Using a pair of scissors or garden shears, carefully remove all of the old straps and fasteners. Chair Care Patio furniture repair highly recommends cleaning your outdoor furniture chair frame with soap and water after all the straps have been removed. This will keep the new product clean during installation.

Determine if the slots on the chair frame are on the inside or top-side of the chair frame. If the slots are located on the inside of the frame, Chair Care Patio recommends using the single wrap method of installation. If the slots are located on the top side of the chair frame, double wrap would be the ideal application. The Chair Care Patio repair technicians have found that using a single wrap rivet when the slot is located on the top side of the chair frame usually results in the rivet becoming dislodged over time. For this reason we find it best to convert your outdoor furniture chair frame to use a double wrap application.

Setting up for single wrap
Using a 7/32” drill bit, drill a hole in the middle of the existing slot in outdoor chair frame. When drilling, take care to not drill through the opposite of the frame.

Setting up for double wrap
Using a 7/32” drill bit, drill a hole on the underside of the chair frame. Use the existing slot on the top side of the frame as reference for the location of the new hole on the underside of the frame. Chair Care Patio recommends drilling through the center of the existing slot and out the bottom side of the outdoor chair frame when all possible.

Using a cloth measuring tape, measure the distance from hole to hole on the chair frame. Make sure to go around the outside of the frame just as the strap is installed. (For detailed measuring instructions, read ‘How to Measure’ found on ChairCarePatio.com)

Multiply the hole to hole measurement by 85% and add one inch. For example, if the hole to hole measurement is 24 inches, multiply that number by .85 which equals 20.4 inches. Add one inch for a final cut length of 21.4 inches.

(See the Double Wrap Instructions on ChairCarePatio.com for further tips and details.)
Multiply the hole to hole measurement by 90% and add one inch. For example, if the hole to hole measurement is 24 inches, multiply that number by .90 which equals 21.6 inches. Add one inch for a final cut length of 22.6 inches.

Cut vinyl straps to desired length. Using a leather punch or drill (with a 3/16” drill bit), carefully drill a hole in the center of the strap, 1/2” from the end of the strap. Make sure to drill a hole on both ends of your vinyl strap. Once the vinyl straps are cut, use garden shears to trim off the corners of each end of the vinyl straps as this ensures that the vinyl strap ends do not protrude from the underside of the vinyl replacement strap.

Note: Vinyl straps are never cut and installed at 100%. The vinyl straps need to be shorter so that they will be tight enough when installed. Do not cut all the straps at once, as you may want to adjust the final strap length after trying the first few straps.

The vinyl straps must be heated and stretched over the furniture frame. Chair Care Patio suggests using a pair of garden gloves, golf gloves or work gloves to reduce finger burn from handling the hot vinyl replacement straps. In addition, you may want to wrap some adhesive tape around the top of your thumb and index finger to provide a bit more insulation.

Boil a large pot of water using a hot place or heat source. Allow the water to come to a boil and insert several vinyl replacement straps into the boiling water. Chair Care Patio recommends leaving the vinyl replacement straps in the boiling water for at least two minutes before removing them. Leaving them in longer will not hurt the vinyl replacement straps. Remove one strap and dry it with a towel.

While strap is hot, insert the appropriate fastener and approach frame from underneath. Attach the rivet to the hole in the chair frame and bring the strap around the outside of the frame once (twice if double wrap).

Stretch the vinyl replacement strap evenly and steadily while pulling the strap over top the opposite side of the frame.

Use heavy thumb pressure against the chair frame to hold the vinyl strap in place while attaching the rivet with the other hand.

Release thumb pressure and strap will contract as it cools.

Note: If installing double wrap replacement straps, Chair Care Patio recommends dipping the ends of the vinyl replacement straps in baby powder before attaching them to the chair frame. The baby powder aids in keeping the vinyl replacement strap from sticking to itself during the double wrap.

When installing a double wrap vinyl replacement strap, the strap will have to be pulled slightly to the right or left of the hole to allow room for the double wrap. Once the rivet is in place, slide the vinyl strap over itself.

Repeat the process for the remaining vinyl straps.