Patio furniture often suffers from abuse and neglect, leading to frayed and sagging slings that require restoration to give new life and functionality to it. Though it might be tempting to simply throw these pieces away, proper restoration processes can give these old pieces new purpose and revive them with renewed purpose.
Refinishing of sling and strap assemblies involves disassembly and careful inspection of the frame to repair broken welds, weak swivel mechanisms, cracks, seized bolts and cracked or worn-out straps. Weaving and lacing replacement straps is also part of this complex process which may not be easily completed by DIY enthusiasts.
Slings
Slings are the woven fabric straps used to suspend patio furniture sling-style seating off of the ground, held securely by rails on either side of its frame where it rests. When your slings begin to fade, rip or fray it may be time for replacement parts such as new fabric.
Replacement sling fabric can be purchased by the yard or premeasured bundles that contain everything needed for repair. When purchasing by yard, spline is available separately to allow you to get exactly the amount of fabric that meets your needs without purchasing extra spline that may go unused.
Before installing your new sling, it’s advisable to remove its spline and feed it through the side hem of its new counterpart so it is ready for use. This will help to keep it tight, prevent pulling looseness, ripping or tearing and ensure maximum life span of both pieces.
Cut your spline to approximately the length of each hole where it will pass through fabric hem and into rails; too long a length could make pushing through difficult and may rip.
Installation of replacement fabric may range from being an hour or two job for four chairs depending on their manufacturer and how badly worn or damaged their original slings are to requiring removal of end caps before installing new slings altogether.
Straps
When your outdoor chairs, chaise lounges or rockers have broken straps or are beginning to show signs of wear with oily suntan lotion stains, they may seem beyond repair. But before throwing out and spending money on new furniture instead, consider having them restrapped instead – this specialized process requires skill, patience and careful attention in order to achieve its excellent results.
Restrapping involves disassembling your furniture (which includes taking apart its straps and slings), inspecting for broken welds, weak swivel mechanisms, cracks or rust and powder coating the frame so it is ready for new straps and slings to be attached.
New straps are constructed of commercial grade vinyl that’s strong enough to withstand sun and rain exposure, and come in different colors so that they match or contrast your existing patio furniture perfectly. Furthermore, you have plenty of choices available so that you can try something completely new for an alternative look!
Single-wrap straps leave plastic pegs or metal clips exposed, while double-wrap straps cover them completely. To install a single-wrap strap, begin at one hole and wrap tight around the frame while spiraling once around or below a rivet hole to create partial wrap; install first peg/pin; repeat until reaching opposite end and cut away excess material as you go along.
Restrapping takes longer than simply replacing with new spline, but the results speak for themselves. By investing in restrapping patio furniture, you can extend its life while saving a significant amount of money in the process.
Glides
Glides, often referred to as the nylon feet of patio furniture, are some of the most underappreciated yet essential components. Glides protect surfaces against damage by decreasing friction when shifting or moving furniture around, as well as protecting them against scratches or wear and tear from scratches in use.
No matter if your patio furniture is constructed of plastic, wicker, metal, or wood – glides are an integral component to its functionality, longevity and comfort. These small but powerful pieces provide your outdoor furniture with longevity, usability, and comfort – essential qualities in an outdoor experience!
Furniture glides are simple to install and come in an assortment of sizes, styles and materials that match any furniture style or preference. To begin, place your chair or lounge on a soft and flat surface to prevent scratching before removing your old feet and inspecting them for signs of wear or rust. Once everything is leveled off, clean the cup area thoroughly sand if necessary to get rid of dirt debris or rust deposits before finally applying some force such as with a rubber mallet or hammer to secure new feet securely into place.
For a more permanent solution, drilling pilot holes into the legs of your furniture and installing adjustable feet that enable you to raise or lower its height as desired is one option. Shims constructed from hard plastic or wood may also work great as an inexpensive means of keeping outdoor furniture level while protecting decks or patios from scratches and gouges.
Sling Rail End Caps
Dirt and weather elements can sometimes cause fabric slings to adhere tightly to the side rails of furniture frames, requiring forceful removal as well as knowledge on how to work with stiff fabric to break them loose.
First, spray a solution of equal parts water and liquid dish soap into each side rail channel, which should help the spline cording and sling hem free themselves of metal. If resistance persists, try using a screwdriver to push fabric up through both ends of each rail; depending on your frame and fabric choice, using its flat end may help press fabric intoward toward its center; for extra leverage use a plastic or wooden mallet instead.
Once the sling rail has been undone, you can begin working to install your new sling. Make sure that each side rail slot has enough fabric stretched from top to bottom before tightening its bolt; an indicator of whether your sling has reached sufficient stretching is when there is a gap between it and its associated rail in each channel.
Installing the end caps for sling rails should be carried out carefully in order to avoid damaging the aluminum rail with your tools. Any cracked or brittle end caps should be trimmed off and replaced as soon as they appear cracked or brittle; larger patio chair manufacturers such as Mallin, Tropitone or Carter Grandle often provide rails with welds on one side that must first have its end cap installed before proceeding to install another end cap on its opposite side.
