Frequently Asked Questions on Upholstering

Often we are asked “Is it worth it to reupholster my piece?” Well, that depends. Is it a piece you cherish? A family heirloom? Unique? Fit your space just right? Does it have a solid heavy frame? Was it built 20 or more years ago?  If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then our answer is yes! Sure, you certainly can buy a new piece for less money than the cost to reupholster, but you will also be paying for lesser quality and construction. While mass-producing is faster and more affordable, you do get what you pay for. We will be honest with you. If we know that you can get a similar quality item new for less, we’ll let you know!

Unfortunately no, we do not offer a pick-up and delivery service. We will, however, be more than happy to provide you a list of movers that our clients have used in the past with great feedback.

Yes, we do accept COM (customer’s own material) however, we carry no warranty or guarantees on COM. We recommend you check the durability rating of the fabric (double rubs, abrasion or often called wyzenbeek test) and make sure it is for upholstery. We also suggest you check first with us to make sure you will be ordering the correct amount of material based on your particular print or pattern. We do recommend that you purchase your material directly with us so you can be sure of all warranty information, durability, and know that you are getting a quality upholstery material that is constructed and tested to last for many years to come on your upholstered piece.

We do not penalize for a client bringing their own material. We realize how important choosing just the right fabric can be. Upholstery is a long-lasting service and we want our clients to be happy for many years to come, and sometimes that means finding your fabric elsewhere.

We only accept check or cash as forms of payment and do not have a way to accept debit or credit cards at this time.

No, we do not. All of our fabrics are custom ordered and specific to each client. All remnants are returned to each client upon project completion. You can come in and browse our fabric offerings for order and we would be happy to assist you in choosing the perfect fabric for your next project, even if that is not reupholstering.

No, we do not. Most of our supplies and tools require years of experience to use correctly. If you would like to try your hand at upholstering a piece of your own, we would recommend starting small and finding your supplies at your local craft store.

We do not offer slipcovers.

Most manufacturers use conventional grade foam that doesn’t last long. In the beginning it feels good and provides a great amount of support without being overly firm. However, with use, it will begin to break down and no longer offer the same support and resiliency it once did. Foam is expensive, so it is commonplace for companies to cut manufacturing costs. Our LUX foam comes in several densities and lasts from 5-10 years depending on your specific use. We also add a layer of Dacron poly to add to the softness and crown to the top to give a fuller appearance.

Yes! We work with many designers in Louisville and the surrounding areas. Please contact us if you are considering us for your clients’ upholstery needs!

Yes! We have a wide range of Sunbrella fabrics, including their new interior line with all the Sunbrella outdoor benefits you have come to know and love.

Yes. We do. If we are making new cushions where no cushions were before, we do request that you bring the furniture in so that your cushion will fit in your piece perfectly. We cannot guarantee a correct fit if the piece of furniture is not brought in so that we can make an accurate pattern.

Mostly yes. There are some models that we cannot remove the sling material from. Send us a photo using our estimates form or via email at info@stmatthewstrimandupholstery.com. The photo needs to show the front and back of your sling chair and we should be able to tell from that if we are able to remove the material to replace it with new sling.

We do not offer a spray protectant of any kind. We do offer many fabrics that come with a protectant that is added using a dip process such as nanotex or crypton. Many of our fabrics that do not already come with a protectant can have it added to the fabric for an additional fee through the fabric company. That process can add a 2-4 week lead time to your order but is well worth the wait. The protectant or process will not alter the appearance or feel of your fabric.

The best way to get a yardage estimate is to send us a photo and basic measurements of your piece. You can do this through our estimate form or by emailing us at info@stmatthewstrimandupholstery.com. If you have a fabric in mind already, we ask you to provide us with a photo of your fabric as well as width of the roll and horizontal and vertical repeat measurements of the print or pattern you are intending to use. A solid typically will not have a repeat measurement. We will also need to know if your fabric will be placed up the roll or railroaded. Most fabric distributors have this information available. If you need assistance, please give us a call or send us an email! You can also take a look at our yardage estimate page for more information on fabric yardage.

Possibly. It never hurts to ask. Send us an estimate request using our estimates form or an email at info@stmatthewstrimandupholstery.com with as many details, drawings, photos, measurements or anything else that may help us understand your project. We will let you know if we, or anyone else we know, can help!

Absolutely, but there are some requirements. We are not mobile and we will not come on site. Everything needing upholstered will have to be brought to our shop. You will need to verify that we have the space to hold your piece(s). Some commercial jobs are quite big. We understand deadlines so we do have a few requirements of our own to make sure that we are able to meet your deadlines such as material deposits arranged before delivery so that everything arrives at or very near the same time so that we can start work ASAP. Email us at info@stmatthewstrimandupholstery.com or use our estimates form if that is more convenient. We will see what we can do to help get your project off the ground.