About: Rebuild Your Futon or Natural Bed

What is a rebuild? Over the lifetime of your futon, wool topper, or pillow, the day may come when it doesn't feel quite as comfortable as it did when it was new. This is normal, as natural fibers do compress over time. Fortunately, since we make most of our products right here in the store, we can rebuild and restore your bed. We don't charge for labor, and usually all it takes to make an old futon feel like new is a couple fresh layers of cotton or wool which can cost substantially less than buying a new bed. 

We can also rebuild futons made by another manufacturer, as long as the case has a zipper on three sides of the case, allowing it to open flat like a book. For us to work on another company's bed, we do charge an additional $50/hr. 

When to rebuild? There's no definite time frame for when to service a futon, topper, or pillow, so we can't say for sure when you might need to bring yours in for service. The best thing we can say is that your bed will tell you when it needs a little attention. If your futon, topper, or pillow feels hard or lumpy, or if you find yourself settling into a permanently recessed area, it's probably time to have us look at it.

How much does a rebuild cost? To give you an idea of how much materials cost, a queen size layer of standard cotton is $45, while a queen size layer of wool is $80. We generally add layers in pairs, and again, depending on how much refurbishing is necessary, we can usually restore a futon by using between 2 and 6 new layers of material. So while it certainly isn't cheap, a rebuild can be a significantly more affordable option than buying a whole new mattress, and it's certainly the more eco-friendly choice. 

Rebuild criteria. To be able to take advantage of our rebuild service, futons must be used in dry areas, on slats or slatted frames (or, if used on the floor, picked up and folded after each use), and in conjunction with a mattress pad. Not following any of the above criteria may result in the item being exempt from our rebuilding service. Please note that any item subject to excessive moisture, moisture damage, mildew, or mold will not be allowed into our building facility at any time - no exceptions. For instructions on how to treat mold and mildew at home, please see the "How To Care For Your Natural Fiber Bed" section of the Natural Bedding Guide.

Rebuild vs. modification. Sometimes our customers want to modify their existing futon or pillow dimensions (cutting down a queen to a twin, for instance) or to change the materials inside (like adding a latex core to a wool topper), and in these cases we consider this a "modification" instead of a rebuild. For this more involved type of work we charge a $50/hour labor fee in addition to the cost of materials. Even so, a modification can still be a less expensive and more eco-friendly to go than buying a new bed. 

How to set up a rebuild appointment. Because our builders are often very busy making beds for both our store's stock and for specific customer orders, we ask that you please call the store or email us to set up a rebuild appointment with one of our production staff. Our builders will assess what needs to be done with your rebuild when we see it in person (we never assess or guarantee a course of action without seeing the item in person), and will discuss options with you. Because we don't want you to be a night without your bed, we offer same day service at no extra charge - yay! If we receive your rebuild item between 10am and noon, we guarantee to have your rebuild completed by 5pm the same day. To schedule your rebuild, please call the store at (206) 282-1717 and ask for someone in production, or email our production manager at joe@soaringheart.com with "rebuild" in the subject line.