Upholsterer

Upholsterers, or trimmers, are craftsmen who specialize in repair and bespoke manufacture of carpets, fabric upholstery, leather upholstery and soft top convertible roofs.

Many of them will replace a soft top roof for you, however this is a specialization within a specialization and many will not. There are companies such as Cayman Auto Services who specialize in roofs who can not only replace fabric roofs, but also repair the mechanisms. 

What it means

An upholsterer is a craftsperson who works with fabrics, leather, foams and fillings to cover and trim seats, panels and other interior surfaces. In the motor trade they are often called trimmers or coach trimmers. Rather than just cleaning what is there, an upholsterer can strip interiors, repair or replace damaged foam, restitch seams, fit new covers and sometimes help with the fabric side of convertible roofs and tonneau covers.

Why it matters

• Beyond normal valeting: When seats are torn, foam has collapsed or stitching has failed, cleaning alone will not fix the problem – this is upholsterer territory.
• Preserves or upgrades interiors: A good upholsterer can restore worn, sagging or damaged interiors to near-factory condition, or upgrade them with different materials and patterns if required.
• Important for leaks and soft tops: On some cars, water leaks and long-term damp can rot stitching, foam and backing materials. An upholsterer or trimmer may be needed to repair seat bases, headlinings or sections of soft top after the leak itself has been fixed.
• Affects value and comfort: Quality upholstery work makes the car feel solid and comfortable again and can have a big influence on resale value and how the car is perceived at inspection.

Where you’ll see it

You will see upholsterer (or trimmer) mentioned in inspection reports, restoration plans and quotes where work goes beyond cleaning. Typical comments include refer to upholsterer for seat retrim, trimmer required for stitching repair on hood, headlining needs replacement by upholsterer or door cards need recovering. Classic cars, high-end convertibles and vehicles with bespoke interiors often rely heavily on good upholstery and trimming work.

Context

An upholsterer sits alongside detailers, bodyshops and roof specialists as part of the wider trade network that keeps cars in good condition. A detailer cleans, a bodyshop deals with metal and paint, a leak specialist finds where water is getting in, and an upholsterer or trimmer repairs the damaged soft materials inside. For convertible roofs, the upholsterer’s skills may be needed where stitching has failed, where a replacement roof kit needs fitting to the frame, or where interior panels and headlinings must be removed and refitted during leak and trim work. Choosing a reputable upholsterer is important because poor patterns, loose covers or mismatched materials can spoil the look of a car just as surely as bad paint.

Common mistakes

• Assuming a detailer or valeter can fix collapsed foam, failed stitching or torn seats, when the job really needs an upholsterer or trimmer.
• Choosing the cheapest possible retrim without checking pattern accuracy and material quality, leading to baggy covers, mismatched colours or premature wear.
• Repairing leaks and drying a car but re-fitting badly damaged, rotten or mouldy seat bases and underlay instead of involving an upholsterer to replace them properly.
• Expecting soft top cleaning, proofing or dye to fix stitching that has physically failed – once the thread has gone, it needs re-stitching by someone with upholstery or trimming skills.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 05/12/2025 15:41