Know your furniture inside out

1.Supporting every good piece of furniture is a frame - if the frame is beyond repair, then the chair or sofa is also beyond repair. A quality frame is made from a hardwood, such as oak, alder or beech, is solid and sturdy, and does not wobble in the slightest.

2.The springs in a piece of furniture provide support and affect the firmness of the seat. In a firm seat the springs are tied tightly in place, whereas the springs in a more yielding seat are free to move about.

3.Likewise, your choice of filling will have a bearing on the firmness. An armchair stuffed with a hair-blend or fibre filling will be solid and sturdy, while a chair filled with down will be soft and plump.

There are also a number of modern foam materials available which provide varying degrees of firmness.

4.Choosing a fabric gives you the perfect opportunity to flex your creative muscles and create a truly unique piece. Your upholsterer will have hundreds of sample fabrics for you to pore over, all varying in style and price. The fabric usually accounts for 50% of the total cost and ranges in price from £20/m to £200/m.

It is possible for you to provide your own fabric, but expect to pay a premium rate for doing so. Also, the upholsterer cannot be held accountable for any problems that may arise regarding colour or durability.

Cost

When your upholsterer has determined the precise nature of the work needed and you have decided on the materials you would like to use, your upholsterer will draw up a written estimation.

Provided you agree with this price, you will be expected to pay a deposit, which is 30-50% of the total price. Upon payment of the deposit, your furniture will be collected and taken to the upholsterer's workshop for revamping.

It can take from 2 to 8 weeks to complete the job, depending on how busy the upholsterer is and the amount of work required. You will be charged per job, not per hour or per day.

Once the work is completed, your furniture will be delivered and the outstanding amount, paid.

As mentioned above, prices vary dramatically between jobs. The price of recovering an armchair (replacing only the fabric) ranges from £400 to £1200, depending on the fabric.

A more labour-intensive job, such as a three piece suite reupholster (replacing the fabric, filling and springs) will set you back from £1,200 to £4,000, once again, depending on style, fabric and filling.

These prices may seem unattractive when compared to manufactured furniture, but the high standards of workmanship involved and the original nature of the finished piece must be taken into account.

Questions to ask you upholsterer?

• How much will you charge me?
• Can I e-mail you a photo of my furniture for an estimation?
• Does this include collection/ delivery?
• When will the job be completed?
• Is the work guaranteed?