C3305 - Upholstering: manufacture of mattresses, caskets, furniture and refurbishing

Operational Details
Upholstery shops cover furniture, fixtures, and similar items with fabric, leather, or other upholstery materials.

Upholsterers lay out the selected materials according to the sketch or design specification. Old worn out webbing, springs and other furniture parts are replaced or repaired, using hand or power tools. A Sewing machine is used to sew the fabric, which seams cushions and joins sections of covering materials. Padding and underlay are also installed and fastened to the furniture frames. Tacks, glue or sewn ornamental trim is attached, and may include braiding or buttons. Some repair of the actual framework of the furniture may be made and wood finishes may be refinished with stains, paint or plastic coverings.

Furniture refurbishing is much the same as what one would see in an upholstery shop, with the exception old furniture that is being refurbished is often antique or more costly to replace. For that reason there is more of an artisan’s approach to the repair. It must result in restoring the appearance to its original state. This may mean matching wood with rare European woods, or matching a stain with a much older type of furniture covering. Museums, historical and government buildings often have the kind of furniture that requires special refinishing and repairs.

Taking old furniture apart, stripping off old coats of polish, paint or wax, and sanding are required as part of the restoration. Once the pieces have been manufactured or repaired, the piece is set back together again using screws, glue, nails etc. and the new finish applied. Lacquers, polishes, or waxes, are applied in coats and may be done by hand, or by a sprayer.

Furniture refurbishers, on an incidental basis, may refinish wood paneling, repair a wooden staircase, or occasionally turn spindles on a wood lathe for stair casing.

Coffin manufacturing is a specialized carpentry activity that includes the building of wooden boxes and lining them padding, silk, and other fabrics. The exterior is covered with cloth, stained, or painted. Handles are attached so the casket or coffin can be moved. Tools normally used in a carpentry shop are used in coffin manufacturing. Coffins are sold to funeral homes and crematoriums.

Mattress manufacturing includes building a wooden frame, using saws, hand and power tools. Next, springs are added , padding and finally a cloth covering encloses the mattress works. Making the frame, setting springs into place, and cutting the material, is a similar process to upholstering. The mattresses are sold to furniture, department and bedroom stores.

Coffin and mattress manufacturing involve sending shipments out by third party carrier to the customer. However, upholstery shops and furniture refurbishers usually work out of a shop, with the customer being responsible for delivery or pick up.

SIC Codes
000000241 - Upholstering
000000932 - Mfg mattresses
000000244 - Furniture refurbishing
000000242 - Manufacture of caskets
000000243 - Manufacture of furniture