The arm of my couch has broken away. It just seems that the only thing keeping it on is the cloth.
What should I do or were should I start?
By Kari J.
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Start by checking out a few books from your local library on upholstering and repairing large pieces of furniture at home. Reader's Digest home maintenance books (older editions) also have some basic upholstery/repair info.
Have a really good long look at the area you need to repair to determine what tools you need, generally you're going to need at least flat AND Phillips head screwdrivers, a heavy duty staple gun, a very sharp box cutter, upholstery thread, a curved upholstery sewing needle, and possibly some matching fabric and upholstery tacks to close the upholstery after repairs are made.
Plus you'll need a power jig saw and a hand saw, wood glue, splinting wood and maybe some 2x4 sections to do the frame repair, you may also need some metal braces. Once you get inside the upholstery and can see what is going on you will be able to decide what materials you need to repair the split frame.
Use a box cutter to open the upholstery at a seam (be careful to open at a seam so that there is a better chance of re-closing it after repairs are made.) Pin the cut away sections up out of your way and have a look at what is going on inside. You'll more than likely see that the section of the wood framing at one or both sides has been splintered, and from there you can decide if your wood working skills are up to splinting and bracing well enough to return the arm framing to a safe and usable condition.
Good on you for deciding to try a repair instead of tossing this sofa to the curb, and good luck to you in the repairs. Even if it isn't factory perfect (don't forget a king sized bed sheet makes a great throw that will cover your 'learning curves') you will really enjoy the satisfaction of doing the repair yourself!
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