Re-upholstering booth (DIY)

[Neweller]

Recently we started doing upgrades on the '78 Newell, preparing it for sale. Going to redo the walls, booth, curtains, and do minor shower repairs. There are other things needing attention, but first things first. We are providing the labor ourselves and materials cost will be minimal. We're not worried about increasing the value, but making it a better project for the next owner. Wish us luck.

We are taking photo's along the way to share with everyone. :)

[Neweller]

Got all the booth cushions stripped down and have almost finished with the new fabric upholstery. Some pics below of the tedious task of removing hundreds of staples. In the first pics, I was going to save the black backing, but found it to be that same as a type of landscape fabric I found at Lowes. Yahoo for nice, while saving some $$$. I'm adding additional pics to my post as I move along.

[Richard and Rhonda]

I bought a pneumatic upholstery stapler when I did my booth. A great tool to have since there are about a gazillion staples in the dinette. The home depot staplers are too big and the staple will not fully seat in the plywood. Careful,there are no safeties on the pro stapler

[Neweller]

Richard, you are so right about using a air stapler. I just ordered a Porter Cable off of Amazon for a great deal with free 2 day shipping. I recently received a professional pair of upholstery shears which cut like a charm. I'm currently installing an additional layer of foam and covering. Should make for a much more comfortable cushion. And thanks for your advice.:)

I have some more pics coming.

[tuga]

Louise and I have decided to re-upholster the dinette, 2 sofas, & bed headboard and bedspread. We just rec'd the dinette fabric and are still waiting for the sofa material which is on back order.

I makes more sense to re-upholster than it does to re-coach! It's a whole lot cheaper!

[Neweller]

Tuga, sounds fantastic! I totally agree about upgrading our current beasts vs. paying much more coin for a new or newer one. With one exception for me, I would like a little more room. I've never taken on a sofa, heard they were a bit tougher. I have purchased a couple of upholstery books, which have helped.

[Neweller]

Stripped down everything on the booth vinyl, while the wife has been busy sewing up the cushion covering. Have been laying out the vinyl pieces for patterns and cutting them out. Once my new stapler arrives, hopefully tomorrow from Amazon, I will staple everything that is ready.

I've taken pics of everything during the removal of different pieces, in case they are needed for reference during reassembly.

[Neweller]

Things are coming along with the new upholstery today. I have most of the cushions done. Using the old upholstery as templates, worked like a charm. The wife's sewing came out beautiful, it's fitting like a glove. I'll upload some pics of progress when I find my battery charger for the camera that has the cushion pics.:unsure: I'm now using another camera for the vinyl portion and I'll put them in the next post.

[Neweller]

Here are some progress pictures of the left hand booth. Replaced the lower foam with a thinner type than what was on there, which should hold up to feet abuse better. Re-used the original on the back portion. I have been recovering everything in the reverse of the way it came apart. The curved areas are the hardest to do, it takes some nip, pull and shoot. Stapler is working great.

[tuga]

Ken,

Do your dinette seats have a crack or crease in the middle of the seat cushions? The crease is about 3" deep.

I often wondered how that crease is stapled. It must take a special staple gun.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Tuga,

The crease is sewn to a second piece of cloth which is pulled through a slit in the foam. There is also a slit in the plywood backing. The cloth is pulled through both slits and stapled to the plywood. If you look carefully at the ends of the centerline crease you will see that the fabric is folded to make it lay flat.

KEN !!!!
If I were to do one thing better about the reupholster on the dinetter I would tack those lay flat crease with blind stitches before I started to pull all the fabric taut and staple. Those little lay flat tucks want to distort when you put tension on the fabric.

[Neweller]

Richard, are you referring to how the staples are showing somewhat in the corner? I should have wrapped the tucked area with the cardboard tack strips. It looks better now that it is finished though.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Sorry, I knew that would be unclear. I was referring to the area to each side of the center crease in the middle of the upper cushion. When the fabric is pulled inward to form that crease, then on each side of the crease the fabric must be folded so that it will lay flat. In hindsight I wish I had stitched that fold since it wants to pucker under normal tension.

[Neweller]

Ok, I see what you are referring to. Mine does not have that center line. From going through the gallery and looking at several years, it appears that design started somewhere around 1987. After looking in the gallery again at that grey '87 with the maroon stripes, I'm in awe at the re-done interior. I really like how they re-did that one inside. I'd like to take on a newer coach and go a little more wild.:o

[tuga]

I will try to post some pictures of my vinyl/wood floor installation.

Also, you guys with slides can see how the slide mechanism works.

While removing the nightstands, headboard, bed, etc. you really get to see the quality that is built into a Newell. Everything fits so tight you almost don't need screws!

[Richard and Rhonda]

Tuga,

Tell us what you are putting down for flooring?

[folivier]

Looks good Tuga. Doing it yourself?
We're really pleased with the cork I put in last year.

[tuga]

Richard,

We used Centiva vinyl/wood flooring. It is 6" x 36" vinyl planks. I had a professional install it because it was expensive material and I was afraid I might mess it up. Also, my old knees don't bend like they used to.

What you are seeing in the pictures is the finished floor.

Forrest,

That cork is really nice; like you we are glad that we removed the carpet and put this type of floor.

On a different note, I was impressed with the slide room mechanism. It is very simple and almost fool proof. The aluminum frame slides on white plastic pads. There is a ram down the middle and I guess hydraulic fluid makes it extend/retract. There appears to be no way that the slide room can get out of line. There is also an air gauge that keeps about 12 psi of air in the gasket that surrounds the slideout.