Homecrest patio furniture: swivel rockers, straps and slings

Homecrest began in Wadena, Minnesota in 1953, when Mert Bottemiller and Al Engelmann set out to build a better hassock. Bottemiller’s swivel rocker mechanism, patented in 1956, became the foundation of the company’s outdoor line, and Homecrest still builds aluminum, steel and cast frames in Wadena. On a Homecrest piece the first things to wear are the swivel rocker parts, the straps or slings, and the finish. We are independent, not a Homecrest dealer or service center.

What fails first on Homecrest furniture

• Swivel rocker mechanisms. Spring plates fatigue, bushings wear and swivels pick up grit. A squeak, a lean or a clunk are the signs. See swivel and rocker repair and swivel rocker squeaking or stuck.
• Glider bearing hangers. Homecrest’s published warranty lists glider bearing hangers separately, a sign they are a known wear part.
• Vinyl strapping. Covered for three years against discoloration or breakage in Homecrest’s published residential terms; after that, sun-stiffened straps are a restrap.
• Slings and cushions. Sling and cushion fabric carries short warranties too. See sling replacement and replacement cushions.
• Painted finish. Five years against peeling, flaking or blistering when maintained per Homecrest’s care instructions.

Homecrest warranty notes

From a published Homecrest warranty document:

Warranty terms change, registration may be required, and failing to follow the care instructions voids coverage, so check the current terms with Homecrest or your retailer before paying for repair on a newer set.

Typical Homecrest repair prices

All per-piece ranges match the pricing page.

Keeping a Homecrest rocker quiet

Silicone spray on the moving parts a few times a season, tightening the mounting bolts when you feel play, and rinsing out dust after a monsoon storm keep a swivel rocker running smoothly far longer.

Homecrest’s current warranty page

Homecrest’s own warranty page today lists slightly different and fuller terms than the older dealer copy above:

Labor is not included on replacements, and Homecrest asks owners to register the product within 60 days of purchase to activate coverage. That one-year line on mechanisms is why a swivel rocker repair is usually out of warranty even on a fairly new chair: the frame may be covered for fifteen years, but the moving parts underneath are covered for one.

What Homecrest’s care guide says

Homecrest is unusually specific. It says never to power wash the frame or the fabric. It suggests clear liquid car wax on aluminum frames at least once a year, and fine steel wool and thin coats of paint for nicks. For vinyl straps and rims it gives two tablespoons of mild liquid soap per gallon of warm water, toothpaste for scuff marks, and a list of things to avoid: solvents, janitorial cleaners, alcohol-based products, bleach, gasoline and ammonia, all of which can discolor the vinyl. For PVC sling fabric it allows a cup of chlorine bleach per three gallons of water with strong detergent, rinsed well.

Parts for the mechanism

Swivel base repair kits sold for Homecrest chairs include nylon and metal washers, wire clip pins, castle nuts, nylon retainer rings and ball bearings. That tells you what wears: the small bearing and washer stack, more often than the spring itself. When we repair a swivel rocker we look at that stack first.

Getting a quote

Send a photo of the underside of the seat showing the mechanism, a photo of the whole chair, and any Homecrest label or product code. Homecrest’s warranty uses the product code, so it is worth finding.