Quality classroom furniture is the key to safe, engaging, and functional learning environments. For early childhood directors and administrators like yourself, furniture replacement and repairs often fall on your shoulders, and the decision is not always easy.
When deciding whether furniture repairs are enough, or a complete replacement is needed, you must consider several factors, such as safety, budget constraints, and the potential impact on your classroom’s overall appearance and functionality. You can often fix wear and tear with an easy repair, such as tightening a loose screw. On the other hand, you may need to replace items that have structural damage or are outdated to meet safety guidelines and compliance standards. Deciding between furniture repairs and replacements is not always straightforward.
This article will share key considerations for determining whether to repair or replace your classroom furniture. It will help you make decisions that will fit your budget, keep your classrooms safe, and ensure you create environments that support the success of every child.
Read next: 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Furniture for Your Classroom
How do you assess the maintenance requirements of your early childhood classroom furniture?
The early childhood classroom is a fast-paced environment full of children exploring, testing, and experimenting as they play and learn. It stands to reason that even the most durable pieces of classroom furniture will find themselves worn, wobbly, or broken at some point. You will know it is time to consider repairing or replacing it when you notice:
- Furniture issues that impact the safety of young children or educators
- Worn items that downgrade the aesthetic appeal of your classrooms or facility
- Items that no longer function as they should
When should you repair classroom furniture?
Damage does not immediately mean you should discard the furniture. You can fix minor wear and tear, such as scratches, loose screws, and even faded paint yourself, restoring the lifespan of your classroom furniture.
If you notice a broken component on a piece of furniture, assess whether you can remove it without affecting the quality or safety of the item. For example, removing a broken coat hook from a storage locker or a severely scratched mirror from a shelving unit may be a better solution than replacing the entire piece.
Repairing furniture instead of replacing it is a more sustainable and budget-friendly option. Plus, when you repair furnishings yourself, children and educators can get back to using essential classroom furnishings faster. If making repairs yourself, please ensure the fixes will meet your center and state’s quality and licensing standards.
To make repairing classroom furniture quick and easy, keep the Allen wrench and any other tools that come with your furniture on hand. Some furniture items such as tables, easels, cribs, and chairs may require more frequent inspections and tightening of screws. We suggest routinely inspecting your furnishings once per month to stay on top of needed repairs.
When should you replace classroom furniture?
Whether it’s due to years of constant wear and tear or furnishings that no longer meet your needs, there will come a time when you need to replace shelving units, tables, chairs, and other classroom furnishings. For example, if an item has structural damage that compromises safety or is too costly or impractical to repair, it is time to toss it out and order a new unit. Suppose you realize that your current classroom furnishings no longer meet the needs of children in your care or modern-day education. In that case, replacing those items may be more practical instead of repairing or repurposing them.
Please note, when we use the term “replace” in this article, that does not necessarily mean you purchase the exact same item that is broken or worn. In fact, when the need arises for replacement furnishings, this a great time to purchase something new that may better fit your needs.
If you are replacing furniture which you purchased from Kaplan, please check your product warranties before ordering a new unit. Depending on coverage, the cost of your replacement may be covered.
When replacing classroom furnishings by buying new items, it can take several weeks to get your classroom in working order as you wait for items to ship to your facility. This downtime may require rearranging or adjusting your existing classroom furnishings, potentially impacting classroom aesthetics and teaching practices. Keep this in mind as you consider whether a furniture repair or replacement is best for you.
How can you prolong the life of your classroom furniture?
To ensure your classroom furnishings last for years to come, routinely inspect pieces for any signs of wear, tear, loose screws, or other signs of damage and make necessary repairs right away. When moving furniture around the classroom, be careful not to drag tables or storage units across the floor. This could affect structural components, especially if they snag on a classroom carpet or flooring transition. We recommend using the right tools and multiple people when moving furniture to decrease the risk of damage.
When inspecting your classroom furniture, remove any worn items as quickly as possible to prevent further damage that may be irreparable and to avoid potential harm to children and staff. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing to keep furniture varnish or exterior coating intact, decreasing the chances of scratches, stains, and scuff marks.
What is the best way to budget for repairs and replacements?
Creating a budget for furniture repairs and replacements can help shoulder the financial burden on your early childhood program when the time comes to make these decisions. Product warranties and grant funding may cover the entire expense associated with a furniture replacement project. However, for repairs, you may need to pay out of pocket for items like new screws or child-safe wood stains. To budget for any required expenses:
- Make room in your annual budget for potential furniture maintenance or upgrades
- Compare the costs of repairs versus product replacements before making your final decision on steps moving forward
- Prioritize repairs and replacements based on the pieces your classroom cannot function without
When choosing classroom furnishings, quality matters!
The quality and durability of your classroom furniture is critical to the safety and quality of your early childhood environments. To prevent the headache of constant repairs and replacements, look for furnishings made with quality materials that also include excellent warranty coverage. Kaplan is committed to quality and durability, so our customers face minimal disruptions due to furniture repairs and replacements. Read the article: Kaplan Furniture and Product Warranties: Coverage, Benefits, and More to learn more about our warranty coverage.
If you have questions specific to our classroom furniture products or would like to request a replacement item, please contact your local Kaplan sales representative. 
