Furniture Reupholstery and Sofa Repair in Ireland
Upholstery repair is a diagnosis-first trade: a chair, sofa, headboard or bench is looked at in person before anyone can say what the fix involves. Loose webbing, a collapsed spring unit, a split seam, worn foam, a torn vinyl panel on a car seat, or a frame that has started to rack all present differently once the piece is turned over and the underside is opened. That is why a firm figure is rarely available over the phone, and why the useful first step is a visit. ShamFix is where you post the task and describe what you need. On this Upholstery repair page you can open listed profiles by Irish county and write to the provider from there. Your task stays open for 30 days. Providers registered in this category can see it. In the meantime, gather what you know: the piece, its age, how it is used, whether the damage is a single panel or the whole seat, and whether the covering is fabric, leather, vinyl or a mix. Photographs of the damage from a few angles, plus one of the whole piece, help the person assessing it arrive prepared. Upholstery work happens in workshops and, for larger pieces, sometimes at the customer's address, so it is worth asking early which of the two applies to your item.
What shapes the price of upholstery repair
- Upholstery repair is priced on what the piece actually needs, which is why the visit comes before the figure.
- The call-out fee is the standard starting point: a tradesperson may charge one to attend, inspect and advise, and it is worth asking plainly whether that fee comes off the price if you go ahead with the repair.
- Some do, some do not, and the answer usually depends on the size of the job.
- Labour is the next factor, and it scales with how much of the piece has to be stripped back.
- Replacing a single seat cushion cover is a different job from re-webbing a frame, rebuilding a sprung seat, or reupholstering a full three-seater.
- Parts and materials follow: foam of the right density, webbing, springs, calico, wadding, replacement fabric or hide, thread, and any fixings or feet.
- Where the covering has to be matched, the cost of sourcing a close match, or the decision to recover a whole piece rather than patch one panel, changes the total.
- Travel distance to a workshop or to your address can also appear as a line.
- Ask for the quote broken into call-out, labour and materials so you can see where the money goes.
How long upholstery repair takes
There are two clocks in upholstery repair: the wait for the visit and the time the piece spends on the bench. The visit itself is usually short, and it is where the diagnosis happens, so have the piece accessible and the underside reachable if you can. After that, the work divides into stripping, frame or spring repair, replacing foam and wadding, cutting and fitting the new covering, and reassembly. Small jobs such as a single cushion or a car seat panel can be turned around in days. A full sofa rebuild, or anything needing fabric ordered in, takes longer, and drying times for adhesives and fillers add to it. Ask for an expected collection or completion date and whether it is a working estimate or a firm date. If the piece is collected, ask when it will be returned and who is responsible for transport in each direction.
What to ask before you hire
- 01Ask what guarantee covers the labour and what covers the parts, and get the answer in writing, including how long each runs and what voids it.
- 02Ask what happens if the repair turns out not to be worth it once the piece is opened up: whether you pay only the call-out, whether the assessment fee stands, and whether the item is returned as it was.
- 03Ask whether the quote is fixed or an estimate, and what would cause it to change.
- 04Ask which professional body they are a member of, and whether they carry insurance for work in your home.
- 05Ask how they will match the covering if a panel has to be replaced, and whether they will show you the fabric or hide before cutting.
- 06Ask for the old parts back if they are removed, and ask how long the piece will be with them.
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Reupholstery in Ireland
Reupholstery gives good furniture a second life, and it is popular in Ireland with owners of inherited armchairs, solid older sofas and antique dining chairs. Upholsterers can replace sagging springs and foam, repair broken frames and recover pieces in new fabric or leather. Commercial customers include pubs, hotels, restaurants and cafés with worn booth seating, as well as caravan and boat owners along the coast. New fillings and fabrics for domestic furniture should meet Irish fire-safety rules, which a good upholsterer will know. Prices depend on the size of the piece, fabric chosen and repairs needed. Post a task with photos and compare quotes free.
Popular upholstery jobs
- Sofa reupholstery
- Armchair recovering
- Dining chair seat recovering
- Sofa spring and frame repairs
- New foam for seat cushions
- Leather furniture repairs
- Headboard upholstery
- Pub, hotel and café seating
- Caravan and boat upholstery
- Antique chair restoration
Upholstery: common questions
Is it worth reupholstering a sofa?
If the frame is solid, reupholstery can give a well-made sofa many more years. A cheap sofa with a weak frame may not be worth it.
How much does reupholstery cost?
Price depends on the size of the piece, the amount of fabric, and whether springs, foam or frames need work. Post photos to compare quotes.
Can I supply my own fabric?
Many upholsterers accept customer fabric, but it must be suitable for upholstery and meet fire-safety rules. Ask how many metres you need.
Do upholsterers collect furniture?
Many offer collection and delivery for larger pieces. Mention your location and access when you post the task.
How long does reupholstery take?
Simple seat pads can be quick, while a full sofa may take a few weeks, especially if fabric must be ordered.
Upholstery repair questions people ask
Can a sagging sofa seat be repaired rather than replaced?
Usually yes, if the frame is sound. A sagging seat is commonly worn webbing, tired springs, collapsed foam or a mix of all three, and each can be renewed without replacing the whole sofa. The person assessing it will check the frame first, because a cracked or racked frame changes the job and the cost considerably.
Is it worth reupholstering a chair compared with buying new?
It depends on the frame and on what you value. A solid hardwood frame with good joints is often worth recovering, and the result can outlast a cheap replacement. A particleboard frame that has failed at the joints is usually not worth the labour. Ask for the assessment before committing to anything.
Can you match the existing fabric or leather on one damaged panel?
A close match is sometimes possible and an exact match often is not, especially on older or faded covers. Bring any spare fabric, a swatch or a photo in daylight. Where a match cannot be found, the usual options are recovering the whole piece or accepting a visible difference on the repaired panel.
Do you repair car seats and caravan or boat upholstery?
Many upholstery trades take on vehicle, caravan and boat seating alongside furniture, but not all do. Say what the item is when you post the task, including the make and model for a vehicle seat, so the right people see it. Vinyl and marine-grade coverings are handled differently from domestic fabric.
How do I know whether the frame or just the covering needs work?
You often cannot tell from the outside, which is the reason for the visit. Press down on the seat, listen for creaks, and check whether the piece rocks or twists. Those signs point to the frame, and the tradesperson will confirm by opening the underside before quoting for the covering.
What should I do to prepare the piece before the visit?
Clear access to the piece and, if it is a sofa or armchair, turn it so the underside can be reached. Remove cushions, throws and anything stored underneath. Have photographs of the damage ready and note the piece's age and how it is used, as this shapes both the diagnosis and the quote.
Need upholstery repair in Ireland?
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