Upholsterers

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

• Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
• Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.
• Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.
• Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools.
• Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers.
• Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
• Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.
• Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.
• Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood.
• Interweave and fasten strips of webbing to the backs and undersides of furniture, using small hand tools and fasteners.
• Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread.
• Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place.

Supplemental Tasks Include:

• Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.
• Maintain records of time required to perform each job.
• Discuss upholstery fabrics, colors, and styles with customers, and provide cost estimates.
• Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material.
• Pick up and deliver furniture.
• Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling.
• Stretch webbing and fabric, using webbing stretchers.
• Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints.
• Make, repair, or replace automobile upholstery and convertible and vinyl tops, using knowledge of fabric and upholstery methods.
• Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)