How to become an Upholsterer

Duties & Tasks of an Upholsterer

Upholsterers:

• Discuss colour, fabric, style and cost of upholstery with clients
• Repair upholstered furniture by replacing covers, webbing, padding and springs
• Staple lengths of webbing (a wide tape) on to the underside of the furniture frame
• Stretch webbing from side to side, interlacing it to form a base for the padding
• Lace tops of springs together to prevent sideways movement and staple hessian to the frame
• Cut and fit foam padding
• Measure and cut covering material, join sections and tack fabric onto the furniture frame
• Cover staples with decorative braid, trim, buttons or nails and attach calico to the underside of the furniture.

Tasks

• May finish wooden surfaces on furniture
• Measuring and cutting materials and covering furniture
• Seaming cushions and joining sections of covering material
• Securing material, padding, springs and webbing to articles to be upholstered
• Conferring with clients to determine materials and cost of furniture items to be made or repaired
• Making and repairing wooden frames, and removing and replacing defective springs
• Removing coverings, webbing and padding from old furniture
• May remove stains from fabric
• Padding and covering spring units to upholster mattresses
• Attaching ornamental trims, braids and buttons

Working conditions for an Upholsterer

Upholsterers generally work in workshops but occasionally may be required to work in clients' homes or other sites. Upholsterers stand for most of the day, as the furniture is normally placed on a benchtop while work is carried out.

Employment Opportunities for an Upholsterer

Upholsterers are employed by furniture makers in the production of commercial, household, marine and caravan furniture. Most furniture upholsterers work in factories making new furniture. Some work in small businesses, where they may undertake antique, customised, renovation, repair and recovery work, or combine repair and manufacture. Those specialising in restoration work require knowledge of old and modern techniques. Opportunities for self-employment are greater in restoration work.

Specializations

Upholsterers may work in one or more of four main fields:

• Antique and Reproduction Upholstery - involves restoring genuine antiques or recreating the style of a certain era in history.
• Custom Upholstery - involves building furniture for special purposes, such as for use in hotels, ships and airports.
• Production Upholstery - involves upholstering mass-produced furniture in sections for the domestic or commercial market.
• Renovation and Repair Upholstery - involves replacing old and damaged upholstery.

Upholsterer

Upholsterers select, cut, sew and fit fabric or leather materials to furniture and repair damaged furniture.

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  Average age

  55

• 

  Future Growth

  Decline

• 

  Gender Share

  27% female

• 

  Average full-time

  42 hours

• 

  Weekly Pay

  N/A

• 

  Skill level rating

  Medium skill

• 

  Unemployment

  Lower unemployment

• 

  Full-Time Share

  90%

• 

  Employment Size

  2,400

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  Employment by state

  ACT: 0.7%
  NSW: 29.0%
  NT: 0.7%
  QLD: 19.8%
  SA: 7.3%
  TAS: 2.4%
  VIC: 29.6%
  WA: 10.4%
  
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  Age brackets

  15-19: 1.6%
  20-24: 5.4%
  25-34: 11.4%
  35-44: 19.5%
  45-54: 29%
  55-59: 14.8%
  60-64: 11.7%
  65 and Over: 6.6%
  
• 

  Education level

  Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 2.9%
  Bachelor degree: 2.6%
  Certificate III/IV: 58%
  Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0.1%
  Year 10 and below: 18.8%
  Year 11: 4.8%
  Year 12: 12.6%