According to a recent survey, most consumers expect the couch they bought to last for 3-5 years only. Although the study results and findings are accurate, you might be surprised by the actual reason behind this, such a short lifespan of couches. While shopping for a new sofa, what do most of us probably ask the seller? Most customers show concern over the weakness or firmness of the frame, fabric, and structure.
How to Pick a Couch that Will Last
Here is the conflict, as most comfortable couches with low-quality frames last longer than the others. The things that made you decide regarding replacing your cushioned sofas are probably the sofas that face wear and tears after some time.
The exciting thing is replacing your cushion is a somewhat challenging and expensive task. As mostly, retailers and manufacturers have no cushion replacement policy, and if you go to the upholsterer, it will be expensive.
About Couch Cushions
So the most crucial thing to consider while buying a cushioned sofas is to check the cushion construction and choose the cushioned sofas with durable cushions. There are three types of cushions available in the market.
- Foam
- Coil springs
- Feathers or down
From the types mentioned earlier, foam cushions are most common and come in various sizes and densities. The typically available thicknesses range from 1.5 to 2.5, where the number indicates the weight of 1 cubic foot of foam.
Once the density of the foam is decided, next comes the firmness of the foam. The firmness in a cushion can range from very soft to very firm. When it comes to the durability of foam, we go for the thickness and density.
Firm Couch Cushions
The quality of foam can be determined by the High Resiliency or HR factor. It determines how a foam regains its original shape after use. Mostly the customer relates the firmness of foam with quality. However, no matter how firm your cushion is, it will lose its firmness after some time if the density is not here.
Cushions for residential furniture usually have a density range of 1.5 to 2.0. Most manufacturers use highly-dense foam for the seats and low-density foam for the back or arm padding. The price of the furniture rises with the density of the foam.
We can witness the thickness ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 for inexpensive residential furniture. However, the table for institutional or commercial use is usually made with a 3.0 or higher foam density. Cushions with dense foam are more expensive than others, whereas the foam caste’s firmness has no impact on the price.
In the US, the most typical density is 1.8, and if your furniture is claiming to be highly dense without any tag, it will be 1.8. the core of foam is wrapped in Dacron polyester fiber and 4″ to 6″ thick. The fiber sheet is itself 0.5 to 1.5 inches thick, which enhances the softness of the foam.
If you opt for a 4″ thick foam with a density of 1.8 and HR, then it is going to last for two years, and after that, it will lose its shape. However, a 5″ thick foam with HR and 1.8 density will stay by your side for three years, and after that, it starts losing the bouncing back facility.
During the manufacturing process, the foam density might face a variation of 0.1, resulting in foam or cushion with density 1.7 or 1.9 rather than 1.8.
If you think about the budget and want to purchase a cheaper foam with 1.5 density, it will start deteriorating after one year.
Couches with Thick Cushions
The thickness of the foam does not determine whether the cushion or foam bear the use and weight. So the manufacturers tend to wrap the side of the cushion with polyester fiber! The cheap cushions usually use several inches thick layer of polyester fiber, which gets compressed with use. However, if you are making expensive furniture for institutional or commercial use, it only contains 1 to 1.5 inches of polyester fiber.
In low-quality cushions, the manufacturer tends to use 3″ of fiber on both sides. However, the fiber provides the necessary thickness but will lose its shape with use and only lasts for one year.
Check the cushions for quality before opting for any furniture. Most of the high priced furniture use thick higher density foam with a density of 2.0 for their couches.
Moreover, cushions with coil springs are also available in the market. The coil spring is surrounded by 1.5 or 1.8 inches dense foam and padded on the top for extra firmness. The coil and foam-based cushions make their mark in the market by offering highly durable furniture that lasts more than five years.
Down Cushions in Couches
As far as the down/feathers are concerned, they are also used to pad the coil springs. In the coil spring cushions, a layer of feather/down is used to provide the extra soft padding. Along with using foam and feathers, other options for padding a spring coil cushion is also available, including memory foam and polyester fiber.
Further comes the blended cushions that take more than one padding type and combine to deliver the ultimate softness and durability. The down blend cushions are examples of hybrid cushions in which manufacturers use down/feathers and foam to provide softness and durability in one platter. The blending compensates for the short lifespan of feather padding with solid padding of dense foam.
Also, feathers/down can also be used with coil springs, as mentioned earlier. In the mixture, there are 95% feathers and 5% down because it is rather expensive. However, in the elite, expensive furniture manufacture, the manufacturer tends to add more down as it offers more softness and plush than feathers.
Pure down or feather cushions have played a significant role in décor in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. However, the down/feather cushions come with zero resilience, so you have to fluff them by yourself every time you stand up from the cushion. Retailers and manufacturers tend to exclude cushions from warranties.
Are Couch Cushions Covered by Warranty?
No matter how expensive and right furniture you purchase, if the cushion fails, no one is going to accept your warranty claim. For the manufacturers, the cushions go through normal wear and tear after some time and thus doesn’t need to be cover in warranty. If you are thinking about claiming a cushion warranty, you, unfortunately, will not have any luck.
Always purchase furniture after confirming the quality of the cushion. Pick up the furniture that comes with durable and reliable cushions. If you have given the option of choosing between the excellent quality cushion and furniture, always select the cushion.
How to Test Cushions While Buying
If you are thinking about buying a cushioned sofas, check the cushions by picking them up. If the cushions feel light, then the furniture you are looking at might have a short life span. However, if the cushion is sturdy and heavy, it will give you full value for your money.
So this is what you may need to know about choosing a couch! Make a choice and select the product wisely. Do you have any questions and suggestions? Do let us know.
