Guide · upholstery in Melbourne
A sagging seat is almost always a problem with the support system underneath the cushions (the webbing or springs) or with foam that has gone dead, not a sofa that is worn out. In most cases the frame is still sound and the piece is fixable for a fraction of the cost of replacing it. A qualified upholsterer can rebuild the seat back to firm and even, and often make it more comfortable than it was when new.
Last updated: July 2026
Get a free quoteCall 0425 832 619Almost every sagging seat comes down to one of three things. Knowing which one you have tells you what the repair actually involves.
Webbing is the woven strapping (traditionally jute, now often elastic or rubber) stretched across the base of the frame that the cushions and springs sit on. Over years of use it stretches, frays or snaps, and the seat starts to dip in the middle or feel like it is swallowing you. If you sit down and feel yourself sink low and unevenly, with a hammock-like droop, tired webbing is the usual culprit.
Under the webbing many sofas have coil springs or serpentine (zig-zag) springs. Over time the twine that ties coil springs together can rot and let go, or a serpentine spring can lose its tension or crack. When that happens you often hear a creak, a twang or a grinding noise when you sit, and one part of the seat sits lower than the rest. A spring that has come loose can also poke or feel lumpy through the cushion.
Foam simply wears out. Cheaper or low-density foam compresses over the years until it no longer springs back, so the cushion sits flat, hard at the edges and hollow in the middle. The tell-tale sign here is that the seat feels firm at the frame but there is no bounce left in the cushion itself, and it stays squashed after you stand up.
Often it is a combination, for example dead foam on top of tired webbing, which is why a proper diagnosis matters before you spend anything.
Rewebbing means stripping out the old, stretched or broken webbing and stretching fresh strapping tightly across the frame, then re-securing it. It restores the flat, firm base that the springs and cushions rely on. It is one of the most common and cost-effective seat repairs, because once the base is taut again the whole seat feels supported rather than saggy. On many chairs and sofas, rewebbing alone brings the seat most of the way back.
Respringing covers repairing or replacing the springs, and re-tying covers re-securing coil springs with fresh twine so they sit level and hold their tension again. If a serpentine spring is stretched or snapped it is replaced; if coil springs have simply come untied, they are re-lashed into position. This is more involved than rewebbing because it works with the sprung layer beneath, but it is what brings back the deep, even, supportive feel of a well-made lounge. Good respringing is the difference between a seat that merely holds you up and one that feels genuinely comfortable.
If the support system underneath is sound but the cushion still feels flat, the foam is the issue and it needs replacing rather than repairing. This is where quality really counts.
Foam is rated by density, which is a measure of how much material is packed into it, and density is the main driver of how long a cushion lasts and how it feels over time. Low-density foam is cheaper but collapses quickly. Higher-density foam holds its shape and comfort for years.
Just as important, seat foam in Australia should be fire-grade foam that meets the relevant furniture flammability standards. Fire-grade foam is both safer and generally better made, so a reputable workshop will use it as standard. When foam is replaced properly, the new cushions are cut to the right density and firmness for how you actually use the piece, which is often more comfortable than the original.
You can narrow down the cause yourself in a couple of minutes.
For a sagging sofa the honest answer is usually repair, especially if the frame is solid timber and you like the piece. Sagging is a symptom of the support layers and foam wearing out, and all of those are replaceable. The frame, which is the expensive and hard-to-replicate part, is typically fine. Replacing webbing, springs and foam rebuilds the seat to as-new (or better) for far less than buying a comparable new sofa, and it keeps a well-built older frame out of landfill. Replacement really only makes sense when the frame itself is broken beyond economical repair, or when you simply want a different piece.
Costs vary widely, so treat the following as indicative only, not a quote. As a general guide, rewebbing tends to sit at the lower end because it is the most straightforward job; respringing and re-tying costs more because of the extra labour involved; and new fire-grade foam depends on the number of cushions, their size and the density chosen. A full seat rebuild combining all three sits higher again, but still typically well below the cost of replacing a quality sofa.
The only way to know for your piece is a proper assessment. Every job should be individually and fairly priced on its actual scope and the materials it needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all figure.
If you want the work done properly, look for an in-house team that does the repair, the sewing and the restoration under one roof, so nothing is outsourced and quality is controlled end to end. As one example that fits this brief, Dylberry Design is a family upholstery and furniture-restoration workshop in Eltham North servicing Melbourne, with an in-house machinist, upholsterer and restorer and around 100 years of combined craft between them. They handle rewebbing, respringing, new fire-grade foam and frame repairs, offer free quotes from a photo, and hold a 5.0 rating from 37 Google reviews. Each job is individually and fairly priced on its scope and materials, which is exactly what you want when a sagging seat could be anything from a quick reweb to a full rebuild.
Good to know
Usually because the webbing or springs under the seat have stretched, snapped or come untied, letting the seat dip. It can also be dead foam that no longer springs back. In most cases the frame is still fine and the seat can be rebuilt.
Yes, in most cases. Sagging is caused by the support layers and foam wearing out, and all of those are replaceable, usually for a fraction of the cost of a new sofa. Repair makes the most sense when the timber frame is still solid.
Rewebbing replaces the woven strapping that forms the base of the seat. Respringing repairs or replaces the springs, and re-tying re-secures coil springs so they sit level. Rewebbing is simpler and cheaper; respringing restores the deep, supportive feel.
Press the cushion firmly. If it stays flat and does not bounce back, the foam is worn out. If the cushion recovers but the whole seat still sinks low, or you hear creaks and twangs, the problem is more likely the webbing or springs underneath.
Fire-grade foam meets Australian furniture flammability standards, so it is safer as well as generally better made. Foam is also rated by density, and higher density lasts longer and holds its comfort, which is why a good workshop uses fire-grade foam of an appropriate density as standard.
It depends on the cause and the materials, so any figure is only indicative. Rewebbing is usually the most affordable, respringing costs more for the extra labour, and new foam depends on cushion size and density. Every job should be priced fairly on its own scope, so the reliable approach is a proper quote.
Often yes. When webbing, springs and foam are rebuilt, the foam can be cut to the density and firmness that suits how you use the piece, which frequently feels better than the factory original.
Not always. Many upholstery workshops, including Dylberry Design, can give a free indicative quote from a photo of the piece, so you can get a sense of the likely repair before arranging a full assessment.
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