Here’s how to accurately measure your pool furniture before replacing its PVC straps. If you fail to measure the right way it’s likely that they will fail to be tight enough and they will sag and be uncomfortable, or worst case, you may not be well placed to install the straps at all without tearing them.

But first, let’s discuss how NOT to measure the vinylstraps for your restrapping job!

An absolute no-no is to take off one of the straps and use it as the gauge for the new ones. You see, the straps aren’t simply fitted onto the chair frame — they need to be heated and stretched on, so that when they cool off, they tighten to a degree that would not be possible otherwise. Not installing them in this way will make sure that your straps will be saggy.

Having stated that, let us now talk about the right way to do it. There are several steps:

1. Take off all of the old straps. This can occasionally be a little complicated to do. I have found the easiest way is to utilise a pair of heavy snips, garden shears, or a very sharp knife and just cut them all right through the middle.
2. After cutting the straps, pull out the fasteners. There are 2 main sorts of fasteners: plastic rivets and metal clips. The plastic snaps can just be jerked out by pulling on the cut end of the strap in a jerking motion. Metal clips can usually be pulled off the chair frame, but now and then you may have to encourage them with a screwdriver.
3. Once all the straps and fasteners are fully removed, this is the best time to scrub the furniture frames.
4. Now for the details of measuring. For this you’ll use a cloth tape measure, like a tailor would use. You can get by with a flexible metal (builder’s) tape measure, nonetheless it is much easier to do with a fabric tape. Start at the rivet hole on one side of the frame. Then wrap the tape measure round the frame in the same way the strap was wrapped. This may suggest you will have to go twice round the frame in the case of double-wrapped strapping. Then continue taking the tape over to the opposite side of the frame and again wrap it the same as the strap was wrapped. The measurement is taken at the rivet hole at this side. For our example, let’s imagine it was 24″.
5. You are not finished yet! You have to make allowances for the stretching you are going to do. Deduct roughly 10% off the first measurement. In our example, 10 percent of 24″ is 2.4″ which I change to 2-1/2″. Subtracting this from 24″ leaves 21-1/2″ and that is about how long your straps have to be.

Get additional info on the right way to install vinyl strapping and order your strap from our website. There are videos and illustrated guides there to assist you with your vinyl strap project.

Donna Thompson is employed by Pipefine Patio Furniture, which has been in the outdoor furniture business in Florida for over 40 years, both as a manufacturer and retailer. The company sells replacement patio cushionsand patio umbrellas and vinyl straps. This is one of a series articles on replacing vinyl straps. Full guides for accurately measuring and installing straps can be read at the organization’s web site.