The survey also asked if they or their customers would ever consider refurbishing any of the major types of office furniture. The consensus wasn't overly enthusiastic. Systems furniture is the most likely candidate for refurbishing, mentioned by about three-quarters of dealers, designers and facility managers from large companies and about half of facility managers from small companies. Seating is the next best, mentioned by two-thirds of designers and half of dealers and facility managers.
Designers are the strongest proponents of refurbishing.
When respondents were asked how long they expected products to last before needing refurbishment, they placed the outer limit at about a decade. Averaging the projections of dealers, designers and facility managers for each major furniture category results in the conclusion that storage and freestanding furniture can be expected to last about 10 years before needing refurbishment. New systems furniture should last about nine years, while new seating is only expected to go about seven. But if you're not willing to spend a lot for your chair, you probably won't have to spend any more than you did last year-or the year before. The story is similar for systems work stations.