How to Re-Strap Patio Chairs
Time and long hot summer days are the enemies of your patio furniture. The sun can cause straps to become brittle and lose color, while pool chairs also get stained with lotions and oils. It’s not difficult to breathe new life into your worn patio chairs. All you need is a little patience and a few inexpensive materials.
You’ll Need
- Vinyl Strapping
- Fasteners
- Scissors
- Screwdriver
- Cloth Measuring Tape
- Bucket, Boiling Water
- Drill
- 3/16 inch Drill Bit
1. Cut away the old straps from your patio furniture. Use a screwdriver to remove fasteners on the frame of the chair.
2. Use the measuring tape to measure how long each strap needs to be. Position the measuring tape at the hole from the fastener and wrap it around the frame exactly like the vinyl strapping. Pull across to the other side of the chair and take the measurement at the hole on the other side, minus 90 percent to get the exact length. Do this because the new vinyl will stretch. Before cutting all your straps, do one to start. Make sure the vinyl stretches properly and everything is correct.
3. Cut the vinyl strapping to the measurement. Drill a hole at each strap approximately ½ inch from the end, using the 3/16 drill bit. Use dog-ear cuts to trim the straps.
4. Pour boiling water into the buckets and add the vinyl strap. Soak for five minutes and remove carefully. It will be very hot, so use caution. Dry thoroughly.
5. Insert a new fastener into the end of each strap, and, starting on one side of the chair, align the fastener with the hole and insert, securing the strap. Wrap the strap around the frame and hold firmly, and use the other hand to pull the strap tightly across the chair. Wrap the strap around the frame, align the fastener with the second hole and secure.
6. Continue with successive straps. Keep a rubber mallet handy to manipulate the fastener in place. Make sure you take an old fastener with you to the store when you purchase your new fasteners, they come in multiple sizes and you want the correct one.