The sofa creaks: how to fix it?

The sofa is the most popular piece of furniture in city apartments, so its normal performance characteristics are important. The sound produced by furniture under load can be very annoying to owners. Sometimes creaking is typical for a new product when the joints are poorly adjusted, sometimes it appears after long-term use. In each individual case, there is a reason for the “musicality” of the item.

When you decide to find out why your sofa creaks, you need to gain some knowledge about the structure you are dealing with. The cause could be a spring block rusted by moisture, or wood dried out over time, and much more.

Creaking sounds of wooden structures

If an old wooden sofa creaks, there may be several reasons.

The most likely of them are:

• drying out of any part and the appearance of cracks;
• the spring block is deformed or one of the springs is bent (broken).

Wood loses its elasticity over time. Its structure changes. While some types of wood are resistant to moisture (for example, aspen), others can be quite fragile and quickly fail. Much also depends on the correct use and care of the product. One panel or all wooden parts can dry out if normal humidity conditions were not observed during use or the furniture was exposed to direct sunlight.

The reason may also be loose (or too tight) fastenings. The sofa then makes a characteristic grinding sound. It is also possible that the batting or other soft upholstery material laid for softness has become thinner and other deformations have occurred.

If old wooden furniture creaks, then the spring block or its parts will need to be replaced. The first is preferable, since we are talking about wear of the material as a whole, and then another spring or section may break. Connecting individual links in this case is quite a labor-intensive job.

One of the reasons may be the wear of the soft gasket material. Over time, due to humidity, they could rot and turn into dust, creating access for the connecting elements to each other, which is why the creaking occurred.

A very old product is a little more difficult to fix. To determine the exact cause, the sofa should be carefully disassembled. It is likely that replacing the elements or lubrication will be enough. Otherwise, you may need to buy new furniture.

Creaking sounds of metal structures

If the sofa has a metal structure, then most often one of the connection sections creaks. Perhaps the spring block or one of its rings-links has broken. Ordinary subsidence is also possible. The cause is often the fastening defects - rusted or loose bolts.

When metal furniture creaks, you also need to check the lubrication level. A sofa can make an unpleasant sound if it is not level.

The reason for the defect is also the deformation of the supporting structure. The sofa may have sagging side parts or corners due to long-term loads.

Necessary materials

If you find that your sofa creaks a lot, you can fix it at home. The following will be useful for repairs:

• upholstery material;
• batting or other soft lining material;
• springs (or a whole block);
• PVA glue;
• plywood board;
• metal corners, etc.;
• bolts and other types of suitable fasteners;
• staples.

The sofa can be repaired using various materials not listed, as each model is individual.

Necessary tools

When upholstered furniture (sofa), wooden or metal, creaks, it is necessary to arm yourself with tools. The main auxiliary means will be:

• screwdriver set (screwdriver with replaceable bits);
• construction stapler;
• pliers.

The sofa must be disassembled before work. It is necessary to examine the internal condition of the furniture and determine the location of the creaking sound.

Repair process: step-by-step instructions

To correct the defect that has arisen, prepare the tools. Be prepared for the fact that it will be necessary to replace the seat upholstery with a new one, since the edges of the old one under the staples or nails will “wear out” over time. When replacing the spring block, take care of its selection according to size in advance.

1. Unscrew the fasteners, assess their condition: is there rust or worn threads, are they well adjusted and tightened. If any damage is detected, replace the bolts and other fastening elements that have failed with new ones. A corroded block must definitely be replaced, since the rust has already damaged the structure of the metal, making it brittle. If the sound still remains, then look for the cause elsewhere.
2. A deformed spring block, if it is not broken or rusted, can be corrected with pliers by carefully squeezing the rings and tightening the fasteners on the side panels.
3. If the sofa has sagged and therefore creaks, renew the inside. If the batting, foam rubber or other cushioning material has become thin, replace it – due to the lack of friction, the sound will not be reproduced under load. The interlayer should be made thick enough so that the iron parts do not touch. A plywood interlayer placed under the spring block will provide greater stability. Having made the top pad from foam rubber or batting, carefully stretch the upholstery material and fasten it with staples using a stapler.
4. If the reason why the furniture creaks is dried out and cracked wood, then it is necessary to replace the part (panel or side board, back, armrests). Of course, you can use a durable adhesive, but there is no guarantee that the cracks will not go further. It is better to inspect the wooden sofa completely to detect gaps due to drying out. It is sometimes easier not to update worn material, but to buy a modern product to replace the old one.
5. When repairing a folding sofa, it is necessary to assess the condition of the transformation mechanism - the problem may be its malfunction. This can be fixed in two ways - by fixing the elements or replacing them completely.
6. If the creaking occurs due to unevenly positioned supports, then they should be adjusted in height. For this, you can use plastic plugs or other durable materials at hand.

Sometimes the creaking occurs due to friction of metal parts. In iron structures, the situation is saved by lubricating the elements with machine oil. Carefully drip it along the joints of the fasteners, trying not to let it touch the wooden parts and upholstery. Before adding lubricant, clean the surfaces from dust and grease stains.

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