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Tips for low cost re-upholstery [message #229406]

Mon, 11 November 2013 23:49

roytuh

Messages: 2
Registered: November 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA

Karma: 0

Junior Member

Hi...we have a 1978 Eleganza 2, 26'. This has the rear cabin with the 2 couches that fold down to create a double bed, a Dinette and a couch that has a back that folds up to create a hanging bunk. We would like to redo all of the fabric but the cost estimates to properly reupholster are upwards of $6k.

We were thinking to cut out all of the existing foam and upholstery and replace it with custom made cushions that would attach to the original metal frames with velcro straps.

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?

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Re: Tips for low cost re-upholstery [message #229433 is a reply to message #229406]

Tue, 12 November 2013 07:36

75realsteel

Messages: 26
Registered: December 2012
Location: Chicago

Karma: 0

Junior Member

If you are handy, you can do it yourself without too much trouble once you teach yourself how to sew. I am not great at it, but have become good enough to re-upholster a car, a boat and my GMC.

You'll need a decent sewing machine. I have a 1950's era Pfaff I picked up on ebay for $250 that's heavy duty enough for the task.
You'll also need a set of hog-ring pliers, a staple gun and a hot glue gun.
Then, it's just a matter of ripping apart the existing and using it as a rough guide to make replacements - and use new foam which is best cut with a double-bladed electric carving knife (you can re-use this on your thanksgiving turkey). I added a layer of burlap between the metal frame and the foam and a layer of cotton batting on top of the foam (to make the seats cooler and more comfortable).

I made my replacements fairly simple in design - without buttons and with two shades of a velour automotive type material. You have many options with respect to the style and design you want to choose. If you want a thicker material like leather, you'll need a beefier sewing machine (one with a walking foot would make things easier).

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/interior/p51528-re-upholstered-dinette.html

Good luck - and don't be afraid to try. It really isn't that hard - it just takes some patience and trial/error if you're not familiar with sewing.

Kevin Spriggs
75 Eleganza II
Chicago

'77 Kingsley 26 - Chicago, IL

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Re: Tips for low cost re-upholstery [message #229449 is a reply to message #229406]

Tue, 12 November 2013 08:40

lqqkatjon

Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN

Karma: 5

Senior Member

You can find someone to do it for cheaper. my estimate from a pro, was under $3000. i would do some more shopping if you are going to not do it yourself.

The other alternative, is to just call up Jim bounds at the GMC coop, and replace your interior. I think he can do that for probably less then what you are getting for a price.

for the do-it yourself, or someone that will work with you on material cost,

here is a site for cheap materials, I got my foam, and some of the fabric from there when I redid my interior.

http://www.rochfordsupply.com/

here is the foam I used for seats:
http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Foam/HR_Foam_Sheets/Foam_Medium_Firm_HR_3319_-_Best_Seller/index.html

then wrapped them in this:
http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Foam/Rolled_Foam/Polyester_Wrap_-_Batting/index.html

and fabric choices:
http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Textiles/Upholstery/Upholstery_Fabric/index.html

hog rings:
http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Automotive/Automotive_Misc/Automotive_Hog_Rings/index.html

hog ring pliers:
http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-3702-Piece-Plier/dp/B000RH399U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384266873&sr=8-3&keywords=hog+ring+pliers
and

here is the best do-it-yourself write up:
http://teamteets.com/gmc/upholstery.html

my mother-in-law did the majority of the work. she took the old for the pattern and replicated. The bunk was really the only super complicated piece to do.

my only advice to someone else, is do not use cheap spray adhesive.

Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

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Re: Tips for low cost re-upholstery [message #229450 is a reply to message #229433]

Tue, 12 November 2013 08:42

roytuh

Messages: 2
Registered: November 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA

Karma: 0

Junior Member

Great, thanks so much Kevin. that was what I was hoping to hear. I see that you removed the seating units to work on them. Any tricks involved in pulling those units out or getting them back in?

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Re: Tips for low cost re-upholstery [message #229460 is a reply to message #229406]

Tue, 12 November 2013 09:52

Bob S.

Messages: 143
Registered: October 2012
Location: Rapid City, SD

Karma: 2

Senior Member

My wife and I reupholstered our coach without any previous sewing experience at all. My wife did most of the sewing with a machine that was given to us(wasn't heavy duty) and it did just fine. We are very proud of how well the job turned out. I would recommend you check the website www.newtoto.com . It has incredible prices on fabric. We also replaced all the foam, but I don't remember what website we got the foam from. I believe we have less than $600.00 in the total project.
I checked on having covered buttons made to add accents to the upholstery and learned that it runs about $2.00 per button. So I bought a used machine that makes them. It is very simple to do and is saving me money. I am just about done with this machine so if anybody is interested in borrowing it, contact me so we can arrange shipping.
I agree with the other post that this project sounds a lot more difficult than it actually is and when your done you have bragging rights.

Bob and Pam Schilling Rapid City, SD "78 Royale

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Re: Tips for low cost re-upholstery [message #229469 is a reply to message #229460]

Tue, 12 November 2013 10:28

stick miller

Messages: 1036
Registered: March 2010
Location: Americus, Georgia

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Maybe we've been lucky, but I've never found upholstering to be that expensive. We have a very large house full of uncomfortable furniture and everything in there has been reupholstered at least once. I can promise you we didn't pay $6K for the upholstery and formal drapes. My DW even got tired of a leather sofa, had the leather stripped off and recovered in cloth.

Cushions should be even cheaper. We have a lady we swap off weekends at our condo for upholstery and cushion work.

Bottom line - look around.

Stick Miller
'78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
'76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie" Sold
'84 Bluebird Wanderlodge - "Past Tents"
Americus, GA

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Re: Tips for low cost re-upholstery [message #229555 is a reply to message #229469]

Tue, 12 November 2013 17:06

chasingsummer

Messages: 434
Registered: May 2011
Location: asheboro, nc

Karma: 0

Senior Member

for all materials including foam, my dinette and sofa cost me around 350 is I remember correct. But that included material that I picked out, I also bought the hog ring tool , and a couple different needles. It was the first time I had used my old singer sewing machine that i bought 10 or so years back becasue it was onlt $20. I also skipped the buttons do the the price of the button tool. and of course buttons have to match a pattrn perfect or look out of place.
I did not just copy what was there, I removed it completely and over. Of course I learned as I went,
This was a fun project, having plywood over my pool table made a great work table large enough.
But if Bob will loan out his button machine, I may take him up on that.
either way, consider doing it yourself. I would rate it similiar to do timing chain.

brian asheboro, nc 75 eleganza, 74 build 119k miles and counting, DOG HOUSE

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