REUPHOLSTERY

One of the best ways to make your project look and feel great is knowing about foam. Pick the wrong thing and your may feel you are sitting on a board or in a bucket. Chose the right foam, and you will add years to you comfort and the life of your furniture. Easily 25% of all furniture repairs I see deal with bad padding. The point is start with good foam and you won't be sorry. Although some might not want to be believe this, but cushion fill is one of the easiest things to understand in upholstery. There are only 2 simple things you should know.

Foam has 2 basic element Density and Firmness. Density or weight which is the first element and this tell you how much material goes into the product i.e. the more it weighs the higher the density and the higher the density the higher the weight. The second element tells you the firmness of the product. which is how much weight it takes to compress the foam 1/3. That is a 1 cubic foot block of foam will compress 1/3 when a weight equal to it firmness number is placed on the figure. These elements are expressed in numbers as Density / Firmness. Here is an example of two 15/15 and 29/52.Since we know what each set of numbers represents, Density / Firmness (or we can also say Weight / Firmness), we can figure out the destiny and firmness of our foam.15/30 = 1.5 pounds of padding per cubic foot will take 30 pounds of weight to compress the block 33% or 1/3. And 29/52 = 2.9 pounds per cubic foot and it will take 52 pounds of weight to compress this block 1/3. See not so hard as some might lead you to think. Now what does this mean to you and your furniture?

Here are some simple rules to consider to help guide us: For seats the thicker the padding the lower compression weight we want. For seats the thinner the foam the higher the compression weight we want. For seats we want a high density foam no less then 2.2 For backs we want a density no higher then 1.8 Make all our foam 1/2 inch bigger all the way around then your cover or pattern i.e. 4 inch boxing = 5 inch foam, 29 inch wide seat = 30 inch, 18 inch seat board = 19 inch foam and so on. This way you will have a nice tight seat. Always rap our foam in bonded dacron or fiber batting. I'll make it even simpler and let we know what destiny/firmness I would consider for my projects using the above information.

Seat: Dining room chairs 1.5 to 3 inch foam 29/52 Chair, Sofa, and love seat 4 to 5 inch 25/35, Chair, Sofa, and love seat 6 to 8 inches go 22/30.Note: These numbers are industry guides not rules. So there is some variation in numbers like 28/53 instead of 29/52 but basically the same thing. Just a mill change. Keep in mind we want the highest density you can get for the firmness we chose. In choosing high-density we add years to your comfort.Firm low-density products may go as little as a few weeks or months until we start to see or feel it losing it's comfort and shape. Hence most warranties do not cover "foam losing its shape or getting soft."

A Key Take Away: Padding that is low in weight, although firm, will not last or support as well as a high density softer padding. example: 25/35 will last years longer, in my real world expernce, then 10/35 for seats. It is literally days or months compared to years or decades. I upholstered a large set of Dr office waiting room chairs when I was an apprentice. We replaced the cover and the foam with 29/52 2 inch. Some 15 years later, I reupholstered the same chairs with new fabric but did not need to replace the foam. 15 years later it was still going strong. The Dr office may have saved $800.00 by having us install the right product for the job. This knowledge is way we can warranty quality seat cushions for 5 years. Knowing the numbers of density to firmness is the key. This is what we aren't supposed to understand. Density is the key to foam comfort and life.

Simply put, for seats, the higher the density the longer the life. What if we want for a back? Then here is a little guide we can reference. Backs: Firm back 18/18 Softback 15/15.
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If your favorite old sofa has lost that new look and feel, then consider replacing the cushion foam. This simple project can be completed in less than an hour and will have your couch looking and feeling like new again.

Sofa cushions contain a foam rubber insert that is typically manufactured from a polyurethane foam. Over time, the foam in your couch cushions starts to break down and lose that firm feeling. This breakdown is accelerated with frequent use. Your guests may appear to sit 'in' your couch, as opposed to 'on' your couch as the cushions sag under their weight.
There is a simple four step process that can be completed by almost anyone and will breathe new life back into your sofa.

Step 1 - Get accurate measurements of your existing cushions. You should obtain the length, width, and thickness of the cushions. If your cushions are not an exact square or rectangle, the longest edges should be measured. It is advisable to remove your foam from one of your cushions when obtaining these measurements to ensure accuracy.

Step 2 - Order the new foam. With your existing measurements in hand, you should have everything you need to determine what size cushion replacement foam you need to order. Be aware that you have the option of selecting different degrees of firmness for your new foam. Select a block of replacement foam that meets or exceeds the size of your existing cushions. Realize that one large six foot block of foam can be cut to size to accommodate multiple cushions.

Step 3 - Cut your replacement foam to size. Remove your old cushions from their covers. Lay these on top of the new replacement foam, and trace an outline around the edges with a marker. You now have a template that will allow you to cut your foam to the exact size and shape required. An electric carving knife is perfect for cutting ths foam and it can be done with ease. A standard sharp knife with a long blade can be used as well. Caution should always be used when handling sharp instruments. Make sure that your knife is perpendicular to the foam when cutting to ensure that your replacement cushions are square.

Step 4 - Stuffing the replacement foam into the cushion covers. If you are using a dacron fiber wrap, you will want to wrap the replacement foam now. Make sure that the ends of the dacron meet on the outside edges of the replacement foam to keep the fiber wrap seam from showing. Insert your cushion foam into the cushion cover. It may be necessary to compress the foam to get it back in. Once inserted, make sure that all the edges are square within the cushion cover.
This simple process of installing cushion replacement foam is outlined in more detail at CouchCushionReplacementFoam.com. We are professional online providers of discount cushion foam for interior sofas and chairs. We aggregate products from multiple suppliers to ensure that you find the best deal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Moore