The Pre-Estimate Inspection

If possible, before you give an estimate for furniture, it would be good if you could see it in person. If that is not possible, then you must ask the client about the condition of her furniture. But if you do ask the client, remember that many clients never really look at their furniture. They just assume that everything is OK. They may not pay any attention to such things as a wobbly frame or springs needing repair.

Assessing the Condition of the Furniture:

The Frame:

Try to wobble all parts of the frame. wiggle the arms side to side, grab ahold of the top of the middle backrest and try to pull it towards the front and then push it toward the back. Try to wiggle all parts of the frame. Listen for squeaks and watch for frame wobble and loose joints. If the frame is wobbly, it can be fixed, but it adds some extra work. To fix loose joints often requires that you take everyting off the frame (fabric, padding, springs, etc. so that the joints can be opened up reglued, make triangle fitted corner blocks and reglued. You will also need to have some woodworking clamps. If you or a helper can do wood joint repairs, then you might be OK. But, if neither you nor anyone else is comfortable with doing the frame repairs, you might want to pass up any sofas that have loose jointed frames.

The Springs

After the frame, the condition of the springs is especially important.

Upholstered furniture generally has one of these types of springs:

Hand-tied coil springs, which are among the best types to have. If tied propery, coils springs give superior support and comfort. Much of the time yoiu can determine is the sofa has hand tied springs by putting your hand under the sofa and pressing up. If you feel a firm spring support underneath at the bottom of the sofa, it may be hand tied springs. A sofa with hand tied spring generally has webbing across the very bottom of the sofa, with the springs pressing down  against the webbing. This gives the bottom of the sofa a firm "full" feeling. When this type of set needs retieing, the bottom often sags down because the webbing stretches as it gets older. Also, the top between the springs will feel loose.

Arc springs (commonly called zig zag springs). If, when you feel the bottom of the sofa, all you feel is

Rubber or elastic webbing .

The Padding

The Cushions

First, go to each corner and to themiddle sections and try firmly to wobble the furniture back and forth in every direction.

As we inspect the frame, springs, and support linings, one of the primary principles we keep in mind is, "will it last the life of the new cover?" This will be our guide as we try to determine what to fix and what to leave alone.Check the condition of the frameCheck the frame.

Determining the type and condition of the springs: