Tip #17: Clean up the surface
In today's Upholstery Tip, we're focusing on an important but often skipped step: preparing the frame before reupholstering. This might seem small, but it can prevent problems later, even if your new fabric looks great.
As I've said in earlier posts, make sure frame repairs are done first, then tackle the decorative finish. First, inspect the surface fully. For timber finishes, look for scratches in the clearcoat. For minor scratches in an otherwise good finish, use a wax stick, coloured furniture wax or rejuvenators. For larger issues, you might need to sand down, fill deeper scratches or dents, restrain and/or add a new clearcoat.
If the frame is painted, now is the BEST time to repaint! Clean well and sand off any rough or peeling paint. Use a smooth finish wood filler to repair any dents of scratches. Cracks might need to be filled with sawdust and filler first, then scim with your filler. Unless you are using a self-priming paint like Voodoo Molly Vintage Paint, make sure you use a primer before painting.
Whatever finish you do, it is important to wait for the full cure time before you begin upholstering. Many paints and clearcoats are 28 days, Voodoo Molly products are 7 days. Make sure to follow the drying times on the product label. Be patient, or you will chips or scratch your finish easily when reupholstering.
