Interior
RV Upholstery Repair and Replacement Serving Long Beach
About 10 min left
RV upholstery work covers reupholstering existing furniture, rebuilding seat foam and frames, and replacing dinettes, sofas, theater seating and captain chairs. At OCRV Center upholstery repair runs $600 to $4,000 and full furniture replacement runs $750 to $8,500.
Coach upholstery takes a beating that residential furniture never sees. Direct sun through large windows degrades fabric from above, the temperature inside a closed coach in a Long Beach summer routinely exceeds 130 degrees, and the vibration environment works seams and frames loose over time.
Fabric that would last fifteen years in a living room lasts five in a motorhome parked outdoors.
Reupholstery Versus Replacement
If the frame is sound and the mechanism works, reupholstering is nearly always the better value. Coach furniture frames are built to fit specific spaces, they are frequently bolted to the floor as part of the structure, and replacements in the exact dimensions may not exist.
Replacement makes sense when the frame is broken, when a recliner or theater seat mechanism has failed beyond repair, or when the layout is changing and the existing piece no longer fits the plan.
Fabric Selection for Sun and Heat
Fabric choice matters more in a coach than in a house because of the ultraviolet exposure through large windows. Solution dyed acrylics and marine grade vinyls hold color dramatically longer than standard upholstery fabrics.
Vinyl is easy to clean and fully waterproof, which suits families and pets, but it gets uncomfortably hot in direct sun. Performance fabrics offer better comfort with good stain and fade resistance. We will show you the tradeoff rather than just handing over a swatch book.
Foam Density and Seat Life
Most factory coach seating uses low density foam that compresses permanently within a few years. Reupholstering over collapsed foam gives you a fresh looking seat that is still uncomfortable.
We replace foam as part of any reupholstery, using density appropriate to the application, since a dinette seat and a theater recliner have very different requirements.
Seat Frames, Mechanisms and Mounting
Recliner and theater seat mechanisms fail through worn pivots and broken springs, and many are repairable with parts rather than requiring a whole new seat.
Mounting matters for safety. Seats used as designated seating positions while the vehicle is moving are anchored to the floor structure, and that anchoring has to be maintained. We verify mounting integrity on every seat we remove and reinstall.
Custom Cushions and Odd Shapes
Coach cushions are rarely rectangular. Dinette cushions wrap around wheel wells, bunk cushions taper to fit sloped walls, and cabover mattresses on Class C units are cut to a shape no mattress manufacturer produces.
We pattern these from the originals or from the space itself where the originals are gone, and build to fit rather than trimming a standard piece and hoping.
What Is Included
- Frame and mechanism inspected before reupholstery is recommended
- Foam replaced as standard rather than reused under new fabric
- Foam density selected for the specific seating application
- Fabric options presented with realistic fade and heat characteristics explained
- Seat floor mounting verified on any seat removed and reinstalled
- Custom cushions patterned to the actual space, including tapers and wheel well cutouts
Our Process
- 1
Assessment
Frame, mechanism, foam and mounting evaluated to determine whether reupholstery or replacement is the better answer.
- 2
Material Selection
Fabric options presented with fade resistance, heat retention and cleanability explained for each.
- 3
Removal and Patterning
Existing covers removed and used as patterns, or new patterns made from the space where originals are gone.
- 4
Frame and Mechanism Service
Frames repaired, mechanisms serviced or rebuilt, worn pivots and springs replaced.
- 5
Foam Replacement
New foam cut to shape at a density appropriate to how the seat is used.
- 6
Sewing and Fitting
Covers sewn and fitted, with seams positioned to survive the vibration environment.
- 7
Reinstallation
Furniture reinstalled with floor mounting integrity verified on designated seating positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to reupholster or replace RV furniture?
If the frame is sound and any mechanism works, reupholster. Coach furniture is built to fit specific spaces and is frequently bolted to the floor as part of the structure, so a replacement in the exact dimensions may not exist at any price. Replacement makes sense when the frame is broken, when a recliner mechanism has failed beyond repair, or when the layout is changing and the existing piece no longer fits.
What upholstery fabric holds up best in an RV?
Solution dyed acrylics and marine grade vinyls, because the ultraviolet exposure through large coach windows is what kills most RV upholstery. Vinyl is fully waterproof and easy to clean, which suits families and pets, but it gets uncomfortably hot in direct sun. Performance fabrics offer better comfort with good fade and stain resistance. Standard residential upholstery fabric will look tired within about five years in a coach parked outdoors.
Do you replace the foam when reupholstering?
Yes, as standard. Most factory coach seating uses low density foam that compresses permanently within a few years, and putting new fabric over collapsed foam gives you a seat that looks fresh and is still uncomfortable. We select density based on how the seat is actually used, since a dinette bench and a theater recliner have genuinely different requirements.
Can you make custom cushions for odd shaped RV spaces?
Yes, and most coach cushions are odd shaped by necessity. Dinette cushions wrap around wheel wells, bunk cushions taper to fit sloped sidewalls, and Class C cabover mattresses are cut to shapes no mattress manufacturer produces. We pattern from the originals where they survive, or from the space itself where they do not, and build to fit rather than trimming a standard piece down and hoping it works.
Upholstery Repair and Replacement is performed in shop at OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887, serving Long Beach, California and the surrounding region. Call (949) 799-3387 to discuss your vehicle.
Get Your Vehicle Looked At Properly
Call the shop, describe what happened, and we will tell you what the realistic scope and timeline look like. All work is performed in shop at our 35,000 square foot facility.