Construction and maintenance are to sofas what genes and exercise are to humans. A combination of both is necessary to prolong the life of your couch. Exactly how long that life will be is difficult to estimate, but the following tips will help add years to your sofa's life.
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Frames
A quality frame is the best indicator of a sofa's life expectancy. The most
durable sofas have heavy, hardwood frames made of oak, maple, mahogany, or similar
woods. That's why you can often find out all you need to know about a sofa's life
expectancy by lifting it. In general, a lighter weight equals a shorter life.
If the frame of your sectional sofa or sleeper sofa is of a high quality, even if its fabric wears out, you will be able to reupholster it. Along with new fabric, reupholstered sofas receive new fillings and cushions and webbing, and also have their springs retied.
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Joinery is another important part of sofa frame construction. When shopping
for a sofa set, for example, find out if the sofa frames were joined with screws
or wood pins. If so, they'll last longer.
Springs
Sofas and sofa sets with eight-way hand-tied coils should be able to go 10
years or more without sagging, at which point they can be restrung by an upholsterer.
Less durable spring systems are held together by wire clips or four-way ties.
The longevity of quality springs makes the extra cost worthwhile, particularly
with sleeper sofas and high-use couches.
Cushions
The durability of sofa cushions is not as critical as the frame, but some types
of cushion stuffing will last longer than others. Down cushions are expensive
and luxurious but not very durable. The longest-lived sofa cushions have inner
springs surrounded by polyester batting and polyurethane foam.
