Tips for do-it-yourself upholstery kits

It is easy to find ready-made upholstery kits for the do-it-yourselfer. There's a first time for everything, and even the best upholsterers had their first job. Yes - we do get people coming in with projects they started and finally gave up on. Some of them are in pretty bad shape . . . to the point where we have to start all over again. The are a few precautions to be aware of that might help reduce the pain of biting off more than you can chew.

1. Buy as much as you can from the same source.

It is possible to buy a seat frame from one place, foam from another, and pre-sewn upholstery from yet another. Trying to buy everything from the same source should help ensure that the pieces will fit. Although there may have been one original design, reproductions can vary quite a bit.

2. Don't procrastinate.

Sometimes people buy an upholstery kit and it sits around for a year or two before they get around to trying to install it. If there is something wrong, they have waited to long to be able to return the item.

3. Don't force it or damage it.

If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit, plain and simple. Don't pull excessively or use tools to stretch things. And don't try to stretch, cut or poke materials. Think about it from a manufacturer's perspective. They have invested time and money in making it, and if it's not right for your car, they want to sell it to somebody whose car it does work for. However, nobody wants to pay for a cover that's been cut, stretched out of shape, or otherwise damaged.

If you follow these simple rules, you can save yourself a lot of frustration and money!


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