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Why an FAQ section?  

Many telephone inquiries seem to revolve around the following questions. As with anything new, arming yourself with information will make for a more satisfying and successful experience. We hope to provide you with answers to some of your questions before you embark on the reupholstery journey.

Some of the most frequently asked questions are about prices. We’ve dedicated a whole page to answering those questions.
See the Pricing page.

  • 1. How long has The Recovery Room been in business?

Since December 1988.

  • 2. Why reupholster? Isn’t it cheaper to buy new furniture?

Of course one can buy new furniture for less money than it costs to reupholster BUT one has to compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Furniture in the lower price range is not built with longevity in mind.

Furniture built-to-last starts with a well constructed frame made of hardwood and joined together with glue, dowels, screws and corner blocks. Pieces constructed in this manner will last for decades and will thus save money in the long run. If your furniture is 15 years old or more, chances are that it was well built and will cost less to reupholster than to purchase the same quality new.

  • 3. What are the advantages of reupholstery?
    • There are 1000s of fabric samples to choose from so you can reflect your own personality and tastes in your choice.
    • The furniture you have fits your room and is comfortable; fits your body type.
    • The piece may be a family treasure and can be given new life. Aunt Shirley’s old, oak rocker will be a nice reading chair in that corner near the window.
  • 4. How do I get started on a reupholstery project?

Phone for an appointment and bring in images of the furniture, colours you are trying to match to i.e. rug samples, paint chips or fabric swatches from existing furniture. Our fabric library is extensive and I can help in the fabric selection including colour, design and performance criteria.

Once you have chosen some samples, I encourage you to take them home to see how they will look in your room setting. Lighting sources and other colours in the room setting will influence how your eyes perceive the colour of the fabric samples.

If you are looking for a ballpark figure on approximate costs of your upholstery project, you can email images and I can try to determine some pricing figures. See additional information about pricing on the Pricing page.

  • 5. Does The Recovery Room refinish furniture?

No, but I can recommend local contractors who specialize in this field.

  • 6. How long will you have my furniture?

I take the furniture into the shop once I am ready to start work on it. Work continues on it until complete which means that you shouldn’t be without your furniture for more than a couple of weeks.

  • 7. Can I supply my own fabric?

I prefer that the fabric be purchased through The Recovery Room as I have recourse with our suppliers should there be a flaw or problem with the fabric.

I must ensure that the fabric is appropriate for the end use; i.e. a light cotton drapery fabric is not suitable for use on a family room sofa.

If the customer supplies the fabric, a $20-25/yard surcharge is applied and I take no responsibility for the performance of the fabric.

  • 8. Do you upholster car seats or boat cushions?

I do NOT upholster car seats.
In some cases, I DO upholstery boat cushions but I would like to see them first.

  • 9. Do you charge a pick up and delivery fee?

Not within a 10 km radius. Depending upon the number of pieces and the distance, some charges will be applied on a case-by-case basis.

  • 10. What is your lead time?

I am usually booked 8-10 months in advance. If you are interested in having something done, you can be penciled into the schedule. If you change your mind, your name can be easily erased.

  • 11. Are gift certificates available?

Yes. These can be made up in any denomination.

  • 12. Do you build custom furniture?

Some, but it is limited to ottomans and headboards. Pricing is dependent upon size, style and design.

  • 13. White fabrics seem to be popular in the decorating magazines. What is your opinion of them?

If you don’t read a newspaper, don’t have pets, don’t have friends, don’t drink wine, drink nothing but distilled water, don’t eat food, don’t use the furniture… then, by all means, go for it. However, if you insist on a white fabric, a surcharge must be applied to the cost of the project due to the extra time involved in protecting the white fabric during the re-upholstery and delivery stages.

When it gets dirty, call a professional upholstery cleaning service. Don’t call me.

  • 14. Do you work with leather?

Yes and I have leather swatches in our sample library.
I also carry an array of attractive leather substitutes. Most people are hard pressed to tell the difference between the leather and the imitation.

  • 15. What is your payment policy?

I request a deposit usually equivalent to the price of the fabric. The balance is due upon completion of the project.

  • 16. Do you accept credit or debit cards?

I do not accept credit or debit cards. I DO accept etransfers, cash or cheque.

  • 17. Do you make slipcovers?

Yes, although not all furniture pieces are suitable for slipcovers. Pricing for slipcovers is about the same as for reupholstery. The underlying foundation of the furniture piece should also be evaluated before proceeding, i.e. are the springs sagging. If the foundation is not in good condition, then reupholstery is the better route to take.

  • 18. When is the best time of year to have boat cushions or patio furniture cushions recovered?

In the fall, when the boat is being taken out of the water and the patio furniture is being stored for the winter.