Quality Assurance in Refurbished Office Furniture: What Standards Should You Expect as a Facilities Manager?

Ida Gorecka • April 9, 2025

Did you know premium office chairs are designed to last 15+ years, yet most are replaced every 5? As a facilities manager balancing workspace planning, budget, and sustainability goals, you're constantly challenged to deliver quality affordably. What if you could cut furniture costs in half without compromising quality or ESG targets?


Today's refurbished office furniture isn't what you might imagine. Modern refurbishment transforms quality second-hand pieces to look and perform like new, while saving money and reducing your carbon footprint.


How can you ensure you're getting genuine quality when choosing refurbished pieces? Let's break down what you should expect when sourcing second-hand office furniture for your next project.

Why Premium Office Furniture Brands Make the Best Refurbishment Candidates

Quality office furniture from manufacturers like Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Vitra is built to last decades, not years. These premium brands use strong materials and modular designs specifically created for future refurbishment and heavy use.


Look inside a quality office chair during refurbishment, and you'll find that even after years of use, the core mechanisms often work well and are in need of only minor repairs. The gas lifts, tilt mechanisms, and structural components - the parts that matter - usually have plenty of life left.


This longevity explains why a refurbished Herman Miller Aeron can deliver the same ergonomic benefits and durability as a new model at a lower price. In fact, the Aeron was specifically designed with 94% recyclable materials and modular construction to enable future refurbishment.


Your perfect refurbished Aeron is waiting in our warehouse right now. Click here to browse our collection of expertly restored second-hand office chairs waiting for their new home.

The Refurbishment Process: How Quality Second-Hand Office Furniture Becomes Like-New

At Coggin SOS, we approach office furniture refurbishment like restoring a premium car - every component gets thoroughly checked, tested, and either restored or replaced. 


Here's what happens when a piece of second-hand office furniture enters our workshop:


1. Complete Disassembly & Inspection - Each piece is taken apart, with every component individually assessed.


2. Thorough Cleaning - All surfaces are deep-cleaned using industrial-grade processes.


3. Mechanical Restoration - Moving parts like gas lifts, levers, and mechanisms are tested and either repaired or replaced.


4. Cosmetic Renewal - Fabric is replaced, scratches removed, and surfaces refinished to original manufacturer specifications.


5. Quality Testing - Each piece undergoes rigorous functional testing before receiving our 12-month guarantee.


When a chair or desk leaves our workshop, it's ready for years of reliable daily use. Every mechanism, adjustment feature and surface is brought back to original specifications.


Wondering if refurbished office furniture is right for you? Read this guide to find out!

Common Misconceptions About Refurbished Office Furniture Quality

Many facilities managers initially worry about the quality of refurbished office furniture. Let's address the most common concerns:


"Refurbished means lower quality" - Actually, older second-hand refurbished items from premium brands can be better quality than many new budget options. They've already proven their durability by withstanding years of use, while many newer budget items start deteriorating within months.


"It won't last as long as new" - Premium office furniture is designed for a 15-20 year lifespan. After professional refurbishment, these pieces typically deliver another 10+ years of service - far longer than most businesses keep their furniture.


"Staff will notice it's not new" - At Coggin SOS, our refurbishment process restores furniture to such high standards that most people can't tell the difference between new and our refurbished pieces. 


Still have questions? Contact us today and we'll explain how our refurbished pieces match new quality at half the cost.


Is cheap office furniture actually costing your business more? Find out in this article why it’s better to choose quality refurbished options.

Making the Best Possible Office Furniture Choice for Your Facility

As a facilities manager, your decisions impact workspace quality, budget efficiency, and ESG targets. By choosing refurbished office furniture from Coggin SOS, you can excel in all three areas without compromise.


Our quality standards ensure you receive furniture that:


  • Performs like new
  • Looks professional
  • Comes with a 12-month guarantee
  • Saves you money and time
  • Supports your sustainability targets


Want to see how much you could save while maintaining premium quality standards? Contact our team today for a no-obligation assessment of your furniture needs.

Why Buying Cheap Costs More: The Long-Term Value of Quality Refurbished Furniture

By Ida Gorecka • July 30, 2025
You’re in the middle of planning an office space. Budgets are tight. Lead times are short. It’s tempting to type “cheap office chairs” into your browser and find something that fits the spreadsheet. But here’s the problem: cheap furniture is rarely cheap in the long run . The market is saturated with budget desks, chairs, and storage that look good online, but fall apart in practice. And when they do, they cost more - more to replace, more to dispose of, more to fix (if that’s even possible), and more in lost time and productivity. It’s a vicious cycle that undermines your budget, timeline, and any potential ESG goals. According to WRAP , the UK disposes of over 200,000 tonnes of office furniture every year - much of it barely used. When furniture fails quickly, so does your investment. In a commercial setting, that failure shows up in missed deadlines, spiralling budgets, and sustainability goals slipping out of reach. So before you hit "order" on another bulk buy of flat-packed furniture, take a moment. In this article, you'll learn the hidden costs of cheap office furniture and why refurbished premium office furniture is the smarter alternative. If you're looking to reduce hassle, save money, and build a workspace that actually lasts, keep on reading. Need help getting started? Get in touch with our team for advice, audits, or to browse our refurbished stock .

Refurbished Office Furniture Saves Overbury Over £2000 on Site Setup Costs

By Ida Gorecka • July 18, 2025
Anyone who's worked in construction knows that site setup costs can quickly spiral. For Overbury , one of the UK's leading fit-out and refurbishment specialists, managing these costs while maintaining professional standards is a constant balancing act. When setting up their latest construction site office, they faced a challenge familiar to many in the industry: creating a functional workspace quickly and cost-effectively. After seeing what we achieved together on their previous project, Overbury approached us with clear priorities - they needed a professional office setup delivered on a construction timeline. With tight deadlines to meet and costs to manage, they needed their office space ready quickly while avoiding the expense and environmental impact of buying new office furniture. Like many construction projects, this one came with complex requirements - specific layouts, tight timelines, and budget constraints - yet Overbury knew from experience that refurbished office furniture could deliver exactly what they needed.

From Purchase to Repurpose: How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Office Furniture

By Ida Gorecka • July 16, 2025
If you're managing an office move, refit, or hybrid transition, you've likely faced this question: do we buy new furniture, or make use of what we have? Every year, over 1.2 million desks and 1.8 million office chairs are sent to landfill in the UK- enough to fill Wembley Stadium twice. ( Source: WRAP ) With Landfill Tax raised to £126.15 per tonne in April 2025 (S ource: UK Government ), the cost of disposing office furniture is increasing fast. If you’re trying to balance budgets , meet ESG goals , and minimise downtime , choosing refurbishment over replacement could be the most strategic decision you make this year. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get more from what you already own. Saving thousands, supporting your ESG goals, and creating a more flexible, future-proof workspace. Got a project coming up? Get in touch and we’ll help you explore your refurbishment options.