Robert Mann Upholstery Service

23/08/2026

Re-covering vs. Proper Reupholstery

What is the difference between simply re-covering a piece of furniture and having it properly reupholstered?

Re-covering can sometimes mean removing the old fabric and replacing it with new fabric, while doing little or no work to the upholstery underneath.

Proper reupholstery means taking the piece apart properly and inspecting what is underneath the fabric. Depending on the age and condition of the furniture, this can include replacing or repairing worn-out webbing, springs, hessian, padding, foam, wadding and other components before the new fabric is applied.

Why does this matter?

A chair can look beautiful when it leaves the upholsterer, but the fabric is only the final layer. What really determines how comfortable, supportive and long-lasting the piece will be is what lies underneath.

For example:

• Old, tired foam may have collapsed and lost its support.

• Webbing can become stretched or deteriorated.

• Springs can become loose, broken or displaced.

• Hessian and other foundation materials can deteriorate with age.

• Padding can become flat, lumpy or uneven.

• The frame itself may need attention before the upholstery is replaced.

If you simply put beautiful new fabric over tired foundations, the chair may look fantastic initially — but it won't necessarily sit, feel or perform as it should.

And this is particularly important with older furniture.

With an antique or traditionally made chair, you don't necessarily want to replace everything with modern materials.

A good upholsterer will look at how the chair was originally constructed and decide what can be retained, what needs repairing and what genuinely needs replacing.

That's where experience really matters.

After 40 years in the upholstery trade, we don't simply choose a beautiful fabric and cover a chair. We assess the whole piece and decide how best to restore it, while respecting the way it was originally made.

Good upholstery isn't just about what you see on the outside — it's about what is underneath.

If you have a piece of furniture that requires a professional upholsterer, give us a call or email us:

[email protected]

04/08/2026

Why Can't We Give a Final Upholstery Quote from a Photo?

Why can't an upholsterer always quote from a photo?
It's a question we're asked all the time.
While a photograph tells us a lot about the outside, it doesn't show what's underneath. Broken springs, rotten webbing, loose joints, damaged frames and worn padding are often hidden until the furniture is stripped back.
We're always happy to give an initial assessment from photographs, but a final quotation can only be given once we've seen the piece in person.
We believe that's the fairest way—for both our customers and ourselves.

If you're wondering whether your favourite chair or sofa is worth restoring, send us a few photos. We'll happily give you an honest initial assessment and explain the next steps—without any obligation.

30/07/2026

Thank you for taking the time to read our notice and for supporting local craftsmanship.

25/07/2026

Another beautiful transformation
completed!

This lovely 2-seater and 3-seater sofa suite has been given a whole new lease on life.

The job included completely re-webbing the seating, adding new foam to the platforms where needed, wrapping the cushions in fresh Dacron to restore their soft, full appearance, and finishing everything in a stunning dark blue quality fabric that our client sourced.

What was once a tired, stained yellow sofa is now a stylish, comfortable suite that looks and feels like new.

As you can see from the photo, our client is giving it a test drive in his living room—and judging by the big thumbs up, I'd say he's very happy with the result!

Why replace a well-made sofa when you can restore it to look and feel like new? Re-upholstery lets you keep the quality and comfort you already love while

creating a piece that's uniquely yours.

If your furniture has seen better days, we'd love to help bring it back to life.

Get in touch for a free quote, and if you know someone thinking about replacing their sofa, please share this post—they might be surprised at what's possible!

17/07/2026

Beautiful tub chair that just wraps around you.

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

Claudia Langstone

2 Jul 2026, 11:00
Grateful shout out to Rob for strengthening my precious heirloom dining chairs. Very happy to have them back around our table.

09/07/2026

A little TLC and beautiful new fabric can completely transform a well-made vintage sofa.

Built to last with solid hardwood frame and mortise-and tenon joinery, timeless craftsmanship, this old favourite has been given a stunning new lease on life—and our client couldn't be happier!

29/06/2026

A beautiful fluted tub chair upholstered in a gorgeous soft blue fabric. It would surely add a warm, inviting touch to any room, combining timeless style with exceptional comfort.