The frame is the foundation of every upholstery job. A well-executed fabric installation on a structurally compromised frame produces a result that looks good initially and fails within months. Frame inspection before accepting any job protects your reputation and your customers' investment.

Why Frame Inspection Matters

Most customers bring furniture to an upholstery shop focused on the fabric. They want a color update, a worn surface refreshed, or a favorite piece restored. They have not assessed the frame. They do not know if the corner blocks are broken, the joints are loose, or the suspension system is failing. Your job is to identify these problems before you quote and before you commit to a completion date.

The Inspection Process

Begin with a visual inspection of the frame where it is visible. Look at the legs for cracks, checking where legs meet the frame rail, since this joint fails frequently on older furniture. Check for visible broken corner blocks at the corners of the seat rail.

Perform a physical stress test: grasp the back of the piece and push forward and sideways with firm pressure. A solid frame will be rigid. A loose frame will produce creaking, movement, or visible flexing at the joints. Repeat with downward pressure on the seat corners.

Remove or examine the dust cover on the bottom. This is the most revealing inspection step. You can see the spring system, webbing condition, and many of the structural joints from below. Document what you find with photographs.

Spring System Assessment

Coil springs in eight-way hand-tied construction should be tied in both directions with twine in good condition. Broken ties cause springs to lean and create uneven seat height. Spring bases (sinuous wire or flat spring) should be firmly attached to the frame rail at each end. Detached or broken spring ends are audible as squeaks under load.

Webbing and Deck Assessment

Webbing should be firm without significant sag. A flat hand pressed into the seat should not depress more than an inch or two before meeting resistance. Heavily sagged webbing, where the seat bottoms out quickly under your hand, needs replacement. This is visible without disassembly in most cases.

What to Document on the Work Order

Document every structural finding. For example: two of four corner blocks broken, front left leg joint loose, spring twine intact, webbing has moderate sag with functional but 3-5 year remaining life. This documentation serves two purposes: it supports your repair quote line items, and it protects you from claims that damage was caused during your work.

When to Decline

Some frames are not worth reupholstering. If the cost of structural repairs plus upholstery work approaches or exceeds the replacement value of the piece, advise the customer honestly. Shops that decline certain jobs build a reputation for honest counsel, which brings customers back for the jobs that are worth doing.