Find the Best Furniture Repair Technician in Your Area
Furniture repair is more than just fixing a broken chair leg or a torn seat. It can involve an entire suite of services, from reupholstering to repairing antique tables. When it comes to furniture repair, the details matter. If you find the right technician, your furniture will look and feel brand new in no time. If you don’t search, your furniture could end up damaged further or left unhelpfully “repaired.” What you need is a trusted resource for finding the best furniture repair technician in your area. These professionals have the training and experience to make minor repairs on sofas, chairs, and dining tables – you name it! Thankfully, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best places to find these specialists so you can get back to enjoying your furniture again sooner rather than later.
Hiring a Professional for Furniture Repair
Before you start contacting furniture repair specialists, you should make sure you understand what furniture repair entails. Repairing a chair with a torn seat, for example, generally involves replacing the seat cover and possibly the padding inside. Many chairs are stapled or glued to the frame, so more invasive repair techniques are not really an option. Reupholstering a sofa, on the other hand, can be much more complicated. Depending on the type of fabric and style of the sofa, you may need to remove the entire piece of furniture in order to reupholster it properly. If you’re not sure what your furniture needs, it’s a good idea to ask a technician before scheduling repairs. This will help you avoid being overcharged or charged for unnecessary work. The last thing you want when hiring a furniture repair specialist is to receive poor work. The best furniture repair technicians will be honest about what work needs to be done and should offer you a clear timeline for when the repairs will be completed. If a technician tries to rush the process or is overly optimistic about how long it will take, you should be wary. This could be a sign that the repairman is less experienced.
Finding a Reputable Repair Specialist
If you know the type of furniture you need to be repaired, you can start browsing online furniture repair directories. Unfortunately, these directories are not regulated, which means you cannot be certain which services are legitimate. You can, however, try to find a repairman who is listed under the Better Business Bureau or the National Association of Furniture Repair Specialists (NAFRS). These organizations are not strict regulations like the BBB; however, they do provide a list of reputable furniture repair specialists in your area. If you do come across a repairman who is not listed on these sites, you can use some general guidelines to help you determine if they are a reputable service. If the business is listed in the phone book or has a working website, this is a good sign. You should also try to find reviews for the business online and look for any red flags.
NAA And NAFA Certified Repairers
You can also try searching for NAA or NAFA-certified furniture repair technicians. These certifications indicate that a professional has met an agreed-upon standard of excellence and has been vetted by their peers. NAA is the National Association of the Amish while NAFA is the National Association of Furniture Arts, both organizations are designed to support and promote the best practices in furniture restoration and repair. These organizations represent thousands of certified furniture repair technicians in the United States, many of whom work out of their homes. While there is no guarantee that NAA or NAFA certified technicians will offer the best service in your area, they are more likely to be reputable businesses than unrated businesses. If you do come across an NAA or NAFA-certified furniture repair technician in your area, it may be worth calling to see if they can assist you with your repairs.
Your Local Furniture Co-op or Workshop
If you’re looking for more than just a seat reupholstered or a table repaired, you might want to think about reaching out to a furniture co-op. These collectives provide members with discounted furniture and repair services. Many of these co-ops do not do repairs themselves, but they can help you find a reputable furniture repair specialist in your area. You can also ask around at work, as many offices have a furniture co-op where employees can get discounted furniture and repairs. You can also try searching online for local furniture co-ops or workshops. Some furniture repair workshops even have online directories where customers can find repair specialists in their area.
Other Places to Find Repairs Professionals
If you think you need more than just a simple repair, you might want to consider hiring a full-service furniture store. Many of these shops offer repair services as part of their regular business. They may also have a webpage where customers can post repair job requests. You can also try searching online for furniture designers in your area. Many designers have repair technicians on staff or on retainer. You can find furniture designers in your area by searching online or through your local chamber of commerce. You can also try posting a job request on a freelancer’s website. There are several online marketplaces designed specifically for finding furniture repair specialists. If you have time to spare, this is a good way to hire a technician without having to sift through local listings.
Conclusion
Furniture repair is a specialized skill that should be done by a professional. Doing it yourself or hiring an amateur to repair your furniture may cause more harm than good. When it comes to furniture repair, the details matter. If you find the right technician, your furniture will look and feel brand new in no time. If you hire an unqualified repairman, however, your furniture could end up damaged further or left unhelpfully “repaired.” When you are setting up an appointment with a furniture repair specialist, make sure you know exactly what repairs need to be done and what the cost of each repair will be. You should also set up a timeline for when the repairs need to be completed and be prepared to follow up with your repair technician if they are not finished on time.