How I did it:

• turn the chair upside down and unscrew the seat from the body of the chair
  
• used a bowl to keep all my screws together
  
• Using a screwdriver and needlenose pliers, removed all the staples that hold the fabric to the seat.
  
• Once all the staples were out, I held the whole seat inside a garbage bag and used a paint scraper to yank all the old foam and fabric off the wood.
  
• I used a the seat as a template and traced it onto the foam with a marker to cut new foam
  
• I used a bread knife to cut through the foam.
  
• Laid out my piece of fabric and put the foam onto it, then the wooden seat base
  
• Used the staple gun to attache the fabric, starting in the middle of each side, then the corners and then worked my way inwards, pulled the fabric taut as I went.
  
• Once all the seats were done, I took them outside and sprayed with scotchguard
  
• While the scotchguard was drying I gave all the wood a good cleaning and polishing, tightened all the leg bolts and put felt pads on all the legs
  
• Then I put all the seatcovers back on the chairs, and screwed them in place

Lessons & tips:

• Practice doing the corners a few times before you staple
  
• Foam was very expensive at specialty stores, I got a great price at Walmart
  
• Make sure you have the fabric bias lined up straight and that it goes in the same direction for all the chairs.
  
• Make sure you pick out a heavy fabric

Resources:

• foam for the seats
  
• Heavy fabric, enough to wrap around the foam and leave about 2 inches underneath the seat
  
• Flat screwdriver for prying staples
  
• Needlenose pliers for removing staples
  
• screwdriver to fit the screws under the chair seat
  
• Marker
  
• Bread knife for cutting foam
  
• a good staple gun, staples
  
• 2 bowls, one for screws and one for staples
  
• scotchguard
  
• felt pads
  
• furniture polish
  
• a really big garbage bag

Jan 02, 2009, 04:25PM PST | 0 comments | 5 cheers