Upholsterer

Custom upholsterers usually work in small shops where they make new furniture from standard patterns. They make or, sometimes, rebuild an entire article of furniture and may help customers choose fabrics and styles. Some highly skilled custom upholsters design and produce furniture according to customer specifications.

Production upholsterers work in factories and usually specialize in one area of new furniture production. They work on an assembly line performing one function and pass the furniture on to others to finish.

Re-upholsterers recondition old furniture. In general, they:

• remove the old cover and padding
• examine the springing and, if required, replace it with webbing, coil springs or sinuous springs
• build the chair or sofa up with loose fibre stuffing, cotton, felt or foam padding
• shape and form the stuffing
• measure and cut fabric to fit each part of the furniture
• shape and mark fabric for sewing
• sew fabric and cushions
• fit the fabric to the furniture
• staple or sew the fabric in place.

Re-upholsterers also repair furniture by repairing split seams, replacing broken springs and replacing foam in seat cushions.

Custom upholsterers and re-upholsterers may prepare cost estimates or refinish wood parts of upholstered furniture.

Upholstery work requires considerable standing, bending and stooping, and may involve handling pieces of furniture that weigh up to 20 kilograms.

Upholsters use a variety of hand tools including measuring tapes, pneumatic staplers, hammers, scissors and pliers and must be careful to avoid injury. They work indoors in shops or factories that usually are well lighted and clean, although sometimes dusty.

Hours of work vary. Production upholsterers usually work shifts. Custom upholsterers and re-upholsterers who own their own shops may work long, irregular hours to meet customer demands.

Upholsterers need the following characteristics:

• excellent manual dexterity and co-ordination
• good vision
• strength and endurance
• motivation
• problem solving skills.

A flair for colour and the creative use of fabrics is an asset.

Upholsterers should enjoy using tools and machinery to perform tasks requiring precision, having clear guidelines and methods for their work, and dealing with customers.

Most production upholsterers are employed in furniture factories. Some work at home and are paid by the amount of fabric used. Most custom upholsterers are self-employed or work as employees in small shops that employ fewer than five people. Some upholsterers work for furniture stores and businesses such as:

• hotel chains
• railways
• airlines
• automotive manufacturers.

Experienced upholsterers in large factories may advance to supervisory positions depending on their experience and management ability. Experienced custom upholsterers may open their own shops.

In Alberta, 84% of people employed as upholsterers work in the following industries:

•  Other Services (PDF)
•  Manufacturing (PDF)

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.