Style, comfort and safety are not far behind durability and cleanability for transit upholstery.
This project won a 2011 IAA Award of Excellence in the automotive/transportation category.
Upholstery craftsmanship instills a sense of quality and adds value to the piece.
If you do any upholstery in the marine industry you will use a pleated vinyl at some point.
Upholsterers are leaving cash on the table if they're not doing cockpit and cabin up-fits.
Two ways to craft this classic look in automotive upholstery.
Trevor Kennedy updated two helm chairs on a 35-foot Viking Sport Fisher.
Make money in the “booming” custom automotive upholstery market.
While planning a marine upholstery project, you must consider many factors.
The RV market is on a roll with more sales and new customers for upholsterers.
New options abound to offer customers the trendiest—or most traditional—auto interiors.
Marine, hot rod and aircraft upholstery accelerates profits by capitalizing on customers' custom needs.
Working with aircraft interiors takes more than simply agreeing to do a job. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented numerous regulations and procedures for upholsterers providing aircraft services.
Some of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) that impact aircraft upholstery work the most include FAR 25.853 and FAR 43.3(d). FAR 25.853 lists the interior components of an aircraft that must meet flammability specifications. FAR 43.3(d) requires a certified mechanic to supervise any maintenance or alterations being performed on the aircraft. To help upholsterers new to the market, Interior Flight Services Inc. offers advice on meetings FAA requirements, as well as FAA-certified interior products, on its website www.nationalflight.com.
When Terri Madden, owner of Sand Sea and Air Interiors Inc., San Juan, Puerto Rico, submitted a letter of intent to the FAA and began the certification process, an FAA inspector was assigned to her shop. The inspector helped Madden's team write several manuals to be used for future jobs.
"All of the steps required for certification placed my business practices under a microscope," Madden says. "After nine grueling months, a new and improved fabrication shop was born."
To learn more about the FAA certification process and regulations, visit www.faa.gov.