recliner help

[voodoo]

I have a recliner I love but recently the seat has become lopsided. I think something under the cushion(maybe spring or something) has collapsed on 1 side. is this something that can be fixed? can I do it myself? I called a furniture company and they said they have 2 month backlog on repairs so I havent followed up with a pro repair....just curious as I am debating replacing recliner or fixing. i would rather fix it, just never done this before.

[Marmot]

I'd start by flipping the recliner over and seeing if there is a fabric lining on the underside, you'll have to remove that fabric to see if a spring has broken, become loose or if the stringers are broken. Hubby ordered some springs for the "girl's" sofa, two springs had actually broken off, the mount for the springs luckily weren't broken, so it was a pretty quick fix once the springs got here.

[Jeff]

LOL, I am laughing because let me tell you how my last week went with a very similar issue. I am actually glad you asked because I get to vent a little. Now I am a pretty handy guy, I have been for years. I have done woodworking and wood turning, and electrical. I completely installed my own security system and even used to reroof houses. However I had a similar problem but with my couch.

So Tuesday, I sat in the couch to do some work with my laptop. I have a huge sectional and when I am doing work on my laptop, I sit on the section below int he photo. Only photo I could find showing this. I have a laptop tray like stand that fits perfectly. This is also where I sit with my first cup of coffee in the morning then other than that, it's one of Hemi's favorite spots because it is long and kind of juts out into the room and he can see out the front window perfectly.



Anyway, I sat down, I put my laptop in my lap and then I got this sinking feeling as the whole seat area started sinking into the couch. Of course Hemi thought this was great, he got up on the couch, gave me kisses as I am trapped in the couch, butt first feet sticking up, laptop on me. Many curse words were spoken. None dissuaded Hemi from thinking this was pretty cool and that I needed my face licked while being trapped. Finally I manage to get out and flipped the couch section up and over. Much to Hemi's delight there was an old pretzel under there. Which was down the hatch before I could grab it. Then your presented with a thin film of a cloth on the bottom. Well you have to tear it to get in there to see what is wrong. Not all recliners are like this sincetimes they are wide open. Anyway, once I got in there I discovered the entire bottom of the seat was attached with a single piece of wood that was stapled to another piece of wood. By applying weight to the seat it actually pulled on this piece of wood so it was pulling the staples out. Very poor design and poor planning. So this is a very easy fix, or so I thought. I can put the piece of wood back on the staples, and then put a few screws into it to hold it firmly in place. So I put the wood back on the staples and then go to the garage and I do not have any screws long enough. So I use some shorter ones at an angle thinking it would be ok and if not, I could get some longer ones tomorrow. So this is what I do and all is good.

Friday night, I had to do some more work, this was about 10 at night and all of a sudden I got that sinking feeling again. So Saturday I decided to fix it and fix it right. I decided to get a small 2 x 2 and put in in there at the joint, I would glue it and screw it to the base frame, then come in from the top on this other piece and glue it and screw it down. I get the wood cut, the screws all ready. I went to lowes and got some brand new wood screws the proper length. I apply the glue to the 2 x 2 and start driving the first screw in and the head strips out. It's only half way in. So I grab another and start again holding a full grip and the screw bends. Now I am pissed, what the heck kind of cheap screws did I get. I look at the package and it is regular wood screws they should work just fine. So I drill a pilot hole for the screw to follow. 1 screw gets in all the way. I do the same with the next one and as the screw is going in. Dead battery in drill. I grab the backup battery which is not on the charger, and dead. Now I got glue drying. No clamp will fit in there and dead batteries. I let it charge a half an hour, which fortunately is enough. However I went through maybe 20 more screws in this piece of wood. Thankfully it is under the couch and no one will ever see it. It literally looks like someone gave a 5 year old a hammer and screws and a chunk of wood and said here entertain yourself. So, now I got to screw into the top. Well the glue made everything slippery and as I set the section back up and when to move the cushion away from the frame it slipped off the staples again. The only way to get to it and fix it is flip the couch back over. After 2 hours of messing with this I got one screw in the top I think is holding. There are about 5 more in the top with either stripped heads or bent. I am just hoping the glue sets and holds.

This morning, I sat down with my first cup off coffee, and got that sinking feeling again. I just sat there drinking my coffee. Hemi was eating his breakfast then came around the corner, decided dad needed some sloppy wet just drank water and ate kisses. I will fix the couch tonight. Rest assured it will be fixed. I am not messing around anymore. There will be 5000 lb strength epoxy put in there. I am thinking half in steel lag bolts as well. I am going to bitch to Lowes about the quality of their screws. Oh and the drill battery is on the charger, the back up will go on at lunch time. I now have a mission.

So, in answer to your question, do I think you can fix it. Heck yeah, give it a shot. Have liquor at the ready as you may be in for a long time. Keep your sense of humor. It honestly may be something simple like a broken piece of wood. It may be more difficult. Or heck you may make it more difficult than it is. But I say go for it. Best case scenario, costs you $10, worst case, you get a good drunk on and you buy a new chair.

[POPTOP]

OMG, Jeff, you have me howling with laughter. And Hemi, you are priceless.

IMO, furniture in general is make out of crap wood. I think the companies grab a load of pallets for the frames. Yes, there are some good furniture makers but dang they are so expensive.

Was hoping someone would mention names of good recliners. Been looking for a year or so.

[voodoo]

I have read several online reviews for flexsteel: Flexsteel Furniture: Recliners

I have had these for about 5 years: 1 is perfect, 1 is on its last legs. I love the cupholders and power recline, but I need to find 2 new recliners. in my old house the 4 piece recliner sectional was perfect, in my new house I like just using the 2 end recliners and the center section is in my office. gonna call tomorrow for a local free estimate, but i am in the market for 2 new recliners.
I dont recommend due to 5 years not long enough. they are affordable tho, get what you pay for.
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