Foam rubber for furniture: which one is better to use?

Features of quality material

To ensure that upholstered furniture does not lose its original properties over time, when purchasing, pay attention to the characteristics of the filler.

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In the first place is the density of foam rubber for a sofa, it should have an indicator of 22 kg/m3. In this case, the service life of the sofa will be long, the furniture will be able to withstand increased loads.

The second important indicator of quality is the thickness of the foam rubber for padding the sofa; it should be at least 4 cm.

Manufacturers who neglect standards, the quality of furniture is low, so its service life is significantly reduced.

Expensive upholstered furniture is made from highly elastic foam filling. This type of polyurethane foam has a multi-stage “layer cake” structure.

Expert opinion

Mikhailova Maria Vasilievna

Furniture store manager. Knows everything about comfort and interior design

In the classic version, it consists of a thin top sheet of low density and a lower layer, which is more elastic. The upper flooring has a high level of comfort, and the lower one provides reliable support.

Such foam rubber for sofas is expensive; it is in demand in furniture production, as it guarantees high quality products.

Sheet and roll foam rubber differ in softness and hardness. Products are:

Soft - this type of filler can be used in furniture only in combination with a dense foam base. This is the most plastic polyurethane foam (PPU), giving increased comfort to finished products. But it should be remembered that when using the material independently, the load created cannot exceed 60 kg.
Hard - hard, capable of withstanding loads of up to 100 kg.
Increased hardness - highly rigid polyurethane foam can withstand a weight of over 100 kg.
Elastic with increased comfort - this type of foam is better suited for upholstered furniture intended for sleeping. You can rest comfortably on such a surface.
Elastic with an orthopedic effect - the products are characterized by healing properties, as they reduce the load on all parts of the body.

Foam rubber with an orthopedic effect is “adapted” to each person individually, the main thing is to select the material for the consumer’s weight category.

Criteria for choosing foam rubber for a sofa

When choosing high-quality sofa foam , it is important to pay attention to the following parameters:

Density. It directly affects the duration of the operational period. The indicator received another name - “apparent density”, since the cellular structure of the sheet provides for the presence of air masses. Among other things, the density of furniture foam has a direct impact on compressive stress. For example, if it is 25 kg/m3, then this indicator should be equal to 4 kPa.
Elasticity, which affects the possibility of a comfortable position on the surface of the sofa. The parameter is determined using a special ball freely falling from a height. The farther it bounces from the foam filler sample, the less elasticity the base has.
Compressive stress - the value indicates the level of rigidity of the foam sheets. According to ISO 3386 DIN 5377, this indicator helps determine the force (kPa) applied to compress the sheet by 40%.
Residual deformation (distortion) - indicates the ability of the material to remain in its original parameters and shape throughout the entire operational period. The main requirement for furniture foam rubber is that it must have a low distortion rate.
Strength provides tensile strength and low elongation.
The comfort factor determines how pleasant it feels to touch a surface.
The support coefficient indicates the ability of the filler to hold its shape and distribute the generated loads.

Replacing foam rubber in a sofa is a rather expensive service, so it is better to initially overpay for high-quality and durable furniture, because, as you know, you cannot skimp on comfort.

Characteristics of rigidity and density decide everything

The catalog with foam rubber for furniture contains sheets of different hardness and density for you. To avoid making a mistake with your choice, pay attention to the following hardness MARKING:

ST – standard
EL – hard
HL – increased rigidity

Regarding DENSITY, a simple law applies: the higher this indicator, the longer the foam material will last without deformation = it will be more durable!

What density of polyurethane foam should I choose? Advice from experienced furniture makers

Furniture “filling” should be selected depending on the purpose - what you will fill.

For example: if sheets of polyurethane foam are needed to fill the mattress of a bed or a sleeping sofa, it is better to take the hardest ones, and for sitting the soft option is optimal.

Tip 1.

What density of foam do you need for a sofa? Definitely HIGH!

Choose 30-40 kg/m3 to fill the seat
22-30 kg/m3 is suitable for “stuffing” the backrest and armrests

Tip 2.

Do you need high density for a children's bed? NO. It is enough to buy sheets of foam rubber for furniture with an indicator of 25 kg/m3.

Tip 3.

Which is better: one thick sheet or several thin ones? Choose layers!

Several layers of polyurethane foam as furniture filler are preferable in terms of maintainability and less deformation.
For the bottom layer, buy dense material that has a high support coefficient. For the upper “floors”, sheet foam rubber from this catalog is suitable.

Let’s summarize which foam rubber is best to choose for a sofa and other furniture

These 4 points are worth paying attention to when you plan to buy sheet furniture polyurethane foam in Moscow and the Russian Federation:

Density. The higher the numbers, the longer it will last.
Rigidity. We have given the markings above.
Strength. Ask your consultants about these indicators (tear and stretch).
Elasticity. For furniture filler, the height of rebound after the influence of mass is important.

Features of upholstery of upholstered furniture

The internal filling of upholstered furniture is chosen taking into account the main purpose of the sofa. So, to use a sofa as a permanent sleeping place, choose a harder filling, and vice versa, for furniture used for sitting, choose more comfortable soft fillings.

To achieve optimal product comfort, furniture manufacturers often use multi-layer filling for sofas and mattresses. In this case, the bottom layer is foam rubber with a high support coefficient, and the top layer has a high comfort coefficient.

Main quality indicators of furniture foam rubber

The quality and purpose of foam rubber is influenced by its following physical properties:

density, the higher the density of the foam rubber, the longer its service life;
compressive stress, the magnitude of the force in kPa to compress the sample by 40%;
strength, tensile strength and elongation at break;
elasticity, a value inversely proportional to stiffness, measured by the height of the rebound during testing;
residual deformation, the ability to return to its original state after removing the load; the higher the density, the lower the residual deformation;
comfort, comfort and support coefficients - softness with low compression and ability to distribute load accordingly.

In the designation of foam rubber brands, the letters indicate the class of the material, the first two digits are its density, the remaining two digits are the compression stress.

Using the EL 2535 brand as an example, we can say that the material has the following properties:

EL – high-hardness grade;
25 – density 25 kg/m. cubic;
35 – compression stress 3.5 kPa;

Features of different brands

Latin letters and numbers are used to mark foam rubber. This is an established classification. By reading the labeling, you can get maximum useful information: purpose, characteristics, properties.

Manufacturing of armrests, headrests, decorative elements, seats (with mandatory consideration of the expected load)

Production of seats and mattresses, stiffness and density indicators are selected depending on the expected load

Suitable for making seats for sofas and sleeping places that are used intensively

Soft and ultra soft

It is used to make backrests for sofas and top covers for mattresses.

Used as a filler for the backs and seats of expensive furniture designed for long-term use

Marking is carried out according to three parameters: variety, density, hardness. If manufacturers offer material marked ST3542, this is standard polyurethane foam, the density of which is 35 kg/m 3 and the hardness is 4.2 kPa.

Polyurethane foam with a density below 25 kg/m3 is cheap, but is used extremely rarely in the furniture industry; it is more suitable for packaging. When choosing this filler for furniture, you should not expect high quality characteristics from it.

Purpose of various brands of furniture

The main criterion for choosing furniture foam rubber is its density and purpose, but in no case its cost. For example, using an inexpensive brand of foam rubber 2535 as upholstery for a sofa seat will significantly reduce the service life of the product compared to brands of higher density.

As a recommendation for choosing a brand of foam rubber for the production or repair of upholstered furniture, we provide the following table of the dependence of the density of the material on the weight of a person for upholstery of various parts.

Upholstery details	Children's furniture, density kg/m3	Adult furniture, density kg/m3
Headrest	25	30-40
Armrest	25	30-40
Back	22	25-40
Seat	30	30-40
Mattresses	25	25-40

With the right choice of filling material, upholstered furniture will last more than 10 years.

Replacing chair upholstery yourself. Necessary materials

To update an old chair you will need:

upholstery fabric: tapestry, jacquard, velor, flock or other dense material. The choice depends on the taste and personal preferences of the owner of the chair;
furniture foam rubber (softener) with a density of 30-40 kg/m3 and a thickness of 20 to 40 mm;
stabilizer. It is difficult to stretch new upholstery directly onto the foam without folds or wrinkles. The task is made easier by padding polyester, on which the fabric glides well. It is laid between the upholstery and foam rubber;
tools: screwdriver, sharp knife, scissors, pliers, tape measure, stapler with staples.

Material selection

The bulk of the material on sale is low-density foam rubber up to 25 kg/m3; as furniture it is used mainly in children's furniture or in the backs of upholstered furniture together with denser brands.

So, when filling the seat of upholstered furniture, it is better to use material with a density higher than 30 kg/m3 (grades 3040, 3540, 3036), for the headrest you can choose a material with a lower density, and for children's furniture use soft brands up to 25 kg/m3 (2520, 2220, 1820, 1620) in combination with grades 2736, 3036.

Advantages and disadvantages

The material is polyurethane foam, which consists of many cells filled with air. The raw material is used to impart elasticity to furniture items. Many users choose this particular filler as an internal component of sofas and upholstered chairs. This distribution is due to the following advantages:

No additives or processing mixtures are used in the production of the material, which means that furniture foam rubber is safe for humans. It does not emit substances harmful to health and does not cause allergies, so it can be safely used for furniture in a children's room;

polyurethane foam is not affected by fungus, because it is moisture resistant. Even with high air humidity in the room, the chances of mold spores appearing are negligible;

The material can be used in different temperature conditions and differences in indicators. Foam rubber retains its qualities in the range from -40 to +100 degrees;

compared to other materials, the filler has improved soundproofing properties, due to which it is able to absorb noise;

foam material has high elasticity and at the same time elasticity. It bends under the weight of a person, but also easily restores its shape after some time.

An undeniable advantage of raw materials is their affordable cost. It is thanks to this indicator that all upholstered furniture, for which foam rubber is used as a filler, has a budget price.

Like any other material, foam rubber has a number of disadvantages, including:

short service life: up to 7 years of daily use;
When the material burns, hazardous substances are released into the atmosphere.

In general, foam rubber has proven itself on the positive side: its dense structure is well suited for sofas, chairs, banquettes, corners and other upholstered furniture.

The material is widely used in furniture production. Due to these properties, foam rubber is popular for making chairs and mattresses. The resulting products have not only high elasticity, but also an attractive price. Depending on the purpose of the material, it is more expedient to divide it according to density indicators:

standard brands - made on the basis of a base polyol, this is the only type of foam rubber using one type of polyol in its composition. For other subtypes of material, at least two variants of the substance are used, which give the filler different properties. This foam rubber has found its application in the equipment of armrests and headrests. Its average density is 25-30 kg per cubic m;
material of increased rigidity - for the production of such raw materials, special polyols are used, which give the product special properties of rigidity. The density of the compositions depends on the additives. If the material has a density of up to 30 kg per cubic meter, it is used in the manufacture of seats and mattresses. If the characteristics exceed the specified figure, the raw material is suitable for the production of furniture with high loads;
highly elastic material - the density of highly flexible foam rubber exceeds 30 kg per cubic meter; products made from such raw materials can withstand a weight of 120 kg. This type is widely used in the manufacture of mattresses.

In addition to the listed types of foam rubber, soft and supersoft compositions should be distinguished. They are made from polyurethane, endowed with softening properties. Also, in the manufacture of raw materials, special additives can be used to obtain non-flammability and a viscous structure. In this case, melamine, fire retardant and special polyols are used.

How to choose the right foam for a sofa?

The “filling” for a sofa of expensive brands consists of highly elastic foam rubber and natural latex

In order for the sofa to serve for a long time after restoration, you need to decide which filling 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 filling in a sofa

To make a sofa, only a solid piece of foam rubber can be used

Profiled foam rubber is a sheet of polyurethane foam with a three-dimensional pattern applied to the surface.

Density is mentioned above, and indicators such 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 and greater comfort.

A variety of foam rubber options for upholstered furniture in rolls of varying densities and thicknesses

If you are purchasing furniture as a sleeping place, choose the last two of the listed types. They will be a little more expensive, but they are ideal for sleeping.

Foam rubber blank for replacing sofa elements

Furniture foam rubber - what density is needed for a sofa?

Over time, as a result of use, upholstered furniture loses some of its characteristics and becomes not as comfortable as initially. Pits or bumps form on the sofa. It is no longer possible to have a good rest on such a sofa. This can happen due to the use of low-quality filler or due to improper use of upholstered furniture. If you wish, you can restore the furniture yourself; just buy new foam rubber and replace it in the sofa.

You need to study furniture foam rubber to understand which one to choose for the sofa.

Which is better - a spring or foam sofa?

Today, you often find two types of sofas: spring and foam. Each option has advantages, which is why it is in demand:

The spring block consists of double-cone springs made of high quality wire. They are connected to each other using staples or wire. This design is characterized by rigidity. It guarantees the correct position of the body during the night's rest. The load does not apply to the entire spring block, but only to those places where contact occurs. When a person lies on such a sofa, the load does not go to the spine, but is evenly distributed throughout the body.

Due to its rigidity and increased strength, the spring block can withstand a lot of weight, so it is often chosen for people who weigh more than 110 kg. To avoid unpleasant sensations from the springs, batting, spunbond, felt or polyurethane is laid on top of them.

Foam rubber or polyurethane foam is a high-volume material with a porous structure. It can be used either separately or in tandem with other materials. Foam rubber consists of thick-walled cells that are filled with air. Thanks to this structure, it is characterized by elasticity and lightness. Foam rubber quickly recovers its original shape and is durable and reliable. It can be of different hardness, which is especially important for upholstered furniture.

This material is ideal for people prone to allergic reactions. It is safe for health because before use in furniture production it is treated with an antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal composition.

Spring block and foam rubber are durable materials. They are characterized by convenience and comfort when using. But foam rubber is relatively cheaper. Therefore, it is impossible to give an exact answer to the question of which sofa is better. Each option is suitable for a pleasant pastime and sleep.

Modern sofas come in different shapes, colors and designs. We are used to frame sofas, since there are a lot of them on sale. Manufacturers use natural wood or metal for the frame. To create a comfortable and comfortable sofa, filler must be used.

Today, a sofa without a frame made of foam cushions is in great demand. It is often purchased for children's rooms. The frameless sofa is characterized by convenience and comfort.

A sofa without a frame, but with foam cushions, will fit perfectly into many styles. It looks luxurious in the style of hi-tech and fusion, avant-garde and pop art, eclecticism and eco-style.

If you like Japanese minimalism, then such upholstered furniture will be a worthy decoration for a fashionable interior.

A frameless sofa with foam rubber has many advantages:

Minimalism in configuration and style.
Convenience and comfort. Ideal for everyday use.
Fits perfectly into various style trends, and also looks harmonious in an ensemble with original accessories.
You can easily move it to the right place and use it as an additional seating area.
It can be used for zoning space and as a place for spending time together.
Has a beneficial effect on the body. You can relax perfectly on a comfortable sofa.

Do-it-yourself reupholstery of chairs and armchairs

Furniture, like all other things, gradually deteriorates: it begins to wobble, creak, and the upholstery wears out. It is not at all necessary to immediately run to the store - with some effort, old furniture can be restored. Moreover, things in the style of the 60-70s are now in trend. This article will talk about how to reupholster a chair, what materials to use, how and what to do. The technique is also suitable for reupholstering chairs.

Procedure for reupholstering a chair

3 How to cover a chair: fabrics, stretching

3.1 How to reupholster a chair: tighten the straps

4 Base with straps or snake spring: features

4.1 How to fasten and with what force to tighten

4.2 Snake springs

4.3 Features of a cake with ribbons or springs

The restoration of chairs can be divided into a sequence of actions. Each of the points requires explanation, but the general algorithm of actions can be summarized in a few dozen words:

Remove the upholstery and soft part.
Disassemble the frame into its components.
Assess the condition of the frame, check the connections. Unstable connections should be disassembled, cleaned, and re-glued.
To make a restored chair comfortable, you need to correctly calculate the thickness of the layers.
If necessary, remove the old coating (paint or varnish) from the legs, back, frame and apply a new one.
Update the seat base.
Lay and secure elastic materials that provide softness.
Cover with fabric.

Now you know in general terms how to reupholster a chair. But there is something to be said for each point - there are many different tricks that will make the job easier and the result more attractive.

Soft pie: materials, thickness

Before reupholstering a chair, you will have to study some information about what exactly to use when restoring a chair or armchair. Please note that you can use not only the materials listed in this paragraph. We have described the most common, synthetic, inexpensive, with acceptable characteristics. If desired or necessary, you can use natural analogues - copra in mats or rolls, batting, dried sea grass, horsehair, burlap and other materials that are exotic today and once traditional.

Most common materials

What materials are needed to reupholster a chair?

When restoring a chair or armchair, foam rubber or polyurethane foam (PPU) is used for the soft part. We are talking about foamed polyurethane foam, not sheet. There is also furniture latex. It and polyurethane foam differ from foam rubber to the touch. They are more like rubber (latex is generally like rubber); when stretched/compressed, they tend to return to their previous shape.

To be soft enough, the density of these materials should be 30-35 kg/m³. Foam rubber and polyurethane foam are sold in large sheets - the minimum size is 1*2 meters. So that's enough for more than one chair. Latex is usually available in some standard sizes, but is most often made to order.

Different thickness, density, rigidity, different manufacturing technologies

What is better to use for upholstering chairs - foam rubber, latex or polyurethane foam (PPU)? If we talk about quality and durability, then latex or polyurethane foam is better. They will last up to ten years or more without signs of wear, they absorb better and wear out less. The best of this pair is latex, but it is much more expensive than even polyurethane foam, not to mention foam rubber. Therefore, if you are on a limited budget, choose foam rubber. If durability is important - polyurethane foam or latex.

Now on the thickness of these materials. For the back, a thickness of 3-5 cm of foam rubber/PPU/latex is sufficient, depending on the degree of desired softness/hardness, but for the seat it is better to use materials with a thickness of 7-8 cm or more. If the base is solid - made of plywood, without springs or tapes - a thickness of 10 cm is needed. Otherwise the base will be felt.

The three most common materials are foam rubber, polyurethane foam and latex.

A padding polyester is laid on top of the foam rubber. Its thickness is small - 1 cm in a free state or so. It’s easier to navigate by density: 150-200 g/m². This layer is needed so that the foam/PPU/latex rubs less. This way, restored upholstered furniture will last longer.

If you want the chair or armchair you have reupholstered to last longer, another layer of spunbond is stretched over the padding polyester - this is a non-woven material made from a polymer melt using a spunbond method. Spunbond costs very little, but significantly extends the life of the seat. This layer is found in expensive furniture and increases durability (foam rubber/sintepon does not rub) and comfort of use (upholstery fabric does not fidget). A possible disadvantage is the accumulation of static electricity. But this is observed only when natural wool or silk is used in upholstery.

How to cut and fasten

The foam is cut to fit the size of the seat. The easiest way is to make a template at the initial stage: attach a sheet of cardboard to the seat, trace it and cut it out. This template will be needed more than once, so it’s better to make it.

It’s better to make a template right away, especially if you will be dragging several identical chairs

We cut out foam rubber and padding polyester strictly according to the template. In some cases, it is worth making it wider and longer by 3-5 mm so as not to feel the edges of the base. The cut foam rubber is glued to the base using furniture glue. There is a special glue in a can for foam rubber. It is more convenient to use, but it is not easy to find everywhere.

The padding polyester is laid on top - one side is more “rough”, so we place it on the foam rubber/PPU/latex, level it and smooth it with our hands. After this, it is problematic to separate the laid layers (you can try). If this method does not seem reliable enough to you, you can glue the connection by applying a mesh of suitable universal glue or the same glue for foam rubber.

Latex is usually made to order, so the edges are rounded for greater convenience.

One point: if the base of the chair is not rigid - springs, tapes, a snake - the glue you should use is not the one that forms a hard crust after drying, but the one that remains elastic.

If you decide to also use spunbond, it must be cut out with a margin, attached with staples to the base, evenly straightened and stretched. You should not pull too hard - the material is non-woven and is easily damaged. It just needs to lie without folds. Carefully trim the excess to the level of the chair/chair frame.

How to cover a chair: fabrics, stretching

Before you reupholster the chair, you will have to find fabric. And it’s not as simple as it seems: there are not just a lot of upholstery fabrics, but a lot. Moreover, it is often problematic to outwardly distinguish one material from another: not every professional can distinguish artificial suede and some types of microvelor; chenille and jacquard are similar, and sometimes velor is very similar to flock. Nevertheless, you need to have at least the slightest idea about which upholstery fabric is best for upholstering a chair or armchair.

Only one collection from one manufacturer

First of all, decide on the color scheme and type of fabric surface (hairy or smooth). Otherwise you will get confused. Otherwise, you will have to choose “by touch.” Tactile sensations should be pleasant - the chair should be re-stretched so that it is pleasant to use. In summer you will have to touch the upholstery with leather. So this is an important selection criterion. Well, then, let's talk about the types of fabrics and their areas of application:

If you have pets, it is best to reupholster upholstered furniture: Flock. It is smooth, without loops. So the claws are difficult to catch and damage is usually minimal. But not everyone likes the feel of it.
Microvelour and velor. Also smooth fabrics with fine pile (not loops), the claws simply slide.
This is what the flock looks like
For animals with long hair, microvelor is better - it is easier to clean.

If there are small children in the house, the fabrics should be easy to clean. These are flock, microsuede, artificial leather.

Tapestry and jacquard are also good. They differ in weave. They usually have a plain or colored pattern. If you need to reupholster a chair to match a classic interior, your choice is tapestry or jacquard.

Other fabrics can also be used if you like them. But they are less practical than those listed above. In any case, you need to pay attention to the density of the fabric. Normal upholstery fabric should have a density of at least 200-250 g/m², as well as high abrasion resistance (15-20 thousand abrasion cycles). These characteristics can be found in the fabric specification or checked with the seller.

How to reupholster a chair: tighten the straps

You usually don’t need to sew anything for the back or seat of a chair. All you need to do is cut out a piece of fabric of a suitable shape with allowances for stretching. Next we proceed like this:

We fix it in front, tighten it and fasten it at the back. We install both fasteners in the center.

We stretch and fasten it on the right and left - in the center.

Then we stretch the fabric evenly and fix it alternately on the right and left.

Also alternately in front and behind.

How to reupholster a chair: stretch the fabric evenly to avoid wrinkles

The main thing is uniform tension without folds. The fabric is usually secured with staples, placing them at a distance of 3-5 cm from each other. The staples hold the fabric quite well and do not pierce it. If there are signs that they will break through the surface, you need to reduce the force of the impact.

The second option is to use small cloves. A thick tape is needed under them - just so as not to tear the fabric. Nails are a good solution, but they take more time to reupholster the chair. When using nails, they should not be too long so that they do not stick out from the back side and tear the foam.

Base with straps or snake spring: features

Chairs and armchairs can be made with a wooden frame to which ribbons or a snake spring are attached. For very old chairs/armchairs, the bands may be inelastic - just a thick strip of tarpaulin or similar material; new chairs are made with bands made of synthetic material with “rubber bands”. They are attached to the frame using nails (old furniture) or staples (modern). When fastening with nails, a strip of thick fabric is laid under the fasteners; usually nothing is placed under the staples.

Old chair with canvas strips

When restoring a chair or armchair, it is advisable to use a tape of the same width or close to it. This way it will be possible to maintain the number of transverse and longitudinal stripes. This is if the previous “load-bearing” capacity of the seat suited you. If it was uncomfortable, you can either increase the width of the belts or add more stripes. Or you can do both at once.

The normal distance between the tapes is about 30 mm. Maybe a little more/less, but not much more.

You can use either elastic furniture tape or simply dense tape, such as slings or tow straps. The elastic one will “play back” when landing, the hard one will not. But this does not mean that sitting will be uncomfortable. Softness is provided by foam rubber and related materials, and tapes/springs only soften the fit. Therefore, if you have an old chair or armchair with springs, and they need to be restored, it is easier and cheaper to replace them with ribbons.

In terms of softness of landing, they will be a little stiffer, but not so much that it would be worth bothering with re-tensioning the springs. If desired, you can install snake springs. They also provide elasticity, albeit less than traditional ones.

Springs can also be like this - this is a “snake”

How to fasten and with what force to pull

The straps are attached to the frame, approximately in the middle of the bar. Take the tape, fasten it with three or four staples in the opposite direction, wrap it and fasten it again. Then they tighten it and fasten it on the other side. This is a reliable way. And don’t be embarrassed that the attachment point is thick. Foam rubber will be laid on top, it will level out all these little things.

Conventional springs can be replaced with elastic furniture tapes

Now let’s talk about how hard to tighten the elastic bands. The tensile force on the seat should be 12 kg, on the back - 9 kg. In practice, the specified tension can be set using a steelyard:

We fasten one side of the tape.

We hook the steelyard hook to the second side of the tape and pull it until the desired number is on the dial.

Use a marker to make a mark.

Now we know how long the tape needs to be pulled to get the desired tension.

This procedure will have to be repeated with transverse and longitudinal stripes. And if the shape of the seat or back is uneven, then you will have to calibrate each strip separately in this way. And one more thing: when you cut, do not forget that the tape still needs to be folded and secured. That is, you still need to leave 3-5 cm from the mark - for the hem.

At the bottom of the tape, springs rest on them... too difficult to restore

If you think that you can tighten the tape simply by holding it with your hands, you are mistaken. Men with strong fingers can still pull it off, but women are unlikely to succeed in this trick. Professionals use a special tool, but it’s hardly worth buying it just to reupholster a couple of chairs. In specialized stores there are grippers for tapes with holes. They are much more convenient, and you can hook a steelyard hook into the hole.

The second option is to take a wooden block with a cross-section of 40*40 mm or so, 40-50 cm long. Attach medium or fine-grained sandpaper to the central part. We glue the emery and additionally fix it with staples (or nails). We leave the edges of the bar - 15 centimeters each - free. These will be the handles. We wind the tape onto this device (a couple of turns), grab it with both hands and pull.

Snake springs

There are different types of flat snake springs - in the form of a spiral made of thinner wire or actually in the form of a “snake” made of thicker steel. You can also reupholster a chair with their help. In armchairs and stools they are usually attached along the seat. They are fixed to the frame using special fasteners, and they are fixed with nails or staples with long legs. In its normal state, the snake is slightly curved towards the future load (as in the photo).

This is how you can update the chair - install snake springs

According to its properties, a chair “with snakes” turns out to be a little more elastic when seated than with ribbons. Otherwise there are almost no differences.

Features of a cake with ribbons or springs

If you need to reupholster a chair with ribbons or snakes at the base, a layer of fabric is placed between them and the foam rubber. Fabric - any thick fabric. Teak or similar material will do. This layer protects foam rubber/PUF/latex from premature abrasion. It has no other functions.

Technical fabrics that are used when they want to upholster a chair: teak, calico, spunbond, linen

A layer of this fabric is glued to the foam rubber underneath. The fabric dimensions may be slightly larger to prevent the edges from curling up. Otherwise, the layers of the soft part of the chair are similar.

Types of brands and their purpose

There are many brands of foam rubber, which provides freedom of choice for both buyers and manufacturers of upholstered furniture.

Main varieties:

ST – standard (its density ranges from 16 to 35 kg/m³). Due to its low cost, many manufacturers of upholstered furniture use it. But it will last no more than a year, so if you buy a sofa with such a filling, it will be for the dacha.
EL – increased hardness (from 22 to 35 kg/m³). It is not intended for creating upholstered furniture.
HL – hard (density 25 and 40 kg/m³). This option can be used in the production of sofas for offices or home. It is suitable for people who like to sleep on hard surfaces. This filler is strictly prohibited for children.
HS – soft (from 20 to 45 kg/m³);
HR – highly elastic (from 30 to 50 kg/m³). An excellent option for upholstered furniture. This foam is commonly called artificial latex because latex is added during its manufacture.
HR* – highly elastic with a high level of comfort (from 30 to 55 kg/m³).

To designate the brand of filler, not only letters are used, but also four numbers, of which the first two are responsible for its density, the last two indicate the compression stress. For example, brand EL 2535 is characterized by increased rigidity, has a density of 25 kg/m³ and a compression stress of 3.5 kPa.

Recommendations for selection

If you are faced with the task of choosing the optimal foam rubber for all characteristics that will be used in the sofa, listen to a few practical tips.

Look at the density parameters. This is the first thing people pay attention to. In fact, a density of 30 to 40 units is ideal for organizing the sleeping area of a sofa. It will be comfortable, soft enough, but will not wear out quickly. For seats and sleeping areas, choosing a density less than 30 is not recommended. And for armrests and backrests, 20-30 units are enough. The density indicator appears in the marking immediately after the letters. That is, something like ST 3542. Here the density is 35;
Rigidity. Having decided on the density, immediately look at the hardness. It follows the first parameter in the standardized labeling. If you look at the sample above, the hardness there is 42 units. In general, foam rubber can have a hardness in the range of 15-45 units. The higher the value, the harder the product will be;
Strength. Displays the force required to cause the foam to tear or stretch. The higher the strength, the longer the polyurethane foam and the entire sofa will last;
Parameters of residual deformation. This characteristic indicates the ability of foam rubber to return to its original shape and the time spent on recovery. If the coefficient is high, this is bad, since such characteristics indicate low quality of the product.

In fact, you need to be extremely careful when choosing the foam rubber with which you are going to fill the sofa.

The thickness of the product actually doesn’t say anything. Even thick sheets of foam rubber can wear out quickly, sag under a fairly small weight and not restore their shape after the influence of body weight stops. As a result, your sofa will not live up to your expectations at all. And the fault will simply be an incorrectly selected filler or softener. Now call it what you want.

I would like to note that it is not necessary to chase very thick polyurethane foam to lay it in one layer under the upholstery of the sofa. You can take a thinner product, but with good characteristics. The material is used in one layer for backrests and armrests, but when folded in several layers, the result is an excellent soft, quite elastic and deformation-resistant sleeping place. After all, thicker sheets are noticeably more expensive. This is already a small trick to save money without sacrificing quality.

You can clearly see that the choice of furniture foam rubber is associated with certain nuances, requires a competent approach and must take into account several basic characteristics.

But I am sure that you will be able to cope and make the right choice. Therefore, I can only wish you good luck with your purchase.

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How to replace?

If the sofa has lost its elasticity after long-term use and it is uncomfortable to sleep on, then you can replace the filling. This process is labor-intensive, but you can do it yourself if you follow the basic steps and have basic skills in this area:

the sofa needs to be disassembled into parts;
remove the upholstery from the product;
remove the old filler;
make a pattern;
attach new filling to all parts of the sofa: sides, back and seat;
reupholster each component part with new upholstery;
assemble the product.

To learn how to replace foam rubber at home, see the following video.

To ensure that the process of replacing foam rubber goes quickly and correctly, you should follow several rules:

When removing the old filler, you need to thoroughly clean the frame and also remove all the staples.
The pattern should be made taking into account an allowance of 7 or 8 cm, which is calculated for the inside. Allowance should be made only where the foam extends to the inside. Otherwise, you will not be able to fold or unfold the sofa later.
For the seat, the filler is usually placed on a block of springs, but first you need to lay thick fabric and, using a strong thread, grab it in several places. Afterwards you can install foam rubber.
For seats, the filler is usually applied in two layers. This guarantees softness and durability.
To increase the comfort of upholstered furniture after fixing the foam rubber to the frame using staples, it should be covered with canvas fabric.

Seat reupholstery: work order

disassemble the chair seat. We turn it over, carefully pull out the brackets with an awl or a screwdriver, release the dilapidated upholstery, remove the worn-out foam rubber;
We measure the dimensions of the seat with a tape measure and use a sharp knife or scissors to cut out a fragment of the seat. We place the softener on the seat and “adjust” it to the required size, cutting off the excess;
we make a pattern for the new upholstery with a margin of 4-5 cm on all sides for bending and fastening the fabric with staples;
We spread the upholstery on a flat surface, place padding polyester, foam rubber in the center, and place the stool seat on top. We stretch the upholstery fabric evenly and secure it with a stapler;
We install the updated seat on the chair.

Back upholstery

This event is less troublesome and is done like this:

cut out a piece of foam rubber to size and attach it to the back using contact glue;
we cut out the upholstery and, when applying it, tuck it in so that the edges are neat and tidy;
we secure the material around the perimeter with decorative nails or staples;
put the soft back in place.

Consultants will help you select, calculate and purchase the necessary materials for repairing armchairs, sofas, chairs and other upholstered furniture. Our assortment always includes: upholstery fabrics, artificial leather, padding polyester, furniture foam rubber, and accessories.

Furniture foam rubber: how to choose, what to pay attention to

To choose the right type of polyurethane foam, remember (or write down) the main indicators that need to be taken into account when purchasing:

Density. The main indicator indicating the amount of polyurethane foam in 1 m³. The higher it is, the longer the foam rubber lasts: the larger amount of substance prevents the material from quickly losing its rigidity and original size.
Rigidity. The stiffness index is the force that must be applied to compress the material by 40%. Usually expressed in kPa (a unit of pressure). Stiffness is sometimes confused with density, but these are not identical indicators: high-density foam rubber may have low stiffness.
Residual deformation. Although this number is not indicated on the label, it is important: compress the sample by 50% and see how quickly it returns to shape. Residual deformation is lower in high-density polyurethane foam.

The properties of foam rubber are determined by a number of other characteristics: tensile strength, relative elongation, breathability, elasticity, cell size.

Polyurethane foam brands

When considering the options for which foam rubber to choose for furniture, first of all pay attention to the brand of the proposed material: it determines the main indicators, and the numbers that follow clarify the information (density and hardness):

ST – standard, produced on the basis of standard polyol, used as a filler in the manufacture of upholstered furniture, chairs, armchairs, decorative walls;
HL, EL – hard and the hardest, ST modifications with increased rigidity, used for seats and mattresses with expected increased load;
HS – soft, ultra-soft, made from a special polyol, used for backs and mattress underlay;
HR – increased elasticity and comfort, used for the production of luxury furniture.

There are several more varieties (RTS, RL, VE, secondary foam rubber), and the list is constantly expanding.

How to choose foam for a sofa

If you need to replace the filling in a sofa, consider a few nuances:

the material must be at least 3 cm thick;
density – from 28 kg/m³ and above;
indicators of rigidity and elasticity (in the marking).

High-quality material is not too cheap - so stick to average prices and choose reliable manufacturers.

Which foam rubber to choose for the sofa will depend on the type of furniture:

Sofa. A budget option is EL2240, but when used as a bed, buy material with increased density and rigidity, 10 cm thick.
Angular. To replace the filler, choose the ST3542 brand; if you need increased rigidity, choose EL2842.
Sofa for guests. The type of filler depends on the frequency of use as sleeping places and your financial capabilities.

For other types of furniture, the recommendations are approximately the same: a budget option is ST brand foam rubber; when restoring, take material with enhanced characteristics.

Which foam rubber to choose for a mattress

There are 2 main brands used in the manufacture of mattresses:

ST – standard offer;
EL – increased rigidity, service life up to 10 years (at high rates).

For a guest bedroom or a thin person, buy 10 cm thick polyurethane foam, if the weight is above 60 kg, increase the value by 1.5 times or higher.

The question of how to choose foam rubber for a mattress will leave you with no ambiguities - after all, you already know what the marking says and can buy what you need. Sheet foam rubber remains the most popular material in the production of furniture - and at the same time quite inexpensive.

Advantages of foam rubber

Before determining which foam rubber is best for a sofa, it is worth learning about the positive differences of this material:

Does not collapse - does not “generate” dust;
Absolutely safe for people with allergies;
Returns shape after physical impact;
Maintains elasticity at high temperatures.

To repair/create furniture, you can take either whole pieces of foam rubber or pieces of the required size - waste generated during the furniture production process at the factory.
They can be purchased literally at any factory. If you are upholstering a sofa, it is better to use sheet material, because heterogeneous pieces may either not coincide with each other, or will very quickly become unusable.

For a sofa-sofa

How to choose foam rubber for a sofa? You need to take polyurethane foam with a density of 25 kg/m. cube The sleeping part is equipped with hard material - for example, EL2842. For an inexpensive seating option, the EL2240 model is suitable.

If the base of the sofa is made from a block of springs, then you should take polyurethane foam, the thickness of which is 5-6 cm, and lay felt on top of the springs with a density of 600-900 g/m. kV.

If the sleeping place will consist entirely of polyurethane foam, then you should choose products EL2842 or ST3542, with a thickness of 10 cm. If you need to save money and the load is up to 100 kg, the EL2240 brand is suitable.

How to choose foam rubber for a book sofa

Furniture can be made on the basis of springs with foam rubber, or exclusively on polyurethane foam. These devices have features similar to sofas - you can use the same types of materials.

For bed

All bed parts are decorative and are not subject to heavy loads during operation. But strength is the main criterion, so it’s better to go with ST2236 or EL3040

The head of the bed can be made of filler 5-10 cm thick.

When arranging decorative elements (for example, in the form of a carriage screed), it is worth buying material 5-10 cm thick, and for the remaining parts take 5 cm thick foam rubber.

For a corner sofa

These devices have a lot of different lifting mechanisms and fittings.

The Sedaflex sofa has a soft part made of pillows - for it you can take standard 3040, which is ideal for this type of furniture. The Sedaflex sleeping place is an ordinary mattress, 9-11 cm thick. To replace it, you can use the same brands EL3040 and ST2536.

What density of foam rubber is needed for a sofa with a dolphin lifting mechanism? As a basis, it is worth taking polyurethane foam with a thickness of 9-11 cm (the best option is 2 glued layers), having a density of 30 kg/m. cube (inexpensive option - EL2240, or softer - ST2536).

Armrests and backrests of any type of sofa can be made from material 2, 3, 5, 7 cm thick, based on the features of the sleeping place.

For guest sofa

These sofas are often used as full-fledged sleeping places. The lifting/lowering mechanisms are the same as in the previous version - “dolphin” or “sedaflex”.

Therefore, the materials for restoration can be selected the same - hard EL2240, or soft ST2236. They will allow you to significantly save on repairs. The backs are made of polyurethane foam with a thickness of 3, 5, 7 cm.

How to choose foam for a chair

When restoring an office-type structure, it is better to buy expensive material of high quality. It will ensure the longest service life of the product. The brands and thickness are the same as for sofas. The backs are made from several layers of different foam rubbers.

A non-folding chair at home is equipped with foam seats 5-10 cm thick, armrests 3-5 cm thick, and a back part 5-7 cm thick. The numbers greatly depend on the specific features of the seat.

Modifications that fold out and are equipped with springs are repaired using foam rubber 4-7 cm thick, and felt with a density of 900 g/m is spread over the block with springs. sq. If there are lamellas, take thicker material (7-10 cm).

Foam rubber for chairs: how to choose

To restore and create stools in the kitchen, it is better to take the EL2540 brand with a thickness of 5 cm. The “standard” option is denser, but under constant weight it will quickly lose its shape.

When repairing a chair with a back, buy PUF EL2240, 5 cm thick (for the back - 3-4 cm), which has a lower density.

When you plan to completely remodel or assemble a new chair from scratch, take foam rubber of one model for economy and convenience.

For pallet sofas

Pallets are all the rage right now. They are used to make a variety of furniture, including sofas. As the soft part of such a “lounger” you can use ST2236 foam rubber (10 cm thick), or 6 cm EL3040. Materials should be placed in covers.

For the kitchen corner

When repairing kitchen upholstered furniture, it is better to use the following brands: EL2545 (if the corner is made of chipboard), EL3040 and ST2236 (for seats).

Which foam rubber to choose for a mattress

A mattress (or futon) is made to smooth out unevenness and hide sagging areas in the sleeping area. And also to create a harder or softer sleeping layer. There are two options: hard, with increased density EL3040, or the softest ST3542.

For maximum comfortable rest, different brands of polyurethane foam are used, which are covered with felt with a density of 900 or 1500 g/m. sq. In addition to felt, you can use a stiffer coke bark.

If you plan to create a completely new mattress of medium density and hardness, then the materials will have to be combined. But you won’t be able to make an orthopedic mattress with your own hands, due to the lack of special equipment.

Simple “mattresses” are made from ST2536 or EL4060, from 10 cm in thickness.

For children's mats

EL3040 and EL2240, 5, 7, 10 cm thick, are ideal options. But, you need to rely on the weight of the child. The best option is to take several models of polyurethane foam, differing in density and rigidity, and lay a layer of felt between them.

On top of the mat you need to wrap it in a cover made of tear-resistant fabric (for example, leatherette), since in open space conditions foam rubber quickly loses all its properties.

For pillows

For decorative ones not intended for sleeping, it is worth taking crushed polyurethane foam. For regular soft ones – ST2236, hard ones – EL2240.

For other purposes

When making other household items from foam rubber, rely on the following recommendations:

Wall panels.

Since the designs are decorative, you can save money and buy the EL2240, which will do its job perfectly and will last for quite a long time. The optimal thickness is 3, 5, 7 cm, which depends on the type of wall design (carriage screed, tie-down, etc.);

Soundproofing.

Furniture brands cannot block sounds. For such purposes, you need to purchase stamps with special cells. But, if the problem is not very acute, then you can buy EL2240 or ST2236, and cover them with felt with a density of 2000 g/m2. kV.;

Package.

With the help of “foam rubber protection” you can save things during transportation. Especially fragile ones. For sale, it is better to take polyurethane foam of the EL2240 and ST2236 brands.

Important nuances

The best sofa is the one where soft and elastic foam rubber was used, allowing you to relax and give the spine the opportunity to rest from stress. This effect is achieved using a special structure - a “layer cake”.

This is when the upper part is thin foam rubber with low density and rigidity, and underneath there is a more elastic material. Such a sofa resembles a tire that is moderately inflated - there is no lethargy, but there is elasticity and firmness, which does not turn into rigidity.

However, furniture “filling” includes not only foam rubber and blocks of springs. They also use synthetic fibers, most often synthetic padding polyester.

As a rule, foam rubber is covered with padding polyester, thereby achieving additional softness and relief. At the same time, it serves as insulation for the main filler.

The “filling” for a sofa of expensive brands consists of highly elastic foam rubber and latex of natural origin.

There is an opinion that nothing can be better than spring sofas, that the orthopedic effect cannot be achieved otherwise. However, customer reviews indicate that often these same springs turn out to be of such poor quality (incorrect hardening is sometimes to blame) that they fail in a short time.

Several layers of felt blanket, as well as other materials, are laid on top to make the spring mattress really high quality. This pleasure is not cheap, and therefore we can assume that it is better to use high-quality foam rubber than cheap springs.

Base with straps or snake spring: features

Old chair with canvas strips

The normal distance between the tapes is about 30 mm. Maybe a little more/less, but not much more.

Springs can also be like this - this is a “snake”

How to fasten and with what force to pull

Conventional springs can be replaced with elastic furniture tapes

Now let’s talk about how hard to tighten the elastic bands. The tensile force on the seat should be 12 kg, on the back - 9 kg. In practice, the specified tension can be set using a steelyard:

We fasten one side of the tape.
We hook the steelyard hook to the second side of the tape and pull it until the desired number is on the dial.
Use a marker to make a mark.
Now we know how long the tape needs to be pulled to get the desired tension.

At the bottom of the tape, springs rest on them... too difficult to restore

What's in the sofa "stuffing"?

If you purchase good upholstered furniture, it soon becomes an inseparable element in the interior of the room. And then I really don’t want to part with such a product.

Expert opinion

Mikhailova Maria Vasilievna

Furniture store manager. Knows everything about comfort and interior design

If, when choosing the most suitable sofa, you made a mistake and did not see the shortcomings, then they will also appear very soon and will regularly spoil not only your rest, but also your mood.

As a rule, when choosing upholstered furniture, people are mainly interested in its size, shape, quality and color of the upholstery material, very often completely forgetting that during use all these parameters are a secondary matter. The main thing is how soft and elastic the sofa will be, how comfortable it will be for you to relax on it.

It depends only on the filler how comfortable and cozy the upholstered furniture is, when the sitting effect occurs, and what the service life of the new sofa will be. Sofas, as a rule, have a “filling” in the form of a complex system, which includes soft components and a base of springs.

How much a sofa will cost will be clear from what a person cannot see when purchasing - it is inside.

About holofiber

If these are average prices, then the “filling” consists mainly of synthetics. For a soft and resilient sofa you need:

elastic polyurethane foam;
non-woven high-volume components;
block with springs;
natural latex;
synthetic fluff.

When a person chooses a sofa, he evaluates it both by its density and the stiffness of the seat. They are characterized differently:

Density refers to the weight of one cubic meter of material when it is uncompressed. As the density of the material increases, its wear resistance characteristics also increase, which means that the furniture will last much longer.
Stiffness refers to how a material reacts to load. How comfortable a person will be depends on this.

What is the difference between foam rubber and polyurethane foam

There is no difference . PPU (polyurethane foam) is just an abbreviation, while foam rubber is a brand name. It was awarded the first commercial polyurethane foam.

About block polyurethane foam

We know it as foam rubber, which is a soft polyurethane foam in which 90% is air. The higher the elasticity of the foam rubber, the higher its strength.

Very soft material will quickly crumble and fail. If even a simple sofa cushion is filled with foam rubber crumbs, it will lose its shape in a very short time, and therefore only a solid piece of foam rubber can be used to make a sofa. Moreover, these are not thin pieces of foam rubber; their thickness cannot be less than 15 centimeters.

When choosing a sofa, you need to sit on it to feel whether the frame is felt or not. If such sensations exist, then after a short period of time it will be impossible to sleep on such furniture.

Molded polyurethane foam

These are ready-made sofa parts. They easily return to their original shape as soon as the load is removed.

This type of polyurethane foam is considered the best in terms of elasticity; it is more reliable than block foam. Sitting on a sofa with such a “filling” will be very comfortable, because it completely follows the shape of your body, and getting up from it is easier than from other sofas.

It's like he's nudging you slightly.

Such qualities of molded polyurethane foam have made it very popular as a filling used in the manufacture of sofas.

Soft pie: materials, thickness

Most common materials

What materials are needed to reupholster a chair?

Different thickness, density, rigidity, different manufacturing technologies

The three most common materials are foam rubber, polyurethane foam and latex.

How to cut and fasten

It’s better to make a template right away, especially if you will be dragging several identical chairs

Latex is usually made to order, so the edges are rounded for greater convenience.

One point: if the base of the chair is not rigid - springs, tapes, a snake - the glue you should use is not the one that forms a hard crust after drying, but the one that remains elastic.

About the cost

The cost of foam rubber always depends on how dense it is. The lowest density means the lowest cost.

If the sofa is made by unscrupulous furniture makers, then they use greater rigidity to increase the price of the sofa with low-density foam rubber. This approach misleads the buyer - the rather dense and elastic appearance of the furniture.

But then several months have passed, and you notice that the foam rubber has become confused, and then completely became some kind of shapeless mass.

You need to understand some simple rules for choosing foam rubber:

For the back, this value should not be less than 23-25.

If these standards are not followed, the amount of residual deformation will greatly increase, and the sofa will not last long.

Types of furniture foam rubber

When choosing upholstered furniture for your home, it is very important to pay attention to its comfort. It would be a good idea to ask which filler the manufacturer chose for the manufacture of a particular model. A wide variety of brands can confuse an inexperienced specialist, let alone an ordinary buyer. The selection criteria are density and thickness.

REFERENCE. To assemble upholstered furniture, it is necessary to use material with a density of 30 kg per cubic meter. m. Such sofas can be used both for sleeping and for relaxing while sitting. During operation, the filler is not pressed through.

IMPORTANT. The duration of use of the furniture will depend on the density of the foam rubber. The dependence works - the higher the density, the longer the period of operation.

For the manufacture of furniture seats and armrests, a material with different characteristics is used, this is explained by different degrees of load.

Thickness is an equally important indicator. If we are talking about a sofa for sleeping, the thickness should be at least 4 cm. Furniture manufacturers often neglect this criterion and use thin foam rubber, which significantly reduces the quality of the furniture.

Foam rubber: types, properties, sizes, brands, application

Foam rubber is the common name for polyurethane foam.
The scope of application of this material, without exaggeration, covers all areas of human activity. Soft cellular synthetic foam with excellent insulating properties, high elasticity and breathability is used:

In furniture production. Foam rubber is indispensable in the manufacture of upholstered furniture from economy class to especially comfortable models. Armchairs, sofas, chairs, mattresses - the manufacture of these interior items is impossible without this universal material.

In construction. Insulation, sealing insulating materials.

It is worth noting the use of foam rubber products when finishing rooms to absorb sounds. Installing acoustic traps and sound-absorbing mats significantly reduces the level of external and internal noise in the room.

In the production of sporting goods. Sports equipment, mats of varying hardness and thickness, use of foam rubber scraps for filling jumping and safety pits.

— textile, footwear industry; — automobile production; — making toys; - medicine; — production of household appliances.

Polyurethane foam is widely used as a protective and packaging material.

The emergence of new materials with similar characteristics does not reduce its popularity, and the latest developments significantly improve its basic characteristics.