How to repair and replace springs on a sofa at home, instructions with explanations

When to replace

The sofa has several structural elements that provide its user with high comfort, comfortable rest, and relaxation of the muscles of the musculoskeletal system: springs, frame, upholstery. When choosing a specific model, you need to pay attention to their quality so that the product does not require repairs for a long time.

If upholstered furniture is made from high-quality materials, it will have a long service life. But sometimes even first-class models need repairs after some time of use.

Sofa arrangement diagram
Replacing the spring system of sofas of different sizes, colors and configurations is required in a number of cases:

• The model served for a very long time, so the springs weakened their effect. As a result, there are dents and bulges on the sitting surface, and the product is not very comfortable to use, especially when unfolded;
• furniture needs to be repaired if the spring structure used in the manufacturing process had a manufacturing defect, low quality, and so on, but this fact became clear only after using the furniture for some time;
• repairs may be necessary when the level of rigidity of the spring elements was chosen irrationally, that is, they do not suit its owners in terms of comfort and rigidity. But, unfortunately, such a characteristic as the level of rigidity cannot be significantly adjusted. You can either replace the spring system with a different model, softer or stiffer, or slightly soften the mattress using foam rubber.

Dents on the sofa

Types of springs

One of the most important criteria in terms of the comfort of such furniture is a block with practical springs. Repairing sofas at home may require replacing all the elements, but before you start, you need to determine what type of these elements are present on the sofa. Modern manufacturers use these types of springs.

Note that the service life of the described types of modern systems is different, which also affects the final cost of the sofa. The most durable and expensive are designs with a block of independent springs, and the most affordable options are those with a flat spring snake.

Bonnell block

Independent springs

Snake

The sofa serves as a place to sleep and relax, creates comfort in the home and also saves space. One of the main advantages of a sofa in terms of saving space is its ability to transform. But as usual, pros always have cons. One of these cons is the wear and tear on the sofa folding mechanism during its transformation. The more often we unfold and fold the sofa, the faster it will wear out. But it is not always the case. If the sofa is made of high-quality materials, which are more expensive, then it will last longer. But there are exceptions here too. It all depends on the operating conditions of the sofa. The mechanism of the sofa consists of moving parts that rub against each other, this friction is softened by lubricant, which extends the service life of the mechanism. If the lubricant has evaporated over time and the parts rub dry, wear occurs much faster. Therefore, even a very expensive sofa needs at least sometimes so-called maintenance. If a caring owner still looked after the sofa, but it still broke down, what can you do, nothing lasts forever. The reason for the breakdown is the usual depletion of the resource. Breakdowns also happen due to the use of excessive force when transforming the mechanism.

In this case, you can buy another new sofa, or you can repair the current one. The breakdown of a Sofa is not always a reason to buy a new one. Replacing the Sofa Mechanism or Repairing the Sofa Mechanism will cost less than buying a whole sofa. Modern sofa mechanisms can be successfully repaired or completely replaced. All this work can be done with your own hands, or entrusted to professionals. Very often with the current In the rhythm of life, most people do not even have enough time to find out the reason for the breakdown of the sofa, not to mention the trouble of finding and purchasing the necessary parts and mechanisms to repair the sofa themselves. In addition, buying spare parts is not a complete solution to the problem of sofa repair. Requires tools and special skills.

For those who do not dare to repair the sofa themselves, today there are a huge number of furniture repair services. You can rest assured that competent and professional craftsmen will eliminate all malfunctions and breakdowns in the sofa. Rational and practical owners who value their time and money will appreciate the convenience and benefits of professional services for Sofa Repair at Home. In the hands of experienced specialists, your Furniture will definitely find a second life

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Required Tools

Repairing a sofa in the living room or kitchen yourself allows you to save a lot, because the services of professionals in this area can be expensive, and the springs they offer to replace old ones can have a higher cost than their counterparts in the store. It is not at all difficult to replace the sofa springs with your own hands if you prepare for the work carefully: purchase new structural elements, acquire up-to-date tools, and draw up detailed instructions for performing the operations.

To repair a sofa spring unit yourself, you will need to have the following tools at your disposal:

• yardstick;
• a wrench for disassembling the sofa frame;
• a flat-head screwdriver for removing staples on the upholstery;
• pliers for replacing metal products;
• a stationery knife or scissors for cutting the underlying layer;
• construction stapler for fixing upholstery to the frame.

Tools

Step-by-step instructions for reupholstering

Before you reupholster the sofa with your own hands, it is disassembled into its component parts. The armrests are removed first, then the backrest is unscrewed and the seat is disconnected last.

Next, remove the old upholstery and foam rubber (if it will be replaced). There is no need to throw away the fabric; it will serve as a template for cutting new material. All grooves will have to be ripped out.

The reupholstering process depends on the design of the furniture. Corner sofas require more time and material due to the fact that their size exceeds the standard one, but the basic principles of operation remain the same.

Armrests

There are two shapes of armrests - rectangular and curved.

In the case of rectangular ones, everything is simple:

1. New covers are cut out and sewn together, similar to those removed from the product.
2. The worn-out layer of foam rubber is removed and a new one is applied. It is important to do this in such a way that the wooden frame is isolated from contact with the fabric, otherwise the material will wear out very quickly at the points of contact.
   To form beautiful and soft corners, cut out a piece of foam rubber, the size of which allows you to completely cover the armrest not only from the side, but also from the sides.

3. Having retreated about 1 cm from the wood, cuts are made on the foam rubber, which seem to continue the line of the frame, and this small rectangle is removed.

4. Spray foam rubber and wood with glue, then wrap the edges.

Apply glue to the sections and press them along their entire length to each other so that a beautiful rounded corner is obtained.

• If desired, lay a layer of padding polyester on top of the foam rubber. It also needs to be put on glue.
• New covers are put on, securing them with staples at the bottom of the frame. This completes the work.

If the armrests are bent, you will have to spend a lot of time on their restoration:

1. First, a special comma-shaped profile is stuffed with staples along the front part. Its wide part should lie on the edge of the wood.

2. After this, the armrest is covered with foam rubber. Its edge is laid so that it extends beyond the profile by about 2 cm.

3. The left indent along the cut is covered with glue and folded over, connecting to the profile.

Expert opinion

Smirnova Ekaterina Anatolevna

7 years of experience in interior design, professional architect

A round edge is placed close to the profile, and a strip of the same profile is pressed against it and secured with staples. The edging is needed only to reserve a space of a certain width, so it is then removed.

To lay the profile evenly where the armrest is rounded, teeth are cut out on its flat part.

A comma-shaped part is cut out of foam rubber 2 cm thick, the size of which corresponds to the inside of the decor. It is fixed in the middle with glue, and the side sections are folded inward to form a kind of roller.

To make the decor more prominent, another layer of foam rubber is glued on top, cutting it not edge to edge with the previous one, but leaving about 5 mm of allowance.

The sections are coated with glue and folded onto the profile to create a round edge. This operation is performed in the same way as in point 3. As a result, the result will be an armrest like this.

Next we start upholstery. The armrest is covered with fabric and secured with staples on both sides. It is important to stretch the material well so that it does not sag when the foam shrinks with constant use of the sofa.

A foam roller is covered with a cloth on the side and also secured with staples. The excess is cut off with a blade, making an indent of no less than half a centimeter.

After this, cover the inner decorative part with fabric and fix it using staples using a similar principle. It will be more convenient to cut off all excess with scissors.

They begin gluing in a round edging, previously covered with fabric (usually the same color as the upholstery, but you can choose a different shade if you wish). Before starting work, the remaining fabric is cut off, stepping back from the stitching a few millimeters.

Use a glue gun to smear small areas between the decorative elements and place the edging there, pressing it for 5-10 seconds. You need to make sure that there is not too much glue, otherwise it will stain the front part of the product.

Upon completion of the work, the ends of the edging are cut along the seam, the fabric is folded up, and the excess plastic is cut off, after which the material is folded down and secured with two or three staples.

Now all that remains is to cover the outer side part with foam rubber and cover it with fabric. The armrest is completely ready.

seat

The method of reupholstering the seats largely depends on the type of mechanism on which the sofa is assembled. If it is folding, you should strictly repeat all the shapes and sizes originally specified by the manufacturer. This is especially important for old book sofas, where even a slight increase in the thickness of the foam layer makes it possible to use it only when unfolded.

In most cases, the sequence of actions is as follows:

1. First, remove all the old filler.
2. If the sofa is made without a spring block, you can immediately begin laying a new soft layer. Otherwise, you will have to check the integrity of all springs and, if possible, repair or replace damaged elements.
3. To prevent the springs from cutting the foam rubber, they need to be covered with a new piece of fabric - burlap or tarpaulin. On the sides, the material is sewn directly to the springs or nailed with staples to the wooden body of the sofa.
4. Foam rubber is placed on the fabric. To prevent it from moving during operation, it is glued or fixed with staples. The first option is simpler and more reliable.
5. A padding polyester is laid on top of the foam rubber, also attached with glue. You can do without this additional layer, but then the seat will wear out faster.
6. Using an old cover as a pattern, the upholstery fabric is cut and sewn.
7. Pull a new one on and secure it with staples at the bottom of the sofa.

Back

In book sofas and similar ones, reupholstering the backrest occurs in the same way as replacing the filling and upholstery on the seats.

If the backrest is made using a decor such as a carriage screed, a beginner in the furniture business should not carry out its restoration on their own. It is better to seek help from a professional, otherwise there is a risk of ruining the fabric and other expensive materials.

A regular rectangular back is processed like this:

1. Remove the old foam and glue the new one. Overlapping the corners and sides is carried out according to the same principle as described in paragraph No. 2 of the “Armrests” subsection.
2. Sew a new cover and pull it over the product, securing it from below.
3. If the sofa is equipped with pillows that are part of the backrest, they should also be upholstered with new fabric. If the condition of the padding is unsatisfactory, it is completely replaced with foam rubber, cut into 2x2 cm cubes.

Replacing the upholstery of a sofa with your own hands at home is quite possible even for those who have never encountered furniture repair before. As the first “experimental”, you should choose an old ottoman that you wouldn’t mind taking to the dacha or giving to someone, and when you have gained at least minimal experience, you can take on more complex work.

How is the replacement done?

If you want to repair your sofa without hiring the services of professional furniture makers, you should carefully study the procedure. You need to start by disassembling the sofa, or rather, by disconnecting its side parts using a wrench. Do not allow these structural elements to fall freely after dismantling; mark each of them so as not to confuse the left and right parts during subsequent assembly. Next, the mechanisms are dismantled, the seat, the backrest and, if present, the tray are disconnected one by one.

To remove the covers you will need to use pliers. Using them, carefully, without jerking, pull out the fastening brackets. Otherwise, the upholstery may be damaged.

Disassembling the sofa should begin by removing the side elements

The sofa is disassembled.
Remove the mattress and proceed to repairing the springs. Using a damp rag, you should remove dust from the surface of the structure, and then carefully inspect all the springs. Remove damaged springs using pliers and replace with new ones. Next, cover the spring block with foam rubber or other material to increase its service life.

Carefully remove the upholstery

Damaged spring

Spring fastening options

The fact is that when using a sofa, differences are created between those springs that are pressed by the person’s weight, and those springs that remain unused. This leads to deformation of the spring block and the need for its repair. If you fill the gaps between the springs with foam rubber, and also cover the entire mattress with similar material, this can somewhat smooth out the load difference. Ultimately, the sofa mattress will last longer.

The distance between the springs should be filled with foam rubber

If you need to replace a large number of springs in a sofa in a single large Bonnell block, it is easier to purchase a new block. If only one or two springs stick out, then only these elements need to be replaced, and it is not rational to change the entire unit.

How to replace the spring block in a sofa with foam rubber yourself

After several years of intensive use, the sofa frame may become unusable. Often, malfunctions can occur with low-quality products. There are several ways out of this situation - purchase new furniture, seek help from specialists, or replace the spring block with foam rubber yourself.

The main sign of failure of the sofa spring unit is the formation of depressions or bulges on the surface of the seat. Dents are caused by loose, stretched or broken springs. Bulges are more often characteristic of old Soviet-made sofas. They used a block with vertically located springs of variable diameter. The springs were attached to the block using metal brackets, wire or nylon cords. The entire unit was mounted on a wooden seat frame. A layer of thick fabric (such as matting) and batting were laid on top of the spring block, after which the entire structure was covered with fabric or leather sheathing.

The design of modern models of spring sofas is also based on the use of a wooden or metal frame. Several dozen horizontally located S-shaped springs, or snakes as they are also called, are attached to it using special brackets. A layer of dense material is laid on top of the springs, and a foam filler is placed on it. The top of the sofa is covered with various types of upholstery. To repair such a sofa, it is enough to dismantle the snakes and install a sheet of thick plywood in their place.

Work on replacing the vertical spring block with foam rubber begins with disassembling the sofa. To do this, separate the armrests and remove the seat, separating it from the transformation mechanism. Then, using a knife or screwdriver, remove the furniture staples that secure the upholstery to the frame. Next, separate the damaged spring block from the frame and inspect the integrity of the frame bars. If necessary, damaged elements must be replaced.

Then the dimensions of the frame are measured and a base for laying the filler is cut out of plywood with a thickness of at least 8 mm. Using nails or self-tapping screws, plywood is attached to a wooden frame. Then, having measured the height of the spring block, the foam filler is cut to fit the size of the base. If there are no sheets of the required thickness on sale, foam rubber can be laid in several layers. To prevent premature destruction and displacement of layers of foam rubber, it is wrapped on top and sides with a layer of batting, which is attached to the frame with a furniture stapler. The upholstery is pulled over the top and also secured to the bars. The sofa repaired in this way is assembled.