Office chairs are used for prolonged hours of usage. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that your chair goes through massive wear and tear over time.
This is why it is also advised to invest in an ergonomic office chair that is built to high standards. This helps to ensure that when your chair starts looking damaged, you can easily fix it.
Whether it’s your own Steelcase chair that is nearing the end years of its life or an old model you found at a garage sale, with a few easy steps, you can recover any Steelcase chair and make it look as good as new.
Keep reading to learn how.
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How Long Does a Steelcase Chair Last?
Steelcase chairs are a significant investment. It makes sense for you to wonder how long they will last. If the Steelcase chairs are not subjected to any mistreatment or abuse, they can easily last you at least 20 to 25 years.
Just like any other chair or piece of furniture, a Steelcase chair may wear out or get damaged. But, there are always effective ways to fix and refurbish them to their best version.
How to Recover a Steelcase Chair?
Steelcase chairs offer great designs, the best ergonomic features, and utmost comfort, but they come at a hefty price. Because Steelcase chairs are an expensive purchase, discarding them at the first signs of damage or impairment may not be the best idea.
Since Steelcase chairs are well-designed and durable, if you ever do have to handle a chair that needs to be refurbished, it’s completely doable. With some easy-to-follow tips and tricks for recovery and refurbishment, you can get your Steelcase chair to look and function as good as new.
You might own one of the many popular Steelcase models like Leap, Gesture, Karman, Calder, etc. The procedure for repairing and recovering the parts is similar for most of these chairs.
To begin with the recovering process, you have to first dismantle the chair properly by removing the screws and working on the chair, part by part.
For example, if you want to remove the leg of the chair, the first step is to remove the screws from the underside of the chair. Once you’ve done that, you can work on the pedestal, attend to the cracks, and screw it back in when you are finished.
Make sure to get all the small screws out. Steelcase chairs tend to have screws that are hidden below a strip of plastic casting on the edge of the chair.
In the same way, you can detach the back, the arms, and other parts of the chair that need repairing.
Here are the steps to remove the different parts of a Steelcase Leap chair so you can work on each component in detail.
How to Remove the Seat?
- You will need a flat-head screwdriver, preferably 8 to10 inches long.
- Push the seat of the chair forward as much as possible.
- Start working on the leap chair from the back.
- Locate the lever between the seat and the chair mechanism and use the screwdriver to wedge the lever up.
- Insert the screwdriver under the lever, push it upwards, and the chair mechanism will activate itself.
- Leave the screwdriver in that position, depress the chair’s depth, and pull the seat pan out.
How to Remove the Gas Cylinder?
- You will need a pipe-wrench and a rubber mallet hammer.
- Use the pipe-wrench to clasp the cylinder up and away from the chair’s mechanism. Once the pipe wrench is tightly secured around the top of the cylinder, turn the wrench around and loosen the cylinder. There are no screws attaching the cylinder to the chair. So, you will have to vigorously move the wrench around until the cylinder, along with its base, comes loose.
- Use the rubber mallet hammer to hit the cylinder directly or from the sides to loosen and dislodge it from the base. Always make sure to replace the cylinder when you put the base back in to avoid potential damage to the chair.
How to Change the Fabric?
Another important part of the chair that often needs some amends is the upholstery covering the chair. The fabric is secured through staples and the seam is anchored to the chair.
A thick layer of foam is present below the fabric to offer the cushioned comfort for which the Steelcase chairs are popularly liked.
- If you haven’t done so already, remove the staples holding the current fabric in place.
- If you are upgrading to a piece of new fabric, make sure once you have the fabric in place to staple the material down into every crack and crevice present on the chair.
- Continue to stretch the fabric along the edges of the chair and staple it a few extra times to ensure the fabric stays in place and does not move when you sit on it.
A Few Additional Tips to Maintain Your Chair
- Make sure to clean your chair regularly to prevent the accumulation of dust and debris. You can use a dry cloth or disinfectant wipes.
- Use material-specific cleaners for the chair. For example, for a leather chair, use only products which are leather-friendly and are not abrasive.
- Add lubricant to the casters of the chair to make sure they move around smoothly.
- Change all the damaged upholstery batting, webbings, and springs so the chair can maintain its structural integrity.
- Use a fresh coat of furniture-friendly paint on all the parts that are disassembled to give the chair a fresh and stylish appeal.
- When cleaning the upholstery, make a mix of one part clear dish detergent with sixteen parts water. Use a spray bottle to lightly spray the chair’s surface until it’s damp. After a couple of minutes, remove all the surface moisture using a wet/dry vacuum. Finally, let it air dry completely.
Final Words
The benefits and comfort a Steelcase chair offers are incomparable. And while it may be more expensive compared to its counterparts, it is bound to be one of the best investments you can make for your health.
If at any time you think your chair needs an upgrade or a revamp, you can always come back to this article for the best chair-recovery tips!
My name is Vance, and I am the owner of To Ergonomics. Our mission is to improve your workflow by helping you create a supportive and welcoming environment. We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for while you’re here.