Every piece of antique furniture has a story. This beautiful rocking chair came to our Lancaster, PA upholstery shop in rough shape — worn-out padding, sagging springs, and aging burlap that had given everything it had over the decades. The owners wanted it preserved and restored to its original comfort, with a fresh fabric that honored the chair’s classic character. Here’s a look inside the full restoration process.
Why Traditional Coil Springs Still Matter
When you strip back the fabric on a true antique, you often find a construction method that’s rarely used today: hand-tied coil springs over burlap webbing. As you can see in the photo above, this chair had a full set of eight-way hand-tied coil springs — the gold standard in furniture construction.
Rather than replacing them with modern foam blocks (which is faster but sacrifices longevity), we fully inspected and re-tied every spring. The original burlap base was replaced with fresh material to give the springs a solid, even foundation. This is the kind of detail that separates a true antique furniture restoration from a simple fabric swap.
“Eight-way hand-tied springs are the benchmark of quality in traditional upholstery. When they’re still structurally sound, preserving them extends the life of the piece by decades.” — Upholsterers Association of Canada — What Is Upholstery
Curious about other antique restoration projects we’ve tackled? Browse our full gallery of rescued heirlooms.
Choosing the Right Fabric for a Classic Rocking Chair
The fabric selection for an antique piece is critical — it needs to respect the chair’s heritage while being durable enough for everyday use. For this Lancaster restoration, we worked with the owners to choose an elegant grey-and-cream paisley pattern from our Fabricut and Barrow fabric collections. The scrollwork motif complements the ornate wooden arms and rocker profile perfectly.
The result? A chair that looks like it belongs in a well-appointed parlor — yet feels as comfortable as the day it was first built.
The Full Restoration: What We Did
- Stripped all original fabric and padding down to the bare frame
- Inspected and re-tied all coil springs (eight-way hand-tied method)
- Replaced deteriorated burlap webbing with new heavy-duty material
- Applied new high-density foam and cotton batting for proper shaping
- Cut and fitted the new paisley fabric with hand-sewn finishing on edges
- Final quality check — no visible staples, even tension, clean lines throughout
Turnaround time for this project: under 2 weeks — including pickup and delivery.
How Much Does It Cost to Restore an Antique Rocking Chair in Pennsylvania?
This is one of our most common questions, so we’ll give you a straight answer. A full antique rocking chair restoration — including spring re-tying, new padding, and fabric — typically ranges from $400 to $900 in Pennsylvania, depending on the condition of the frame, the complexity of the spring system, and your fabric choice.
Many customers find that restoration costs less than a comparable quality piece of new furniture — and you keep the history. For a free, no-obligation estimate on your piece, visit our Free Online Estimate page and upload a few photos. We typically respond the same day.
More Restoration Work From Our Shop
This rocking chair is one of hundreds of antique and classic furniture pieces we’ve restored over 32 years. Here are a few more examples from our portfolio:
- Wingback Chair Restorations — from Victorian-era originals to mid-century classics
- Chippendale Sofa Restorations — camelback frames, carved legs, period fabrics
- Before & After Gallery — see the full transformation on a range of pieces
- Antique Restoration Services — full details on our process and what to expect
Have an Antique Chair, Sofa, or Heirloom That Needs Attention?
We serve clients throughout Lancaster, Lebanon, Harrisburg, Reading, and Eastern Pennsylvania. Whether it’s a family heirloom, a flea market find, or a vintage piece you’ve been meaning to restore for years — bring it in or send us photos and we’ll give you an honest assessment.
📍 Alex Upholstery Shop
1244 Hilltop Rd, Myerstown, PA 17067
(Serving Lancaster, Lebanon & Harrisburg areas)
📞 717-383-6917 — Call or text anytime
🖥️ Get a Free Online Estimate →
