Upholstery becomes crucial when you want to change the overall look of your bench. The hardwood seat may not be comfortable after you sit on it for several minutes. You may end up complaining about back pains.

How to Upholster a Bench with Vinyl

And instead of buying a replacement bench that has cushion, why don’t you customize your bench. This is where the art of upholstery comes in. Not only does it make your bench look magnificent but also more comfortable.

Step 1: Make a Decision

You should make a decision on whether to make a new bench or add a layer of upholstery material or repair an existing one. If you choose to replace an existing bench, then follow all the laid steps here to upholster the bench with vinyl.

  1. Unscrew the legs.
  2. Use nose needles pliers to remove the staplers at the back of the base. These are the staples that were initially fixed to the bench when initial upholster materials were applied.
  3. Gently remove the fabric, batting, and foam. You don’t need to keep these materials. We advise that you use new materials. Once you are done, you can progress to the next step.

If you decide to make a new bench, worry not. This article will give you valuable insights on how to go about it.

Step 2: Gather All the Materials Needed

After you have made a decision about what you want, you should gather all the materials needed for the process. The good thing about the materials required is that they are readily available and cheap. You won’t have to break your bank to procure them. Some of the materials needed include;

  • Upholstery
  • Staple gun
  • Vinyl upholstery fabric 3 inches longer
  • Fabric batting the same size as fabric
  • Household wood cleaner
  • Spray adhesive suitable for foam
  • permanent marker

Step 3: Prepare the Bench

Once you have settled on the bench to upholster, you should prepare it so that you can begin the process.

  • Clean the bench thoroughly using a household Wood cleaner and a damp cloth. This removes all the dirt.
  • Allow the bench to dry before you proceed to the next step.
  • Drill four holes on the four corners of your bench. This is where you are going to attach the legs.

Step 4: Attaching the Foam, Batting, and Vinyl

The process of attaching the foam and batting is easy, and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to carry out the procedure. Ensure you have a spacious working table where you can place the bench. You realize that you only deal with the top of the bench since you have unscrewed the legs.

  • Lay the foam on the top of the working table.
  • Flip the bench and let it rest on the foam.
  • Using the marker pen, trace the seat. This ensures that the size of the foam that you cut perfectly fits the bench.
  • Press the foam with the bench.
  • Take your scissors and cut through. Strictly follow the line you created with the marker pen. After you are almost through, remove the bench and complete the other. You must realize that the size of the foam is the same as the bench size.
  • Spray adhesive on one side of the foam that becomes the bottom. You can spray the seat as well if the manufacturer directs so. You should ensure that you use the right spray adhesive meant for foam.
  • Press down the glued side of the foam on the seat and make sure it fits well on the seat. Allow the glue to dry. Look for manufacturer directions on the duration it takes for the glue to dry.
  • Remove the bench from the working table.
  • Spread the vinyl face down and smooth it, and spread the batting fabric on top of the vinyl material.
  • Take your bench after the glue has dried and let it rest face down on top of the batting and vinyl material.
  • Grab the batting and vinyl material on one side and fold it over the bottom edge of your bench. Ensure you hold it in a position to ensure it fits your bench so well.
  • Take your staple gun, and staple through the batting and vinyl. Leave an inch in between the staples. Leave the corners of the bench unstapled
  • Now that you are through with stapling the vinyl plus the batting material to your bench, you might realize there is some excess material. Use your scissors to trim the excess material.

Step 5: Reattach the Legs

Your bench is now almost ready; the only thing remaining is the legs. Reattach the legs and how you do it depends on the model of your bench. After you have reattached the legs, you can go ahead and make yourself comfortable on the chair.

Tips: Always carry out this process in an open area that is well ventilated. This is because some materials used, such as spray adhesives tend to have strong fumes. Also, when stapling, it is recommended that you wear eye protection gear. This reduces the chances of eye damage.

How do you upholstery a wooden bench?

  1. Remove Old Upholstery. Flip the bench over and using the appropriate screwdriver (either Phillips or flat), remove the screws securing the upholstered top to the wooden legs (Image 1).
  2. Remove Existing Finish.
  3. Stain Then Seal Wood.
  4. Attach Foam.
  5. Add Fabric.
  6. Add Trim.
  7. Reattach Top.

How much does it cost to reupholster a bench seat?

The average cost for vehicle seat reupholstery including professional installation is $1,000–$2,000 for two bucket seats or a bench seat, depending on your vehicle.

How do you reupholster a vinyl bench?

Grab the batting and vinyl on one long side of the bench and fold it over the bottom edge of the bench, pressing down on the bench to ensure it does not slide away from the materials. Staple through the vinyl and batting every few inches along the entire side, leaving the last 2 inches or so near each corner unstapled.

How do you make a cushion for a bench seat?

How do you make a bench cushion in 2 hours?

How thick should foam be for bench seat?

Bench cushions and pads are available 2-8 inches thick (in 1-inch increments), depending on the type of cushion or pad you select.

How deep should bench seats be?

What Is the Standard Bench Depth? The standard bench depth is between 15″ and 20″. A dining room bench tends to fall around 17.5″ deep. A bench that is deeper than 20″ might cause discomfort when sitting.

Should a bench cushion be smaller than the bench?

First, if you are having a bench built into your room, consider having it built several inches shorter than the standard height of a bench. If you would like to add a cushion to the top of a bench, have it built 2-4″ shorter with a height of 14″-16″.

Is 1.8 high density foam good?

A high foam density means that the couch will last longer. The best foam density for a couch is somewhere around 1.8. This is the industry standard for couches and helps the couch last as long as possible without compromising on its feel and comfort.

Is 32 density foam good?

This density rating tells you the strength of the foam. High-density foam means higher quality as it has a strong cell structure. On a standard basis for the Indian market, PU foams should have 32 to 40 density, memory foam should have 50 to 60 density and Latex should have 55 to 65 density.

How long does high density foam last?

A 5″ thick foam core made with 1.8 density HR (High Resiliency) foam can be expected to last about 3 years with average use before the foam begins to lose its ability to bounce back and keep its shape. Foam cushions will typically still be usable for another couple of years after the deterioration process begins.

Is high density foam firm or soft?

High density foam is a very firm foam that generally makes up the bottom layer of popular memory foam mattresses. Other types of mattresses such as innerspring or hybrid may also use high density foam to support the spring systems.

Is high-density foam comfortable to sleep on?

Weight: Sleepers on the heavier end of the weight range tend to feel most comfortable on a high–density mattress, while lighter sleepers can choose a low–density foam mattress.

How can you tell good quality foam?

Check the Memory Foam Density

Density is measured in cubic metres (m³), so the higher the density, the heavier the mattress will be. As a general rule, the higher the density of the memory foam, the better the quality.

Is high-density foam good?

If you are in the range of 125-200 lbs. medium density works well, and if you are over 200 lbs., then yes, a high-density foam mattress is best. Back Pain: Another consideration before you purchase a mattress is back pain.

Can you sleep on upholstery foam?

Why you might NOT want an upholstery foam mattress for sleeping in your car: Upholstery foam is VERY compressible, so it wouldn’t make a good mattress on its own (because it would just crush down to nothing underneath you)

Which is better hard grade foam or memory foam?

Memory foam is usually denser and more expensive than regular polyurethane foam. Memory foam does provide much a more pinpointed feel than polyurethane foam. While it provides a pinpointed feel, it is not as supportive as latex foam. As the memory foam heats up from your body, it gets softer and sinks more.

Does high density mean firm?

The density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. In layman’s terms, this describes how tightly the matter is compacted. Many would tend to think that a higher density would mean the material is more compact and therefore more firm. However, this isn’t the case when dealing with foam mattresses.