REUPHOLSTERY

By Melissa O'Connell


So you've just bought your dream house and after a lot of hard work and organization, you've gotten everything out of the boxes and moved your furniture into the new rooms. It's a great feeling to see everything in a fresh setting. Possessions take on new meaning and look slightly different in a new house. The lighting is different, the views are different, the way the rooms flow into one another is different. Furniture that faded in your previous home now shines.

When Tracy moved into her new home last spring this was the stage she loved best. "I've always been interested in interior design," says the 34 year old librarian. "So having a house full of empty rooms to decorate from scratch was a real thrill for me." Pulling the rooms together in her new two bedroom home was also challenging. "I work full time so decorating is more of a hobby than anything else. Plus, after we bought the house there wasn't much left in the budget for new furniture. I really had to get creative with what I had."

One of the things Tracy had to get creative with was an antique chair handed down to her from her grandmother in Iowa. "It's a really great chair,"she says, "the lines are perfect, but no matter where I put it in the house it looked ratty and wrong." She tried throwing blankets over it, angling it in corners, moving it from room to room. "It just wouldn't work," she says "I was almost ready to banish it to the basement when I got the idea to reupholster it to fit the room I wanted it in."

"I got a book on upholstery to see if it was something I could do. I was worried because I really can't sew. I'm all thumbs." What Tracy learned though was that with a staple gun and a bit of time she could get rid of the ugly without getting rid of the chair. "It took me all weekend, but it was worth it," she says beaming. "I get so many complements on it and the room now."
The chair did have one cushion that demanded sewing skills though. Tracy just took the cushion in to a local tailor with the fabric she'd chosen. "The tailor made me a perfect cushion with a zipper at the back, new padding and piped edges. I didn't even need to sew a stitch!" When all was said and done, she paid only a fraction of the cost it would have taken to either replace the antique chair or have a professional upholsterer do the job. "I can understand why they charge so much," says Tracy. "It's not necessarily difficult or expensive, but it's time consuming. You really have to love working with your hands."

The project was a great experience for her and something she plans to do more often. "I'm so glad to have this new skill," she says. "It's become a hobby for me." Tracy's next project will be the chairs in her dining room set.

If you're ready for a new hobby too, below are some of Tracy's re-upholstery tips. Best of luck!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

-A staple gun, hammer, pliers and scissors
- 4 to 7 yards of fabric you love as much as the ugly chair
- Strip nails or stud strips (from fabric store or hardware store) and upholstery tacks
- Cardboard strips or tacking strip

If you want to do a really thorough job, the first and most important step in the process will involve carefully taking the old upholstery off the chair. Using the claw part of a hammer, pliers and or a screwdriver, remove the pieces that can come off first, first. As you're doing this, take note of how they were attached to the frame and the order in which you removed each piece. That way, you can simply reverse the order when you're putting the new ones on. If you are not one to take notes, take photos instead. You can also use the original upholstery as a pattern for the new material.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE::
- Staple cardboard strips or tacking strip to rough edges to get a smooth under surface or fold fabric over them and nail down to get clean edges
- Use stud strips or upholstery tacks to fasten the outside edges of finishing pieces and get an easy decorative trim at the same time
- When choosing your fabric avoid lines, stripes or patterns that have to be matched. Choose medium weight fabric. Fabric that's too heavy will be difficult to work with and fabric that's too light will tear.

Dining room chairs and chairs with more frame than material on them are relatively easy. For dining room chairs, just remove the seat from the chair with a screwdriver, cover it with the fabric of your choice, neatly staple it down on the underside, and then screw the newly covered seat back down. This also works really well for vintage kitchen chairs with vinyl seats.

For extra help as you embark on your project, get support from your local library or bookstore. There are plenty of great books on the market that will take you through the process step by step. Of course if you just want to get started, just get started! Use your intuition as you tuck, staple and hammer down, you have nothing to lose but an ugly chair.



Melissa O'Connell is a licensed Scottsdale real estate broker and Scottsdale resident with 15 years experience in Arizona Real Estate Call her at 877.451.0748 or visit Unique Scottsdale Homes at http://www.uniquescottsdalehomes.com
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This video is what dreams are made of ...if you own or dream of owning an RV.

Don't forget us though when you need your investment re-upholstered.

Give us a call for a free quote!

By Jonathan R Richards

If you are planning to redesign your patio deck in the near future, you are probably also trying to locate something that is new and different in the way of patio deck furniture. On the other hand, maybe you are just searching for something that will be comfortable and long lasting. However, instead of cutting down another one of our valuable hardwood trees just to manufacture a few lounge chairs, why not do a little investigating into the newer aluminum vinyl strapping kind of furniture? No, I am not talking about the old time folding chairs that use to collapse if you sat on them a little too hard. The quality of most aluminum furniture sets has improved a lot since those days.

Most of them have heavy weight frames that have been blasted with sand in order to prepare them to fully accept the powder coating that will give them a tougher and more durable finish than any ordinary liquid variety of paint would be able to do. The sandblasting technique creates tiny pores that actually allow the powder paint to almost become part of the aluminum frame. The usual problems that occur when painting with any kind of "wet" material, like running, dripping and streaking, are never a problem when it is being done with the new powder paint.

Aluminum strapping patio deck furniture is available in a multitude of color combinations. They are either double wrapped in vinyl straps, feature some type of basket weaving technique or have a "sling" covering. These lounge chairs offer maximum comfort; sometimes being offered with head and arm rests. The frames are welded for safety reasons. Other items that are also available include bar stools, tables and individual chairs. All of them will make the redesigning of your patio deck much easier. You will end up with an outdoor dining area that is perfect for gathering the entire family together for a summertime feast.

However, if these items are going to be used around swimming pools, some care is required. The constant extreme heat of the solar rays can cause suntan lotions and body oils to eventually stain and discolor the strapping. Therefore, in order to prevent this, it is always advisable to spread a large towel over the webbing before reclining on it. Outdoor furniture should be cleaned every month or so with a very mild dish detergent. It is recommended that a thin film of a good quality car wax be applied to the aluminum frames. By all means, do not let anyone throw any of your aluminum furniture into the pool water. The chlorine can be very damaging to the aluminum and the webbing.

Jonathan is the owner of MLS buy Owner, a Flat Fee MLS company that specializes in placing For Sale By Owner (FSBO) properties on the Realtors® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a low one time flat fee. Please visit Flat Fee MLS to learn more about their services and the Flat Fee MLS packages they offer.


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By Jennifer Akre


Teak furniture is tropical hardwood that has a rich, golden honey color when new. However, as it begins to age and is exposed to the elements, the natural, beautiful color changes to a silvery gray patina. In fact, this is how you can distinguish finely aged outdoor teak furniture! The key with teak is that if you were to leave this silvery gray color on the teak furniture without being treated, you would never be able to get the lustrous honey, caramel back.

Although the color change does not affect the strength and durability of the piece, it does give your teak furniture a whole new look. Therefore, if you are going to own outdoor (or indoor) teak furniture you first want to decide if you want to maintain the original golden brown color or let your teak furniture acquire a silver gray patina as it weathers.

To extend the beautification of the lustrous honey color, a leading manufacturer, Kingsley-Bate, recommends using a protector. Their teak protector is a "cosmetic application" and helps the furniture maintain its color for a season. Reapply as needed.

Kingsley-Bate does not recommend using a teak oil on outdoor furniture because of the high maintenance involved in this process. Every three months, teak oil will need to be reapplied to maintain the brown finish. Kingsley-Bate also states "oiling outdoor furniture may cause mildew or irregular coloring."

When left outdoors without a teak protector or teak oil, your outdoor furniture will turn silvery-gray. This process takes approximately 9 months and depends on the exposure to certain elements such as rain and sun. If this is look you wish to maintain, the only care needed for your teak furniture is a periodic cleaning.

The recommended cleaning solution is a 75/25 mixture of a mild laundry detergent with bleach in water. Only a soft bristle brush should be used. When your deck furniture is clean, rinse the entire piece well enough to remove any dirt or cleaning solution residue. This process is adequate for general cleaning of your furniture regardless if it is golden brown or has weathered.

Kingsley-Bate offers a product for those who allowed their patio furniture to weather to a silver gray and now want to return it to the original color. Regardless of how long your furniture is outside, Kingsley-Bate's teak cleaner will restore your furniture to the honey brown color. The process is simple and does not require heavy scrubbing.

Some people want to stain or paint their teak furniture. Manufacturers frown upon this as the natural oil occurring in the teak prevents the paint or stain to adhere to the wood. If you absolutely must have your teak furniture painted or stained, you should go to your local marina store and confirm what they recommend to use.

While some people will allow their teak furniture to remain outdoors all year long, there are those that recommend it be brought indoors. However, if you do keep it out, then make sure it does not sit on wet ground and that puddles of water are not allowed to pool on the furniture. But the great thing about teak is that since it is a dense hardwood, it naturally resists warping, shrinkage, swelling, and rot. In addition, it contains a high oil content the continually preserves the wood, which is why you can leave it outdoors without much problem. The smooth finish does not splinter and looks absolutely beautiful.

Teak patio furniture is luxury outdoor furniture. You want to make certain you take care of your investment properly as this is intended to last for years.


Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous furniture websites, makes it easy to find quality teak bench and teak patio furniture Learn how to buy and care for your teak furniture by clicking the following link: teak steamers

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By Athul Lohan

Teak furniture it is extremely resistant to rot and deterioration making it an ideal material for outdoor furniture. the natural color of teak ranges from golden to yellowish brown. when it is exposed to the elements it develops an silver gray color, the weathering process take eight to nine months depending on the climate it had to endure. Most manufacture doesn't recommend applying oil or varnish on the teak that is going to be used out side if you want to preserve its color you can use teak sealers, before using it clean the teak using a mild detergent and soft brush to remove the dirt, allow it to dry, then use the sealer. Do not use steel wool to clean the timber. To remove grease and food stains commercially available teak cleaner will be enough.

Teak can last decades so it is good investment. weathered teak can change its color to gray it is only cosmetic, some find this look attractive. Teak is also used for making indoor furniture like sofas, chair, dining sets etc. Teak wood is graded into grade A, grade B, grade C. Grade A teak it is the mature heartwood section of the timber, (ie the core) it has a uniform honey color it is close grained oily to touch very dense and rich in protective oils. Grade B it is the semi mature outer heartwood duller in color with greater variations than grade A. Grade C it contain he sapwood from the outer sections of the log. it is much softer than heart wood it has large color variations it has no protective oil content. it is generally considered an inferior wood to use.

If you want to learn more about outdoor teak furniture outdoor teak furniture,you can check out my article teak outdoor furniture guide teak outdoor furniture guide
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Retractable Awnings - The Long-Standing Question of Cotton and Solution - Dyed Acrylic
By Eric Scope

The fabric is the first visual element in a retractable awning. It's both the most dramatic and most fragile element in retractable awnings. Any wear, tearing, fading, or rot on the fabric immediately diminishes the overall suitability of a retractable awning, even if the frame and accessories of the awning are sound.

Because the fabric of the awning is so important, a lot of research and technology is geared toward improving retractable awning fabrics. There are basically two major camps for fabrics: natural cotton and solution-dyed acrylic. The key to understanding the best retractable awning fabrics lies in knowing both the history of awning fabrics and the technology of modern fabrics.
The Demand of Outdoor Fabrics Fabrics on retractable awnings have to withstand a lot of environmental abuse. Outdoor fabrics of every type - cotton duck to vinyl to acrylic - face significant wear and demanding conditions. Mechanical damage, such as tearing and fraying, can come from heavy winds or the weight from rain, snow, ice, or debris. (This is one advantage of retractable awnings; closing the awning protects it from those kinds of loads.)

The true grinding wear on awning fabrics, though, comes from standard weather:
Sun and UV damage Heat and cool Moisture Mildew Debris and dust
This causes fading, tearing, and discoloring. Outdoor fabrics, then, have to find a way to resist these environmental factors.

Cotton and Early Awnings Awnings are an old architectural convention, dating back to the Greeks and Egyptians. In the beginning, awnings were made with woven leaves, which segued into linen. In the 19th century, awnings had a bit of a renaissance in Europe as both a stylish and practical window dressing. At that time, awning fabrics were usually cotton duck, an oiled canvas that was heavy and somewhat water repellent and used for ships' sails.

Cotton canvas remained popular well into the mid-20th century. Even now, canvas is still a common (though decreasingly popular) awning fabric. It has a few advantages as a retractable awning fabric, namely that it is breathable and has a pleasing visual texture. New scientific advances in the latter 20th century introduced additional treatments to both cotton plants and processed cotton to make it more durable and mildew-resistant.

Another advantage for cotton is piece dyeing. Piece-dyeing cotton - the most common method for outdoor uses - creates vibrant color, some of the most beautiful in fabrics. In piece-dyeing, the cotton is immersed in hot liquid dyes, then forced through rollers to even out the color and remove the excess.

Piece dyeing isn't without drawbacks. It is done on full bolts of cloth, not individual threads, so it is only good for solid colors. To get stripes or other patterns, the contrasting colors have to be painted on, which is not particularly durable and creates a flat, one-sided visual effect. Piece-dyeing is also susceptible to environmental wear from sun, UV rays, and even humidity and salt water.

Despite the breeding enhancements, cotton has significant weaknesses for outdoor use. Despite the treatments, it is still prone to mildew and rot. According to one cotton mill site, after only two weeks in the sun, cotton is less than half as strong and increasingly brittle, losing its elasticity and becoming prone to tear or fray.

The Evolution to Solution-Dyed Acrylic Acrylic fabric was born in 1944, as part of the flurry of research for World War II because of the military demand for quick, cheap, and highly durable materials. Acrylics are much better for outdoor uses than their manmade cousins like vinyl because acrylic is a fiber rather than a sheet; it can be woven, it's lightweight, and it's breathable. Acrylic fabrics dry quickly, have flexibility and elasticity, and have the pleasing texture and softness of natural fibers like cotton. Unlike cotton and linen, acrylics cannot support mildew growth, so they are innately mildew resistant.

From a color standpoint, acrylics have another advantage over natural fibers. Acrylics are made in a lab. All of the components to make the acrylic yarn is mixed in that lab - including the color. This is called solution-dyeing, which means that the pigments are added to the acrylic solution. The color is part of the fabric. This leads acrylic fabrics to have very long-lived colors, better pattern quality, and both stain and fade resistance.

Because solution-dyed acrylics are so good in rough conditions - like tangy salt air and water and prolonged sun exposure - acrylics were quickly adopted for maritime fabrics like sails. From there, it was a smooth transition for acrylics to be used for retractable awnings and other outdoor applications.

Contemporary Choices Most retractable awning lines now depend exclusively on solution-dyed acrylics for five reasons: Simple care (just an occasional rinse with the hose) Durability(with some manufacturers offering a 10-year warranty) Amazing color and pattern selection Effective fade resistance Innate mildew resistance

Natural fabrics like heavy cotton duck and chunky linens have a nostalgic panache for awnings. The technology behind solution-dyed acrylics enables acrylic fabrics to have the best virtues of natural fibers - softness, texture, breathability - combined with the durability, vibrancy, and resistance of manmade materials.

Retractable Awnings offers quality awnings and patio covers, which are both easy to use and affordable.
http://www.retractableawnings.com
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