If you’ve ever had to buy a sofa, chances are you’ve come across two virtually identical looking sofas at very different prices. It is normal that some doubts arise as to why the price of one is higher than the other if they are two apparently identical sofas. The answer is very simple: it depends on the quality. In today’s article we want to show you how to measure the quality of a sofa and what to consider when choosing one.
Sofas are divided into different parts, such as the structure, the seat support and the padding. These three parts not only determine the comfort level of a sofa, but also the ability to maintain its shape and stability in the future.
To define the quality of a sofa, its parts must be analyzed one by one.
The structure of a sofa will determine its resistance over time. A quality sofa will always have a strong and resistant structure.
This is what must be taken into account when analyzing the structure of a sofa:
The best structure is one that is made of kiln-dried
kiln-dried wood
. This type of wood is kiln-dried to eliminate all traces of moisture in the wood, which means that it retains its shape, strength and stability for much longer.
Structures made of
green wood
(that which has been recently cut and contains a high amount of moisture) may shrink or crack over the years.
In the manufacture of a good quality structure, the joints receive special attention. For greater strength, they are glued, nailed and screwed. Corners are usually further reinforced by adding reinforcing lugs for added support and strength.
Structures made of plywood and particleboard frames are of inferior quality, and even more so if they are held together with staples.
From what you can see, the construction of a sofa’s frame matters as much as choosing the right material.
Cushioning is quite an important component in determining the quality of a sofa.
Before jumping into buying any sofa, always check its quality by sitting on it. They should not sag and should provide good seat and back support.
The most common seat support options are:
Zig-zag springs are “S” shaped springs that run from the front of the seat to the backrest.
These springs are supported by additional cables that cross horizontally from side to side. These crosses allow the seat to be strong, firm and give it great durability.
The webbing suspension is one in which the webbing bands pass through the seat and backrest. These are attached to the structure to form a platform for the cushions.
On higher quality sofas, it is used with a tensioner that holds the webbing securely to the frame.
These girths can be rubber, elastic or Nea. Rubber belts resemble car tires and are highly resistant, although they are less and less used.
Elastic webbing consists of a large number of rubber threads covered with a textile band. They are usually cheaper and offer lower resistance.
Nea’s webbing is attached to the frame perpendicularly and not interlocked. They are stretched by a machine that positions and fixes them to the frame.
The most common filler is high density polyurethane. The higher the density, the firmer the cushion.
The foam may be wrapped in a softer material or cotton to make it softer. Dacron-wrapped foam is the cheapest option, but it will not last as long.
Lower quality foam can begin to break down fairly quickly, causing the seat to sink. This sagging causes the tissue not to remain taut.
On the other hand, are feather cushions. These cushions are one of the best options, as they are usually the most comfortable. As you can imagine, this is also the least economical option.
The high quality cushions have a down-proof fabric under the upholstery fabric to prevent feathers from peeking out. Down-filled cushions require a lot of maintenance and may need daily attention.
Down used in combination with other materials is also a good option, but it is another uneconomical option.
These cushions can also be used with foam-wrapped springs. High-density foam surrounds the springs, which in turn are wrapped in down cushions. The result is a smooth surface with a strong and resistant support inside.
This is a good option, since the cushions do not lose their shape easily.
Receive news and offers
