How To Replace The Seat And Back Of A Breuer Chair
Posted by seatsadmin on May 2nd 2014
At a Glance:
- Time required: 5 to 15 minutes per chair
- Skill level: Beginner
- Tools needed: Phillips head screwdriver or drill, pencil
- Cost range: $60 to $155 per seat or back (vs. $195+ for a new chair)
The Basic Steps:
If you're replacing both the seat and back, do the back first and then the seat.
- Flip the chair over and remove the screws holding the old seat or back.
- Take off the worn seat or back and set the hardware aside.
- Line up the new seat or back with the mounting holes.
- Drive the screws back in and check that everything sits tight.
- Turn the chair upright and give it a quick test before moving to the next one.
The cane is fraying. The upholstery has a tear. The wood insert has a crack running through it. If your Breuer chair is showing its age, the good news is you probably do not need a new one. A Cesca chair seat replacement or cane chair seat replacement is a quick home project that takes about 5 to 15 minutes per chair with tools you likely already own. This guide covers what Cesca tools you need and the exact steps for both the back and the seat. Prefer to watch? Skip to the video guide below.
About Breuer Cesca Chairs
Marcel Breuer designed the Cesca chair in 1928 using a cantilevered tubular steel frame with hand-woven cane inserts held in a solid beechwood frame. Nearly 100 years later, the design still shows up in dining rooms, offices, restaurants, and vintage shops thanks to its Italian craftsmanship and honest materials. You can see the original Model B32 chair in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection.
Why Breuer Cesca Seats Wear Out
The steel frame usually lasts a lifetime. The cane, upholstery, and wood inserts do not. Cane fibers dry out and unravel over the years. Vinyl and fabric wear at the edges. Wood inserts crack from stress and age. Since the seat and back attach to the frame with only four screws each, replacing them is a quick fix that extends the life of your existing furniture. Learn more about the designer on our About Marcel Breuer page.
Types of Breuer Chair Replacement Parts You Can Buy
Before you order, figure out which style your chair uses. Breuer Cesca chairs come in three seat and back styles:
Cane Seats and Backs: Natural woven cane in a wood frame. The classic Breuer look and the most common style on vintage side chairs and armchair variants. Our Breuer Cesca Cane Replacement Seats and Backs come in five wood finishes: Natural, Black Lacquered, Walnut, Honey Oak, and White. Not sure which finish will match your existing chair? The 3D configurator on our Cane Replacement product page lets you preview each finish before you order. For a moodier look, we also offer a Black Cane Replacement Seat with black-lacquered wood frame with natural cane. A cesca chair cane replacement takes about the same time as a wood or upholstered swap. Cane replacement seats come with a template pilot hole to guide the screws during install, so the alignment is set for you.
Wood Insert Seats and Back:. A wood frame with a vinyl insert. Sturdier than cane and easier to clean. Our Breuer Wood Frame Insert Replacements fit this style.
Upholstered Seats and Backs: Vinyl or fabric over foam padding for extra comfort. Our Breuer Upholstered Replacements come in multiple vinyl and fabric colors. These fully upholstered seats and backs have no cane element.
If your chair also needs a new chrome or brass frame, arm rests, glides, or screws, you can order those separately.
What You Will Need Before You Start
Tools:
- Phillips head screwdriver or cordless drill
- Pencil for marking hole placement
- Clean, flat workspace
- Optional: builder's level for aligning the back
- Optional: impact driver for stubborn screws
Parts:
- Replacement seat, back, or both
- Original hardware (screws are usually reusable) or new Breuer replacement screws
- Optional: new glides if the old ones are cracked or missing
How to Replace the Back of a Breuer Chair
Follow these steps for a Cesca chair back replacement:
Step 1: Remove the old back - Unscrew the four Phillips head screws holding the backrest to the tubular steel frame. Set the screws aside since you can usually reuse them.
Step 2: Mark the new hole placement - Lay the old back on top of the new back. Use a pencil to mark where each of the four holes should go on the new piece.
Step 3: Position the new backrest against the frame - Line up your pencil marks with the holes in the metal frame.
Step 4: Screw in the top holes first - This keeps the back straight as you work. A builder's level laid across the top of the back can confirm the alignment.
Step 5: Finish with the bottom screws - Tighten all four screws once the back sits level.
Pro tip: Working alone? Start the top screws before the bottom ones. It keeps the back straight while you finish.
How to Replace the Seat of a Breuer Chair
The steps are the same for cane, wood insert, and upholstered seats. Most people replace cane chair seat inserts, but the process works for all three:
Step 1: Flip the chair upside down - Rest it on a clean, flat surface. Setting a cloth down first protects both the frame and your tabletop.
Step 2: Remove the four screws holding the old seat - Set them aside for reuse.
Step 3: Slide out the old seat - The seat lifts free once the screws come out.
Step 4: Check the seat orientation - The flat, beveled edge is the front. The rounded edge is the rear. Position the new seat the same way.
Step 5: Slide in the new seat - Line up the pilot holes with the holes in the metal frame. To replace a cane chair seat, make sure the cane weave direction matches the original for a consistent look across your chair set.
Step 6: Fasten the screws - Screw in all four to secure the seat. Some seats need a slight flex of the steel frame to align the holes. A second set of hands helps here.
Pro tip: Do not fully tighten any screw until all four are started. This gives you room to adjust the seat position before final tightening.
Watch the Full Video Guide
See the full process in this short video from Seats and Stools:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the pencil-mark step: Eyeballing hole placement is the fastest way to end up with a crooked back. Take the extra 30 seconds to mark.
- Tightening screws too early: Get all four in loosely first. Then tighten.
- Ordering parts that do not match original specifications: Cane, wood insert, and upholstered are three different products. Verify which one your chair uses and confirm the dimensions match before you buy.
- Ignoring seat orientation: The flat, beveled edge faces forward. Install it backward, and the seat will look off.
- Forcing the wrong screws: Reuse your originals or order Breuer-specific replacements. Generic screws often will not seat properly in the frame.
When to Buy a New Chair Instead
Sometimes a replacement seat and back is not enough. Consider a new chair if:
- The tubular steel frame is bent, cracked, or rusted through
- Multiple structural pieces are missing
- The cantilever curve has lost its shape
For a full replacement, browse our Breuer Cesca Chairs and Breuer Cesca Bar Stools collections.
Find Genuine Breuer Chair Replacement Parts at Seats and Stools
Seats and Stools carries the largest selection of Breuer Cesca chair replacement parts in North America. Our cane and wood insert replacements are made in Italy from premium materials including European beechwood and machine-woven cane, with five wood finishes to match your original frame. Our fully upholstered seats and backs are made in the USA. Every breuer chair replacement seat and back comes with a 1-year warranty, and detailed installation instructions ship with every order. Order just the seat, just the back, or both to finish a complete restoration.
Browse the full Breuer Cesca Chair Replacement Seats & Parts collection, or contact our team if you need help matching parts to your chair.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to replace a Breuer chair seat and back?
Most people finish the job in 5 to 15 minutes per chair with a Phillips head screwdriver or cordless drill.
Do I need special tools?
No. A powered Phillips head screwdriver is the best tool for the job and what we recommend. A cordless drill with a Phillips head bit also works well. A pencil helps you mark the new hole placement, and a builder's level makes aligning the back easier.
Can I reuse the old screws?
Yes, in most cases the original screws work fine on the new seat and back. If yours are worn or missing, we sell Breuer replacement screws individually.
Will your breuer chair replacement seats fit my vintage chair?
Our breuer chairs replacement seats are built to standard Cesca dimensions and fit both original tubular frames and modern reproductions. Cane and wood insert seats measure 18 3/8" W x 16 3/8" D, and fully upholstered seats measure 18 3/8" W x 17" D. If your chair uses non-standard measurements, contact our team and we can help match a fit.
How do I know if my chair uses cane, wood insert, or upholstered inserts?
Cane looks like woven natural fibers set in a wood frame. A wood insert is a solid wood or vinyl panel inside a wood frame. "Upholstered" means fabric or vinyl over foam padding. Look at the seat and back of your existing chair to identify the style.
How much does a Breuer replacement seat cost compared to a new chair?
A Breuer cane replacement seat or back runs $60 to $125.98. A wood insert is $78.99. An upholstered replacement runs $66.99 to $154.98. A new Breuer Cesca side chair starts around $195, so replacement parts save you money while keeping the chair you already own.
Can I order just a Breuer chair back replacement or just the seat?
Yes. Our breuer replacement seats and backs are sold individually or as a pair. Order a cesca chair back replacement if only the back is damaged, a cesca chair replacement seat for a damaged seat, or both together for a full refresh.
Can I re-cane an existing Breuer seat myself?
Hand-caning is possible but slow work that requires practice and specialty tools. Most homeowners are better off ordering a pre-caned replacement that arrives ready to install.