Vinyl Pool Chair Repairs

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Today’s post is about how to restrap commercial pool furniture – the type that uses colored vinyl straps.

Pool chair straps generally last 5 years or more before they weaken. Don’t throw out that chair or lounge – do a pool chair strap repair!

Pool and lawn chair strapping comes in two widths and 10 colors to match most outdoor furniture and are made of 100% virgin vinyl to last for years. Each roll contains 200 feet, or about 90 straps.
 
 

How to Re-Strap Pool Lounge Chairs

checklist - image by Clker
  • Vinyl chair strapping and plastic rivets
  • Fabric measuring tape and kitchen tongs
  • Screwdriver, power drill, good scissors
  • Some hot water, but not boiling

STEP ONE: Cut & Remove the Vinyl Chair Straps

cut-the-vinyl-chair-straps - image by Florida Pool & Patio

Use scissors to cut through the vinyl strapping to be replaced. Unwind them from the chair or chaise rail and pop out the rivets with a sharp pull on the end of the strap. Use a small screwdriver or pliers to remove any remaining rivet pieces.

tip image from Clker

TIP: Bolt down the chair or place sand bags on bottom rails of chaise lounge chairs, to keep it securely in place while you work.

STEP TWO: Measure and Cut the New Vinyl Straps

Most vinyl pool chairs and patio chairs use a double wrap on the frame and the strap wraps around the frame twice, but some outdoor chair straps only wrap once around the frame.

tape measure image from clker

For a double wrap chair or chaise, hold a cloth measuring tape over the rivet hole on one side, wrap it twice on that side, and pull it across and wrap it twice on the other side, and take the measurement at center of the other hole.

Pull the measuring tape tight to get a good hole to hole measurement (plus the one or two wraps around the frame).  Now – because the vinyl straps stretch tightly, subtract 15% of the measurement. For example, if the total hole to hole (plus wraps) measures 33″, cut the straps to 28 inches (33″ x 0.85 = 28.05″).

tip image from Clker

TIP: Measure twice and cut once! Install a few straps to be sure the length and tension is correct.

STEP THREE: Prep and Heat your Vinyl Strapping

pool-chair-strap-repair

After cutting vinyl straps to the right length, use some good scissors to dog-ear the ends, cutting off the corners on each end with a 45° wedge cut. Then use a drill bit to place a hole in the end of each strap, in the center, near the end. Push in a new plastic rivet through the hole on each end, both facing the same way.

tip image from Clker

TIP: Use heavy duty scissors to cut the corners, and a 3/8″ drill bit to cut a clean hole, 1/4″ from the end.

STEP FOUR: Heat the Vinyl Straps

heat-up-the-vinyl-chair-straps - image by Pixabay

Heat the vinyl straps in water that is about 200°, on a stove top or gas grill, in a large steel cooking pot. Don’t allow the water to boil, but keep it just below bubbling. Add 2-3 straps at a time, allowing them to soften for 2-3 minutes in the hot water.

tip image from Clker

TIP: Don’t wear colored gloves, which can bleed their colors from contact with the hot water.

STEP FIVE: Install new Vinyl Chair Strapping

florida-patio-pool-chair-restrapping

Use tongs or gloves to pull out one strap and immediately install it before it cools. Pop-in the rivet on one side, wrap it twice around the rivet and stretch it to the other side, but not over the hole, so you can wrap it twice and push in the other rivet. Then pull up on the vinyl so you can slide it over the hole, as shown by this expert from Florida Patio.

tip

TIP: Be sure that the first strap installs easily, and with good tension after cooling, before you cut the remaining vinyl straps.


Order your new vinyl chair strapping, sold in 200 ft rolls, a pack of plastic rivets and you can restrap pool chairs and chaise lounges yourself, saving over half the cost of buying new pool furniture!