Customer-supplied upholstery fabric: what to confirm before buying

Buying fabric before confirming the cutting plan can force a project change. First ask whether the upholsterer accepts customer-supplied material and what they need to review. Agree on material acceptance and labor terms before placing the order.

Five confirmations before ordering

1. Share the manufacturer, reference, data sheet and a sample where possible. A catalog photo does not show every characteristic.
2. Confirm usable width, horizontal and vertical repeat, pattern direction and nap.
3. Request the quantity for the specific project. Check whether the supplier sells yards or meters; NIST defines one yard as exactly 0.9144 meters.
4. Agree who inspects the delivery, what must be checked before cutting and how shortages or defects will be reported.
5. Record what happens if material is short, the wrong reference arrives or the selection changes.

Create a material receiving record

Record date, reference, color, lot where shown, declared length and planned components. Keep the roll label. Check the supplier’s return conditions before ordering or cutting instead of assuming every product can be returned on the same terms.

Separate the product, cutting plan and workmanship

Ask the parties to explain which commitments cover fabric defects, quantity calculations, workmanship and scope changes. Do not assume the upholsterer warrants a product selected and supplied by another party. Clarify the conditions before making the purchase.