Often, upholstered furniture becomes uncomfortable over time. Dimples or bumps appear on your favorite sofa. The reason for this is poor quality filler or improper use of the furniture. If the item is of good quality, you should not get rid of it. It can be restored, it is enough to buy new filler, change the upholstery material, select the right tools and spend a little time. The main thing is to choose the right foam rubber.
This type of filler is often used in the production of upholstered furniture - armchairs, sofas, mattresses. The filling of the furniture is of primary importance, as it will determine how convenient and comfortable you are.
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How to choose the right foam rubber for a sofa?
In order for the sofa to serve for a long time after restoration, it is necessary to decide which filler is best suited for repair work. Foam rubber must meet the conditions.
- The quality should be the same as the previous filler or higher.
The process of replacing the filler in a sofa - If you are going to use the sofa for sleeping, you should take foam rubber at least 4 cm thick.
Only a single piece of foam rubber can be used to make a sofa. - The optimal density is 30 kg per cubic meter, this will ensure the elasticity of the foam rubber for a long time. The upholstery and filler for the armrests and backrest should be replaced at the same time as the seat. In this case, the quality of the foam rubber may be lower, and you will save money.
Density refers to the weight of one cubic meter of material when it is in an uncompressed state.
Density has been discussed above, and such parameters as hardness and softness are selected individually.
There are several types of filler.
- Having increased hardness.
- Solid.
- Soft.
- Increased elasticity with orthopedic properties.
- Increased elasticity, providing greater comfort.
If you are buying furniture as a sleeping place, choose the last two of the listed types. They will be a little more expensive, but are ideal for sleeping.
Main quality indicators of furniture foam rubber
The quality and purpose of foam rubber are greatly influenced by subsequent physiological qualities.
- Filler density – the higher it is, the longer the service life of the material.
- Compressive stress - the standard value in kPa under compression should be 40%.
- Strength - this property is tested for tensile strength and elongation.
- Resilience is a value proportional to rigidity and is measured according to the rebound height at the time of testing.
- Residual deformation – when after the load is removed the surface quickly takes its original shape; the greater the compaction, the less the material deforms.
Of all the options, the most interesting is foam rubber, which has “shape memory” - Comfort, comfort and support factors – remains soft with slight compression, load is distributed evenly.
Note. The filler brand definition contains letters indicating its class and numbers – the first two indicate its density, the next two – compression strength. For example, the EL 2535 brand means: EL – high rigidity brand, 25 – density of 25 kg per cubic meter, 35 – compression strength of 3.5 kPa.
Purpose of different brands of furniture foam
There are a large number of brands of filler, which allows not only ordinary buyers but also furniture manufacturers to make the right choice. Let's consider the main ones.
| ST – normal (density is 16-35 kg per cubic meter) | Due to the low price, most manufacturers use it directly. But the service life of such filler will be a year. Such furniture is suitable for a summer house. |
| EL – high rigidity (density – 25-40 kg per cubic meter) | The filler should not be used for upholstered furniture. |
| HL – solid (density – 25-40 kg per cubic meter) | This type is used for office and home furniture. Suitable for those who prefer to relax on a hard surface. This filler cannot be used for children. |
| HS – soft (density – 20-45 kg per cubic meter) | Furniture with such filling is used for relaxation and as a sleeping place. |
| HR – high elasticity (density – 30-50 kg per cubic meter) | Ideal for upholstered furniture. Foam rubber has a second name - artificial latex, since this component is added during its production. |
| HR* – increased elasticity with a high level of comfort (density – 30-55 kg per cubic meter) | The most optimal option for the production of upholstered furniture. |
Features of upholstery of upholstered furniture
Furniture becomes unsuitable for further use during operation, and it is not always possible to buy new furniture. Mostly, upholstery wears out, fades, tears – it all depends on the quality of the material. Sofas trimmed with leatherette can become unusable within a few months. What to do in such a situation?
Today, such a service as restoration of upholstered furniture at the owner's home is widely available, so you can make a new one from an old sofa. After all, you will not only change the upholstery, but also repair many parts.
If you have a pet that has damaged the upholstery material, this problem can be solved in the above way. Of course, the work of a specialist is not a cheap pleasure. You can replace the upholstery yourself. As a rule, each part is worked with separately. If you are not satisfied with these options, you can buy a special cover for furniture in stores - this will preserve the original coating and increase its service life.
Of course, any things should be treated carefully, so if various stains appear, we try to remove them immediately. But this is not always the case, especially when there are small children in the house. It is much easier to care for furniture with leather upholstery than for textiles - this material has water-repellent properties. Therefore, at the time of cleaning, it is enough to wipe with a cloth.
From this article you learned a lot about foam rubber, if you decide to change the filler in your sofa, you will not have any trouble choosing a suitable option.
