Upholstered furniture
The upholstered furniture in your house, from sofas and chairs to the mattresses on your beds, are usually big ticket household investments. For this reason, it pays to understand the basics of furniture fabrics and construction before you buy and to take good care of your furniture once you bring it home.
Upholstered furniture is composed of three elements; frame, support system and fabric cover. Furniture prices generally vary depending on the quality of these elements. Frame: Furniture frames (also called the "carcass" or "bones") for top of the line pieces are made of hardwoods and slowly dried in a kiln to prevent warping. Cheaper frames are made of softer wood and may be assembled in a less than durable construction. Support System: Springs, webbing and padding are the invisible but critical elements of upholstered furniture. Traditionally, expensive furniture has been constructed with hourglass shaped, individually tied coil springs. Many manufacturers now use "zig-zag" or sinuous-wire springs or rubberized webbing strips - Less expensive but strong alternatives. The soft innards of upholstered furniture come from stuffing placed over the springs and padding under the outside fabric. Separate cushions on high end pieces use either down feathers or a feathers "plus" combination, though foam, covered with a layer of fiberfill, is the most common cushion stuffing. Fabric: Upholstery fabrics are tough as well as good looking. Blends of natural and manufactured fibers, treated to block stains, make upholstery long wearing and easy to clean. Here are some fibers and their common characteristics.
*Silk is a strong, resilient, luxury fiber with a natural luster. Fiber size varies from fine to heavy, as in raw silk. * Cotton is a versatile fiber, used for prints and wovens, and is comfortable to use in all climates. It, as well as any untreated natural fiber is less stain resistant than synthetic fibers. *Linen a high end fiber, is prized for it's crispness, strength and durability. *Wool is strong, durable, soft to the touch and naturally resists water. *Rayon is a smooth, soft, luxurious and comfortable manufactured fiber. It wrinkles easily when used alone. Blended with other fibers it adds silk like luster to the finished fabric. *Nylon is strong and resistant to abrasion, rot and mildew. It has a low absorption for water and other liquids. *Acrylic a manufactured fiber, can offer many of the qualities of wool,a natural fiber. It is often used in plush or fleecy fabrics. Acrylic resists fading but is prone to piling, the creation of small balls of fiber on the fabrics surface. *Olefin is a strong, soil resistant manufactured fiber that is used alone or blended with other fibers. *Polyester is a strong, resilient and abrasion-resistant fiber that adds luster when bonded with other fibers. Protecting Fabrics: Most fabrics designed for upholstery come from the manufacturer with a stain and soil repellent finish. When it is missing, the store should be able to add the treatment with a warranty when you buy a piece of upholstered furniture, or you can but a spray on form at a hardware store and apply it yourself. Fabric protection gives you time to pick up or blot away spills before they soak in. It cannot totally prevent damage to the fabric. If you are considering buying a warrantied fabric protection treatment, read your fiber and fabric information carefully. If a fabric was treated at the mill, a second treatment is unnecessary. |