Replacing the wrappings on a wicker chair

[Scarpozzi]

So...this crap isn't really wicker.

My wife bought a few nice, but cheap chairs 2 years ago. She paid maybe $45 each for them...the problem is that UV killed them both.



The wicker-like material is some kind of Chinese plastic that's breaking down. The frame of the chairs, however is metal. The faux-reed material is stapled to the top and wrapped around to cover the staples. My mother knows how to use REAL reeds to fix chairs, but I'm curious if there's another type of material I could use to repair these chairs rather than just take them to the landfill. It costs me nothing to throw them away, probably $100 to replace them. What would it cost in time and materials to get them operational and looking good?

 

[mindless1]

I'd either give up, or use heavy canvas instead. It just looks too far gone, so you'd need to weave together the entire thing unless you are okay with constantly patching it. Areas not broken yet are surely soon to do so, given same material, same environment, same age.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'd either give up, or use heavy canvas instead. It just looks too far gone, so you'd need to weave together the entire thing unless you are okay with constantly patching it. Areas not broken yet are surely soon to do so, given same material, same environment, same age.

The frames were good..solid metal. I wouldn't have taken much to wrap them, but the cost of the wrapping and skill to get them tight without sagging would have been the trick. I hate throwing stuff like that in the landfill after 2 seasons. 🙁

 

[mindless1]

That's why canvas is better. Get it at a local fabric store, measure, cut to size, sew up cut edges on sewing machine, then slap it on there using stitching with something like a leather sewing awl unless you want to get fancy and put snaps on it so you can take it off to wash it.

 

[Scarpozzi]

That's why canvas is better. Get it at a local fabric store, measure, cut to size, sew up cut edges on sewing machine, then slap it on there using stiching with something like a leather sewing awl unless you want to get fancy and put snaps on it so you can take it off to wash it.

I threw them away. I have bigger problems to deal with and plenty of chairs. 😛

I did repaint/stain a bench....sanding:


Finished:

 

[mindless1]

It looks great, but also hard like something you'd have a guest sit on if you didn't want them to stay long. 😉