often choose this piece of upholstered furniture to thoroughly sharpen their claws. All this leads to the fact that it is the armrests that first of all lose their freshness. Professional reupholstery of sofa armrests from the Adele furniture workshop will help resolve the issue. As a rule, not only the upholstery is changed, but also the filling, since it deforms over time and can no longer hold its original shape.
Our specialists will quickly and efficiently do everything necessary to return your furniture to its excellent appearance. You can also transform the armrests of the sofa, giving them a new configuration. The services are relatively inexpensive, and the effect lives up to expectations.
Types of sofa mechanisms
Various mechanisms are installed inside the furniture. In some models, the additional part rolls out from under the seat, in others the backrest is moved to a horizontal position.
There are several mechanisms for laying out sofas.
But regardless of the design of the structure, you will need the same set of tools to repair it:
- wrenches to disassemble the body;
- screwdrivers, screwdriver to remove some parts;
- machine oil or silicone grease for processing the mechanism;
- staples and stapler;
- drill with a set of drills.
Let's take a closer look at popular sofa mechanisms.
Click-clack
A type of “book”. The base is a metal frame. Some models are equipped with an armrest adjustment mechanism.
The most popular sofas with a book mechanism.
The sofa can be installed in 3 different positions: sitting, reclining and lying down. The armrests are suitable for use as pillows.
The most modern type for serial models of upholstered furniture.
Often “click-clack” sofas are equipped with built-in drawers for storing things. The mechanism requires regular lubrication of rivets and rubbing elements.
Meralax
The mechanism works on the “French clamshell” principle. Can take three positions. The sleeping area can be decorated with slats or metal mesh.
The popularity of the Meralax mechanism is associated with its simplicity and low cost of execution.
Dolphin
It is based on a mechanism consisting of rollers and guides. The additional part is located under the seat and extends when you pull on a loop. One of the most popular and simple types of folding sofas.
Dolphin sofas are quite popular in our market.
In budget models, the frame is made of low quality metal, which can cause the mechanism to fail.
Accordion
One of the most popular mechanisms in folding sofas. The furniture can be taken in three positions, one part always remains motionless. The layout positions are fixed with locks.
Unfolding and fixing occurs due to movable axes and locks.
The mechanism is often used in modern models.
Restoration of a spring sofa
The task of a modern restorer when restoring a sofa is to strengthen the structure of the old thing in such a way that it remains functional, but retains all the advantages of antiquity.
Reupholstering an antique sofa and upholstering it are two different things. Reupholstery is a major restoration involving reupholstering the sofa springs. So to speak, a major overhaul. Sofa upholstery is the replacement of fabric on working or already restored, reupholstered seats, backrests, and bolsters.
The antique sofa consists of two designs. Wooden - load-bearing structure, and spring, designed to provide softness, elasticity and, ultimately, comfort. There are antique sofas and hard ones, all wooden, with rattan mesh, with down cushions, but since the beginning of the 19th century, sofas with spring seats have been the most popular.
In the old days, the frame was repaired by a carpenter, the springs were reupholstered by an upholsterer, and the draper covered it with a finishing cloth. The modern restorer does everything himself. No educational institution currently trains specialists of this level. We “raised” all our restorers ourselves. From simple to complex. From student to master.
The difficulty of restoration lies in the fact that to restore an antique sofa you need authentic elastic and padding materials, which are practically never found in modern furniture. The seat, back, and sometimes spring armrests of club sofas and armchairs are formed manually from springs using ropes, as well as a heap of sea grass, by laying it and sewing it under burlap. The stiffness is controlled by the degree of compression of the springs. The height of the side is determined by the experience and intuition of the craftsman, the bend of the back is determined by the design.
Restoring an old, antique or cabinet sofa, as well as Stalinist and Soviet sofas from the 50s and 60s, is one of the pinnacles of restoration art.
Here is an approximate list of work required when restoring a sofa.
1. Disassembly. Removing finishing fabric, removing worn out calico fabrics, burlap, belts, old tarpaulins. 2. Removing dusty sea grass. 3. Disassembling the spring block, removing the frayed ropes that tied the springs. 4. Alignment of deformed springs 5. Purchase and replacement of broken springs. 6. Clearing the frame. 7. Removing old nails and filling nail holes. 8. Possibly sealing woodworm holes. 9. Gluing and strengthening the frame. 10. Carpentry work. Repairing cracks, restoring weak joints of parts. 11. Leveling (building up legs) 12. Restoring the finish of visible wooden parts of the sofa. 13. Arrangement of a soft spring seat (tensioning of belts, tying springs with jute ropes). 14. Arrangement of a soft back with sewing of the side and rough upholstery with calico. 15. Arrangement of soft side parts of the armrests with sewing of the side and rough upholstery with calico. 16. Upholstery with finishing cloth. 17. Finishing the joint between fabric and wood with braid or nails.
You can, of course, repair an antique sofa by simply placing new fabric directly on top of the old one, slightly leveling the seat. The appearance will improve, but frame breakdowns, looseness, the dust of centuries and the smell of old furniture will remain.
How to repair sofa mechanisms
If the furniture has become difficult to unfold, and repair of the sofa frame is not required, then the reason lies in the breakdown of the mechanism.
Sofa mechanisms often break down.
The most common problems:
- sagging lamellas or mesh;
- the springs have failed;
- the rivets have loosened;
- the rollers are broken or need lubrication.
If the frame is loose, it needs to be strengthened: metal systems are repaired by welding, and in order to repair wooden elements, they need to be fastened with new bolts or partially replaced.
There are many reasons why sofas break down.
When the first signs of breakdown appear (the sofa creaks, it is more difficult to unfold), it is necessary to lubricate the mechanisms with machine oil or silicone grease. To do this, remove the armrests and disassemble the main part to gain access to the internal contents.
Periodically it is necessary to lubricate all moving or rubbing parts. You can use sewing machine oil, technical petroleum jelly or liquid machine oil. WD-40 is not suitable for this operation. Owners of book sofas often encounter breakdowns. This model is considered outdated, and finding components is problematic.
Mechanisms on chipboard furniture also need to be cleaned periodically.
In order for the mechanism to return to normal and the furniture to begin unfolding normally, you need to:
- disassemble the sofa;
- clean the guides from debris and lubricate them with oil;
- remove the tension from the fixing spring;
- lubricate the axle;
- replace the roller.
The same principle is used to repair an “accordion” sofa. Under no circumstances should you put pressure on furniture if it has become jammed. Otherwise, the mechanism will completely break down and repairing the sofa-book at home will not help solve the problem.
The mechanism can be made of different materials.
If a sofa with a click-clack mechanism fails, you need to adjust all the moving parts of the mechanism. In extreme cases, you will have to remove the upholstery, filling and change the entire mechanism.
How to fix a sofa
First of all, it is necessary to determine the location and extent of the damage . To do this, you need to look at the root of the problem. Pull the sofa to the center of the room and look inside. Perhaps the breakdown is hidden inside.
Often in such cases, the frame bar breaks or the filling in the pillows is pressed through. If the sofa has a spring base, this may be the problem, but do not despair.
Once we have identified the problem, we move on to repairs.
How to replace the filling of sofa cushions
There is nothing easier to repair a sofa than replacing the filling.
And sometimes you don’t need to change it completely; simply adding filler inside the pillow can save you. This happens if the pillows have been washed several times. During washing, the filler clumps or simply becomes softer. This gives the feeling of the sofa sagging.
Fixing the pillows will not be a problem. We carry out the work in this sequence.
- Carefully open the seam on the side of the pillow.
- Add filling, being careful not to overfill, otherwise the pillows will become hard and uncomfortable.
- If necessary, replace the filler completely.
- Don't forget to sew the seam carefully.
Important! Try to use the same filling that was used in the pillows.
If the casing becomes worn, it must be replaced. Choose a color similar to the original, or use a contrasting combination.
How to repair a spring block
Sometimes it happens that, in addition to squashed pillows, springs break.
In this case, it is necessary to remove the casing without damaging it, unless it is worn out and requires replacement.
After this, you need to find the broken springs, carefully remove them and replace them.
Furniture springs can be found in hardware stores, or you can use an old mattress that has become unusable.
In some cases, the springs are simply compressed, and their repair consists of re-tensioning the spring.
After replacing the spring, make sure to secure it correctly, otherwise you risk getting an injection when using the furniture.
If the trim does not need replacing, simply put it back on and secure it with a furniture stapler.
Advice! To avoid injury, use pliers to replace the spring.
How to fix a frame
If, after looking inside the sofa, you find that a part of the frame is broken, do not panic. Any damage can be repaired with your own hands.
To replace a broken frame part, make the same one from the required material . Disconnect the broken part, if necessary, replace the fasteners; sometimes moisture causes the fasteners to rust.
Advice! Do not use raw material. During the drying process, it will lead, after which another repair may be required.
Install the new part. Carefully inspect the entire frame; there may be cracks in other parts. Therefore, they also need to be replaced.
How to replace mechanisms
To repair the sofa mechanism at home and replace parts, first of all, you need to disassemble the furniture. Usually they start with the armrests.
The mechanism is so simple that even a child can handle it.
Important! Place all fasteners and bolts in separate organizer cells or zip bags.
After access to the mechanism is opened, you need to carefully remove the damaged elements or the entire system and replace them with identical parts. It is prohibited to insert parts of another into one mechanism: at best it will be useless.
The mechanism rarely breaks due to its simple design.
After repair, you need to check the operation of the folding mechanism, lubricate the parts and assemble the sofa.
Important! You cannot install new parts with old fittings into existing holes. It is necessary to drill others, a few cm further than the existing ones. It is advisable to cover old holes with epoxy resin or other material.
A way to quickly unfold a sofa.
How to extend the life of a sofa mechanism
To ensure that furniture lasts longer and does not break, you must follow the operating instructions.
Sometimes it is enough to simply lubricate the parts of the mechanism.
For all types of sofas they are common:
- do not make sudden movements when unfolding furniture; due to careless handling, parts of the mechanism may shift;
- periodically lubricate moving elements;
- do not place furniture with retractable mechanisms on a high-pile carpet, so as not to create obstacles for rolling out;
- do not expose furniture to excessive mechanical stress;
- transport only in disassembled form;
- play in the frame should not be allowed to form, as it leads to breakage of the rollers and wooden frame, and the friction that is created harms the upholstery;
- Do not expose it to moisture, make sure that water does not get into the mechanism.
When purchasing furniture for regular use, it is better not to save money. For the manufacture of the most budget models, lower quality materials are used, which quickly fail.
Due to the absence of complicated mechanisms, the furniture unfolds easily.
Advice. In case of complex breakdowns, it is better to contact a specialist. A home handyman with no experience may completely break a sofa when trying to fix a major breakdown.
Mahogany back
At the beginning of the 19th century, wood from a special type of mahogany, Honduras Mahogany, was used to veneer the rigid wooden back. Latin name Swietenia macrophylla
. A special type of cut. Not along the trunk or across, but at a slight angle. And exactly in the place where a large branch branches off from the main trunk. Complex, expensive, ancient technology.
Due to its ability to change color depending on the angle of illumination, this unique wood was called “flame”. Mahogany is also called “tree of kings”, “king of trees”, “jet”, “pyramid”. Museum workers call flamed veneer “true mahogany.” Nowadays a huge amount of wood of different, less expensive species with a reddish color is sold, including mahogany, but of other types, proudly called “mahogany”. They are indeed red, but have nothing to do with the old royal tree.
Currently, industrial logging of Swietenia macrophylla is prohibited. The tree is listed in the Red Book. Just like the Hawksbill turtle, from whose shell Boule created his masterpieces.
If you say the words “antique sofa with a high wooden flame back”, then any collector will immediately understand that we are talking about the sofas shown in the following photographs.
Later, closer to the middle of the 19th century, antique mahogany sofas were equipped with a semi-soft back, bolsters, and pillows. But most importantly, on the back there should be a fantastically beautiful tree with its unique texture and texture shimmering in the rays of light.
Features of general sofa repair
In different sofa designs, the same elements may have different purposes, so it is impossible to install rollers that guide from one piece of furniture to another. The part may not withstand a load not intended for it and may break.
The mechanism can be pulled out like a clamshell.
The most difficult thing to restore is furniture made from chipboard. this material crumbles and does not withstand several drillings. Therefore, it is better to purchase sofas with a wooden frame made of MDF or plywood. They are much stronger, easy to use, and require repairs less often.
The mechanism of the sofa is quite sensitive to human movements.
It is useless to straighten bent metal support elements. Soon the material will become unusable again. Therefore, it is better to replace the damaged area with a new part.
For all types of repairs, call a partner. This will make your work easier and safer.
Before applying lubricant, surfaces must be cleaned of dust and dirt. Fasteners must not be overtightened. To disassemble furniture and tighten elements, you need to use new or high-quality hexagons.
Monitor the condition of the pallet. This part of the frame is load-bearing and experiences high loads.
Due to the “licked” edges, the work will be seriously slowed down. You can remove rust from metal elements using WD-40.
Carefully unfold the sofa.
It is worth installing washers on the bolts and axles. Don't neglect installing washers on bolts and axles. If the bolt cannot be unscrewed, there is no need to try to loosen it or pull it out. Better to cut it down.
Lubricant is applied only to cleaned surfaces.
The most important part of the frame - the pallet - is a load-bearing element; the main load falls on it. His condition must be monitored.
It is better to carry out furniture repairs with a partner.
Don't try to replace one mechanism with a completely different one.
