FAQs

Do you provide a pick-up and delivery service?
Yes, we do!

Do you give quotes over the phone?
We cannot give you a quote over the phone. You are welcome to bring the piece/pieces in to our shop, or send a picture - visit our Get Started page for more information

Can I supply my own fabric?
Yes, however, we will not offer any warranty, or be responsible for the condition or quality of your fabric. We take utmost care in providing you with the best possible results with the fabric you provide. There will also be a cutting fee applied to supplied yardage.

Do you have fabric?
Yes. We have a large selection of basic to highly decorative designer fabric, leather and vinyl samples from leading fabric mills. Most cover materials are available within two weeks of ordering.

Which fabric should I use?
It depends on your needs. If you’re going to use the fabric for throw cushions, then light cotton should do the job. If you have heavy traffic on your furniture then a good quality fabric that is durable, will wear well and last. There is no right or wrong way in looking for fabric. It’s all about personal choice. Do you prefer patterns? What colours make you happy? What textures feel right to you? On the practical side; how durable do you need the fabric to be? On the maintenance side; how cleanable is the fabric? Does it show dirt and lint or stains? Mid tone fabrics with patterns show less dirt than a light coloured fabric. Dark colours will show dust and lint more easily, while solid fabric with no texture will show stains more easily. Ultimately the choice is yours but we will happily assist and advise you on choosing the best fabric for your needs.

What about durability?
The Wyzenbeek and Martindale tests are the two methods commonly used to predict wear-ability. Actual performance is determined by many factors such as fibre content, weaves, finishes, furniture design, maintenance, cleaning, and usage. Durability of an upholstery fabric is a complex interaction (combination) of a number of performance tests that, in addition to abrasion, includes seam slippage, piling, tensile strength, and usage. For Heavy Duty Usage 30,000 double rubs Wyzenbeek method; or 40,000 cycles Martindale method. End use examples of heavy-duty installations are: single shift corporate, hotel rooms/suites; conference rooms; and dining area usage. Abrasion levels are often over specified in the faulty assumption that abrasion tests predict a product’s overall durability and life span. A recent industry survey indicated that for many end-use applications, factors other than surface abrasion are more likely to result in fabric failure and therefore should be considered when evaluating product durability.

Are your fabrics treated?
We offer a wide range of technologies to improve the performance of textiles. Some fabrics come pre-treated from the supplier. When they don’t, we have the opportunity to have most of our fabrics treated for stain repellency for an additional cost.

What is pattern matching?
All patterned fabrics have a repeated pattern down their lengths and match horizontally across their width. The interval at which a pattern is duplicated or repeated on a piece of fabric is known as the repeat. This is calculated from a point in one pattern to the same point in the next pattern. This means that all the cut lengths have to start at the same point in the pattern so that they match where they are joined.

Do you have a warranty?
Yes - all frames, springs, foam, legs and hardware are covered for replacement or repair under normal wear and tear. For full details please see our full warranty here.

BenchMade

What makes your furniture different?
Our furniture is 100% hand-made and details-driven. We know the difference between ”that looks nice” and “Ohhh, sit down!”. Materials, construction, spring-type, testing, stitching, and nothing but the best fills (feathers to natural foams). Details matter.

Where are your products manufactured?
We proudly manufacture all of our furniture in Winnipeg, Canada.

Do you have a showroom where I can try out your furniture?
We have a small showroom with sample pieces for ‘sit testing’. We do not necessarily carry every style in our showroom. We recommend that you fill out our GET STARTED questionnaire in advance of visiting our showroom and to set up an appointment with one of our build consultants.

What materials do you use?
Our frames are manufactured using a combination of kiln dried Canadian hardwood and 3/4” plywood. We design them with all the corner blocking and supports required for the rigour of everyday use. We generally use Sinuous Spring Suspension under our cushions (versus elastic suspension, used by many modern manufacturers, which fails quickly). The bodies of our furniture are made with high quality, firm rebound foam (because this is just as important as the cushions). We self-deck our furniture and, where possible, all cushions have the same fabric top and bottom so they can be flipped to extend the life of your furniture.

Re-upholstery

What is involved in re-upholstering of my furniture?
Briefly; we remove old covering and filling to the frame. We check the frame for motion and stability and if necessary replace worn joints or repair them. We inspect springs, webbing, etc. and replace if required. We retie coil springs, replace the fillings and padding with new if necessary. We pattern, cut and sew the new fabric components and apply these to your frame. We add finishing trims and, finally, the finished product is inspected for quality and workmanship. If any additional costs are incurred you will be notified of your possible options and pricing.

Is my furniture worth re-upholstering?
In most cases it will be. If it has a good frame, is constructionally sturdy, has lasted for over 10 years, and is comfortable, then re-upholstering is a good choice. Re-upholstery will restore pieces of sentimental value or a family heirloom.

Is it cheaper to buy new furniture?
You get what you pay for! Re-upholstery can cost as much as moderately priced new furniture. When comparing, make sure the construction and fabric are of similar a similar quality to your existing piece of furniture. It is doubtful that you will find a new piece of similar quality to your old piece and if you do, the cost would be far greater than re-upholstering. Beware of inexpensive new furniture. It is inexpensive because the fabric and the construction are poor. Within a very short time you may well regret buying this furniture.

Do you strip the furniture before you re-upholster?
Absolutely. We strip the furniture to the frame. All woodwork, springs, fillings, webbing and padding are thoroughly checked before we begin the re-upholstering process.

If you find broken framework do you repair it?
Yes. Not only does the frame give support to the inner parts of a chair and covering, but also to the person sitting on it. A broken frame can cause injury. It is important that the frame is structurally sound. Before any upholstery work is done, we check the frame very carefully and notify you if a repair is needed.

Do you repair woodwork?
Yes. We have a full operating shop, for refinishing, touch-up, clean up, wood replacement, and caning repairs etc.

How long does it take to re-upholster?
On average, the turnaround time is two to three weeks. If we are unable to complete your project within this time period, you will have been informed, before the project is started.

My furniture still looks good, but the cushions are not as comfortable as I would like them to be. What can be done?
We frequently have customers telling us how the fabric on their furniture looks new, but the cushions are not holding their shape, and are no longer comfortable. Replacing your existing cushions is one of the easiest ways to bring life back to your furniture. There are a couple of options to replacing or repairing your cushions. We provide top quality, high density foam core cushions as well as feather or fibre filled cushions.

Can I change the style of my furniture?
Absolutely. Depending on the frame, there are many modifications we can make to update the look of your furniture. Changing skirt lengths or removing them all together is a common alteration we perform. Tufting buttons may be added or removed. Changing the shape of the arms, legs, or upholstery style are just a few options you can choose to give your sofa or chair a new style.