The question we hear most often in the showroom isn’t about fabric or colour — it’s “should I re-cover this sofa, or just buy a new one?” The honest answer depends on what’s underneath the fabric, not what’s on top of it. Here’s how we help clients decide.

A sofa is worth saving if the frame is solid. Hardwood frames, especially older, heavier-built ones, are often stronger than what’s sold new today. If the frame doesn’t creak, wobble or flex when you sit down, re-upholstery is almost always the better investment. If the frame itself is cracked, warped, or held together with cheap joinery, no amount of new fabric will fix that.

What Actually Happens During Sofa Upholstery

• Frame inspection and repair — we check every joint, tighten or re-glue where needed, and only proceed once the frame is sound.
• Foam and cushioning replacement — old, compressed foam is one of the biggest reasons a sofa “feels” old even with fresh fabric; we replace it with the correct density for the piece.
• Fabric selection and cutting — using your chosen fabric from our swatch library, cut and pattern-matched to the sofa’s exact panels.
• Hand upholstery and finishing — fabric is stretched, tacked and finished by hand for a tight, tailored result rather than a loose, baggy one.

Re-Cover vs Replace: A Straight Answer

Re-covering a solid-frame sofa typically costs a fraction of buying an equivalent new piece in comparable fabric and craftsmanship, and it’s usually faster than waiting on a new custom order. The exception is when a client wants an entirely different silhouette or size — in that case, we’ll say so directly rather than upselling a re-cover that doesn’t solve the real problem.

How Avikar Approaches Every Sofa Project

We’ve been re-covering and building sofas in Kolkata since 1971, which means we’ve seen frames from every era and every quality tier. Every project starts with an honest frame assessment, in your home or in our workshop, before we ever discuss fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does sofa reupholstery take?
Most single sofas take 10-15 working days depending on fabric availability and the complexity of the frame repair, if any is needed.

Can you match the exact shade of my existing sofa?
We can get very close with our fabric library, though an exact match isn’t always possible if the original fabric is discontinued. We’ll show you real swatches before you commit.

Do you collect and deliver, or work on-site?
Both — smaller repairs can often be done on-site, while full re-upholstery is done at our workshop and delivered back to you.

Is it worth reupholstering a sofa more than once?
Yes, as long as the frame stays sound. We’ve re-covered the same sofas for clients twice over 15-20 years.