Wobbly chair repair in Exeter
Professional wobbly chair repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
20-30 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Wobbly chair tightened and glued back to solid. Loose joints reglued, brackets added if needed, chair stable and safe to sit on again.
That One Chair Nobody Sits On
You've got one dining chair that wobbles so everyone avoids it. Joints are loose, legs rock, and you're worried someone's going to go over backwards.
💡 Pro tip: Fix wobbly chairs as soon as you notice them - once one joint's loose, stress transfers to others and soon the whole chair's falling apart.
Why Chairs Go Wobbly
| ✅ Fixed Properly | ❌ Still Wobbly |
|---|---|
| Joints cleaned, reglued, clamped | Just tightened screws (still moves) |
| Solid when you sit on it | Feels unsafe |
| Good for years | Wobbly again in weeks |
| All joints checked | Fixed one, missed others |
Chairs need proper regluing or brackets, not just tightening. Half measures don't work long-term.
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Diagnose | Find which joints are loose, check for damage |
| Repair | Reglue joints, add brackets if needed, clamp to set |
| Test | Sit on it, rock it, make sure it's solid |
📦 You're Left With
- Stable chair that doesn't wobble
- Joints tight and secure
- Safe to sit on with confidence
- Repair lasting years not weeks
Pricing Guide
| Repair Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tightening | 20-30 mins | £60 |
| Regluing joints | 30-45 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). Multiple chairs more efficient in one visit. Clamping overnight might need collection/return.
Perfect For You If...
✅ Dining chair wobbly - joints loose and rocking
✅ Set of chairs - one or more need fixing
✅ Unsafe to sit on - worried about collapse
✅ Otherwise good furniture - worth repairing properly
Why Choose Us for Wobbly chair repair in Exeter?
Joints tightened or reglued
Chair solid and stable again
No wobble when sitting
Fixed in under half an hour
What to Expect
Step 1: Check All Joints
I'll test each joint to see which are loose. Often it's not obvious which one's causing the wobble.
Step 2: Reglue Or Reinforce
Take apart loose joints, clean out old glue, apply fresh wood glue, and clamp tight. Or add corner brackets if glue alone won't hold.
Step 3: Let It Set & Test
Once glue's set (or brackets fitted), test the chair properly. Sit on it, lean back, make sure it's genuinely solid.
🔧 DIY Tips
Fancy fixing it yourself? Here's the method:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Wood glue (PVA or Titebond)
- Clamps or rope tourniquet
- Hammer and block of wood
- Chisel or old knife
- Sandpaper
- Damp cloth
📐 For loose joints:
- Work out which joints are loose (wiggle each connection)
- Try to pull joint apart gently - if it comes apart easily, great
- Clean old glue from both parts with chisel
- Apply wood glue to both surfaces
- Push back together firmly
- Clamp or tie tightly with rope tourniquet
- Wipe excess glue with damp cloth
- Leave 24 hours to set
If joints won't come apart:
- Drill small hole at angle into joint
- Inject wood glue with syringe
- Clamp joint tight
- Let set overnight
For really loose chairs:
- Might need to completely dismantle
- Clean all joints thoroughly
- Reglue and reassemble all at once
- Need multiple clamps to hold while drying
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not cleaning out old glue (new glue won't stick)
- Using too little glue (joint stays weak)
- Not clamping tight enough
- Moving chair before glue's fully set
- Only fixing the obvious joint (others still loose)
💡 Pro trick: For joints that keep failing, drill out the round tenon, glue in a slightly larger dowel, then drill a new hole to fit. Basically rebuilds the joint stronger than original.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Set of 4 or 6 chairs? If one's wobbly, others probably aren't far behind. Worth checking them all and fixing any dodgy ones while I'm there.
Windsor chairs (the ones with spindle backs) need special care - the legs are wedged and glued into the seat. If those joints fail, it's a proper repair job.
Expensive or antique chairs: Get them to a furniture restorer. They'll do invisible repairs that maintain value. My repairs are functional and will hold, but not museum-quality.
Metal-framed chairs: Different problem - usually weld fails or bolt holes strip out. That's metalwork not woodwork, needs different approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do chairs go wobbly?
Wood shrinks slightly over time, joints work loose from use, and glue fails with age. Dining chairs especially get wobbles because they're constantly moved and sat on. Once one joint loosens, others follow.
Can you fix any type of chair?
Wooden dining chairs, yes. Office chairs with wobbly bases or gas lifts need different repairs. Really valuable antique chairs should go to a proper furniture restorer.
Do you need to take the chair away?
Usually no - most repairs I can do on site. If joints are completely apart and need proper regluing with clamps overnight, I might need to take it. I'll let you know.
Will it stay solid or go wobbly again?
If I've done it properly with good wood glue and clamped it, should last years. If the wood itself is split or joints are damaged, might need more extensive repair.
Can you match the wood finish if you have to sand?
I'll get it close with stain and wax, but perfect match on old furniture is tricky. Usually any repairs blend in after a few weeks of normal use.
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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