ReupholsteryCommercial & DomesticNorfolk & UK-wide
Sofas, chairs, dining seats, headboards and one-offs. Stripped back, repaired, refoamed and reupholstered in the fabric of your choice to a standard that lasts.
The furniture is often better than what you'd replace it with
Well-made furniture is worth reupholstering. The frame is hardwood, the joinery holds, the proportions are considered, the fabric and foam are just the layer that ages. Replacing the piece throws away the good bits; reupholstering replaces the parts that failed and keeps the parts that matter.
Red Kite Furniture reupholsters commercial and domestic pieces in our Norwich workshop and on site across the UK. Every job includes frame inspection and repair, foam replacement to the correct density, new webbing and springs where needed, and hand-finished upholstery in your chosen fabric.
Around 90% of our work is commercial contract, so residential clients benefit from the same materials, techniques and quality control used on hospitality projects.
What a bad reupholstery job actually looks like
Reupholstery has a reputation problem because it's often done badly: old foam left in place, worn webbing not replaced, stapled where it should be tacked, fabric pulled off-grain. Six months later it looks worse than it did before, and the frame is now carrying damage from the shortcut.
The other trap is fabric choice. Domestic upholstery weight in a commercial setting fails Martindale abrasion inside a season. Commercial weight in a formal drawing room feels wrong to the touch. Getting the fabric right is a specification job.
Reupholstering over failing webbing or broken springs
Leaving old foam in place because 'it still has some life'
Choosing fabric on look alone without checking Martindale or Crib 5
Skipping frame repair because the covers hide it
Assuming all upholsterers work to the same standard
Simple to start. Precise to finish.
Assessment
Send photos or bring the piece in. We assess frame, foam, springs and covers, and quote based on what's actually needed.
Fabric & Spec
Choose from contract or domestic fabrics, or supply your own (COM/COL). We advise on Martindale, Crib 5 and drape.
Strip & Repair
Old covers, foam and webbing are stripped. Frames are inspected, re-glued, re-blocked and re-webbed as required.
Rebuild & Upholster
New foam to the correct density, new springs or webbing, hand-finished upholstery, matched piping and stitching.
Delivery & Guarantee
Delivered and installed UK-wide. Every job is guaranteed, with terms confirmed at time of order.
Concrete benefits, not brochure copy.
Save the Frame
Keep the piece that was built well and replace only the layers that failed.
Full Frame Repair
Re-glued, re-blocked and re-webbed as required, not just re-covered.
Correct Foam Density
Contract-density where it matters, softer where the piece calls for it.
Fabric Advice
We help you pick fabric that suits the use, Martindale, Crib 5, drape and colour.
Contract Standards
Same team and standards used for hospitality contract work, applied to residential pieces too.
UK-Wide Collection & Delivery
We collect, refurbish and return, or reupholster on site where the piece is fixed.
What reupholstery actually involves
'Reupholstery' covers a wide range of work, from a re-cover on a sound frame to a full rebuild. Here's what we do and how we spec it.
Frame repair
Loose joints re-glued and re-blocked, split rails scarfed, missing corner blocks replaced. Where a frame can't be saved, we say so; we don't pour good work into a broken foundation.
Foam, feather & fibre
Seat foams replaced in appropriate density; back cushions rebuilt with feather-fibre wraps for the plumped drawing-room look, or straight foam for cleaner contemporary seats.
Springs & webbing
Traditional coil springs re-tied, serpentine springs replaced, webbing renewed. Where the original construction was inadequate, we rebuild to a better spec.
Fabric selection
Contract Crib 5 fabrics for public and hospitality use; domestic upholstery-weight fabrics and leathers for residential; COM/COL welcomed. Match and cigarette test compliant for residential work.
Commercial vs domestic
Commercial reupholstery is Crib 5 fabrics, contract-density foam, and often on-site work to protect trading hours. Domestic reupholstery uses residential-weight fabrics, feather-wrapped cushions where wanted, and workshop-based work with UK-wide collection and delivery.
A closer look at reupholstery we have delivered.
Straight answers, before you enquire.
How much does reupholstery cost?+
It depends on the piece, the fabric, and the frame condition. Every quote is free and itemised so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
How long does it take?+
Timings vary by scope and fabric availability. We'll confirm the schedule when we quote rather than promise a generic figure.
Do you collect and deliver?+
Yes, UK-wide, or we come to you for on-site work where the piece is fixed.
Can I supply my own fabric?+
Yes. We work with Customer's Own Material (COM/COL). Fire-retardancy responsibility for customer-supplied fabrics stays with the client.
Is the work guaranteed?+
Yes. All work is guaranteed, with terms specific to the project confirmed at the time of order.
Is my piece worth reupholstering?+
If the frame is sound, almost always, well-made vintage or contract-grade frames are better than most new furniture at the same price point. We'll tell you honestly if it isn't worth it.
Do you reupholster antique furniture?+
Yes. We use traditional techniques (hand-tied springs, tacked upholstery) where the piece calls for it.
Do you do commercial reupholstery?+
Yes, it's the core of our business. See our on-site reupholstery service for hospitality, healthcare and gym operators.
On-Site Reupholstery
We come to your venue and reupholster fixed seating, banquettes and loose furniture in place, so your restaurant, hotel, gym or clinic keeps trading while the work happens.
Bespoke Furniture Manufacturing
Sofas, chairs, banquettes, headboards, joinery and one-off pieces designed with you or your designer and built by hand in our Norwich workshop.
Furniture Spraying & Refinishing
In-house spraying, lacquering and refinishing for timber frames, chair legs, kitchen units and side cabinets. Colour matched, factory-quality finish for contract or domestic work.
Ready to specify reupholstery that lasts?
Send us your brief, drawings or a photo of what you'd like made or refurbished. Free quote. No obligation.