Foam rubber in the sofa: how to replace it, which one to choose based on density and how to place and secure it correctly?

Types by density

The higher its density, the longer the service life. By the letter indicators that appear on the label, you can navigate the types of foam rubber. Numerical values ​​indicate density indicators (first digit), subsequent ones indicate compression stress indicators.

Soft

Foam rubber is suitable for arranging sleeping places (sofas, beds, armchairs). Its approximate density ranges from 25 to 45 kg per 1 m3. Good softness, elasticity and firmness ensure comfort while sleeping. When sitting for a long time or being in one position on such a sofa, there is no feeling of discomfort; You can relax in your sleeping area.

Soft material is marked with HS symbols. This mark is attached to the packaging.

Attention. The product is quite pleasant to the touch, but not durable. You have to constantly repair or completely change the entire canvas.

Standard

Manufactured on a polyol base. Additional components can be included to obtain the required strength, density and elasticity. Most often, this type of foam is used to decorate armrests and headrests in upholstered furniture. Density – 25-30 kg per 1 m3.

Advice. To choose a standard foam rubber, you should find the ST marking on the label, but focus on the numerical values. They are indicated to show the buyer the density and compressive stress.

The standard version is the most common on the market and can be used for restoration or self-assembly. The only significant drawback is its low durability: foam rubber cannot withstand heavy loads. You cannot operate it with increased loads (it will not withstand more than 90 kg).

Hard

Not suitable for filling baby cots. This is a rather unpleasant option for relaxation. But great for people who prefer hard surfaces to soft ones. Density – from 25 to 40 kg per 1m3. Marking: HL mark.

Ideal for sofas that are constantly used for sleeping. Better to sleep than to use it as a resting place for everyone.

Increased rigidity

Special polyols give the product greater rigidity. They multiply the effort, but this indicator depends on the components included in it. Density – 30 kg per 1 m3. An excellent material for making mattresses and sofa covers. With a higher density value, the furniture can withstand higher loads. Designation - EL.

There is no weight limit. This is a comfortable option for long and deep sleep. If it is more convenient to apply an additional layer of foam on top, the surface will become softer and more comfortable for sleeping in any position.

Highly elastic

It has a density of more than 30 kg per 1 m3 and can withstand a weight of 100 kg. Most often it is used to produce high-quality mattresses. The material has incredible load-bearing capacity and initial rigidity. High elasticity is marked on the packaging with the HR label.

Advice: An exclusive option, quite expensive. These models are used for the production of luxury furniture, as the list includes the highest quality fabrics.

Highly elastic with increased comfort

Comfortable furniture is made from foam rubber with a density of 30 to 55 kg per 1 m3. This is a soft material. You can relax, sleep, and sit comfortably on it. To select a highly elastic product with greater comfort, you need to look for the HR brand label with an asterisk.

Highly elastic foam with increased comfort belongs to the group of materials of the highest quality. It is chosen for luxurious premises, where other options simply will not be considered in the context of luxury and wealth. Sleeping on such beds is simply supernatural bliss. The same goes for quality.

Attention. Foam rubber with such characteristics is not afraid of the most serious loads, can work around the clock and always meets expectations.

Replacing filling and upholstery: step-by-step instructions

Over time, not only the frame elements and springs become unusable, but also the soft part of the sofa, and then it will also need to be replaced. Here's how to do it.

Step One: We need to evaluate the appearance of the fabric that is underneath and on top of the box spring; It can be made of felt or cotton wool. Thanks to the presence of such a coating, the springs will not push through the foam rubber and will rest against the plywood parts. When dismantling old structures, craftsmen in most cases should see the following picture. The batting cape has become deformed and lost its original appearance, so it cannot be removed. After removing this material, it is recommended to vacuum the frame to remove any remaining dust.

Old minced meat

Step two: First, the material must be placed under the spring block. For such purposes, it is not necessary to buy a new piece of fabric, because you can even wear a clean old blanket.

Place fabric under the springs and then secure the block to the frame

Step Three: Now we also need to put the material on top of the spring block. For this we will use felt. If you are away, you can use an unnecessary rug.

It is advisable to roll it out in two layers and then cut it exactly according to the design parameters. Now we must attach this material to the springs using a thick needle and thread (some craftsmen use an awl in such cases). Leave a gap of 35 cm between stitches.

Attach the material to the box spring

Step four: Now we need to lay down the foam. If the old one seems normal, then you can leave it. Replacing foam rubber includes the following steps:

1. You need to buy filler about 40 centimeters thick. The better the quality of the foam, the faster it will return to its original shape when pressed, so it is advisable to choose an option with a dense structure.
2. Now you need to cut a piece of foam rubber to the size of the frame and attach it using a stapler and staples.

We carefully fix the foam rubber on our structure

Step five: now you need to put a padding polyester on top of the foam rubber; if necessary, it can be replaced with another soft material. As an alternative, you can use holofiber - this material is strong and durable. The padding polyester is also attached to the frame with brackets. At the same time, it is recommended to glue it to foam rubber, since during operation it can slide. Now the structure needs to be left for several hours until the glue has completely dried, and only then can we proceed to another scene.

Application of polyester filler

Step six: we must secure the upholstery fabric. You can use the old one if it looks ok. However, many craftsmen prefer to do new upholstery to update the sofa.

If you plan to use old upholstery, you should wash it

At this stage we have to choose the material from which the upholstery will be made. To do this, consider the characteristics of the most popular types.

Table 3. Types of upholstery

Photo Description

To cut new upholstery, you need to remove the old covers, tear them at the seams, and then iron them, and then make a new upholstery on the base.

Now we have to secure the sofa upholstery with a stapler. In this case, the fabric should be slightly stretched.

We repair upholstery

To preserve the sofa upholstery, it is recommended to sew a set of removable covers; can be removed and washed at any time

Springs

The spring block comes in two types: with dependent (Bonnell type) and independent springs. Both options are very durable, provided that there is a sufficient number of intermediate layers between the block itself and the outer upholstery.

Dependent spring block

A classic, time-tested option. Here all the springs are connected to each other by a continuous spiral steel wire. If you press one spring, the others will immediately connect to it, thereby distributing the load across the entire base. The structure is attached around the perimeter to the edging frame and covered with an intermediate layer of non-woven material.

Independent spring block

In a block of this type, each spring lives its own life” and does not depend on its neighbors, which gives the surface high point elasticity and allows it to better adapt to the contours of the body.

Spring snake

Attached to a wooden or metal base using a hinged bar or steel brackets, the “snake” is a simple and inexpensive spring base. And although it is not a full-fledged filler - a layer of polyurethane foam is always laid on top - it can withstand heavy loads, does not deform and is very durable.

Polyurethane foam (PPU or furniture foam rubber) is an inexpensive and highly elastic furniture filler. Provides a comfortable fit, has good elasticity and is environmentally friendly.

For the base of a sofa with such filling, as a rule, block furniture foam rubber is used, cut and twisted in a certain way. Some models require special molded polyurethane foam blanks, which are also used as a filler for pillows - the material allows you to hold any shape given to it.

The PU foam filling in the sofa comes in different brands - standard, luxury PU foam, memory foam foam, etc. The higher the properties of the material, the more expensive the sofa will cost to manufacture.

Features of choosing foam rubber

The foam sheet is selected mainly based on two indicators: thickness and density. The layer thickness should be at least 4 cm, and the density should be approximately 30 kg/m3. The service life of the new filling and its performance depend on these indicators. Thinner and softer ones will press easily and will soon need to be replaced again, while ones that are too dense will make the seat uncomfortably hard.

Therefore, when deciding which foam rubber to choose, pay attention to its brand: the first numbers in it indicate the density, and the last ones indicate the stiffness indicator. The service life of the furniture and the cost of filling will depend on these indicators. When you come to the store to choose foam rubber for the sofa, feel free to touch each sample and squeeze it in your hands. This will help determine the difference in stiffness and help you choose the ideal option for you.

What is it: classification of fillers

There are two large groups of upholstered furniture fillers: with springs and without springs.

In the first case, several layers of natural or artificial covering material - coconut coir, latex, foam rubber, felt, etc. - are laid on cylindrical springs or a base made of a spring “snake”. The different densities of a particular coating and many spring options make it possible to create fillings of different degrees of rigidity.

Springless fillers are based on highly elastic polyurethane foam (PPU, furniture foam rubber) - an inexpensive, but durable and elastic artificial material.

How to replace a spring block in a sofa

Instead of a spring block, you can use types of fillers such as foam rubber, felt or padding polyester.

The first is an elastic material, provides elasticity, can serve as both a softening and a supporting product, while it is perfectly breathable and has a fine-mesh structure.

Foam rubber is a soft polyurethane foam. The name comes from the company that supplies Porolon.

The second is environmentally friendly, durable and reliable. Due to the increased strength, its service life is significantly extended.

Felt is a dense non-woven material made from natural wool.

The third is inexpensive, environmentally friendly, does not cause an allergic reaction, durable and elastic. This prevents the growth of fungus or any other harmful bacteria.

Sintepon is one of the most popular materials in the modern world. The leader among synthetic isolates.

Material stiffness is the second main indicator

The rigidity of polyurethane foam is its load-bearing capacity, and shows how well the foam compresses when exposed to external loads. To put it simply, this is an indicator of how much the foam compresses when you sit or lie on its surface. Compression directly depends on the density of the material, the number of fibers inside, providing a shock-absorbing and supporting effect. Due to the rigidity, there is a comfortable fit for a person, since with correctly selected rigidity, a person will not push the foam rubber to a rigid base.

Stages of replacing foam rubber in a sofa with your own hands

Restoring upholstered furniture is a rather unpredictable process, during which various problems can arise. For example, when you start replacing the foam, other components of the sofa may have become unusable or you may need to replace the upholstery material.

Take your time when deciding to restore your sofa. First, decide how much work you have to do. Think about whether you should limit yourself to simply replacing the foam rubber, or whether it’s better to do everything to the maximum right away.

Choosing foam rubber

To ensure that your updated sofa retains its presentable appearance for as long as possible and becomes a comfortable place to relax, you should consider several important points before purchasing foam sheets. As a general rule, foam rubber sheets are selected according to two main parameters: thickness and density.

It is recommended to use sheets with a thickness of at least 4 centimeters and a density of approximately 30 kg/m3. These indicators are the most optimal for the material used as sofa upholstery, and the service life of the foam largely depends on them. If you choose a thinner and less dense material, it will soon dry out and become unusable. On the contrary, if the foam is too dense, the sofa will be too hard and uncomfortable.

Therefore, when you come to the store to buy a material, be sure to study its characteristics. As a rule, the first digits of the brand indicate the density of the foam, and the last ones indicate the hardness. It is these parameters that not only determine the durability of the sofa, but also affect the price of the purchased material. When choosing foam rubber in a store, test it by touch and compression, so you can choose the best option for yourself.

Taking measurements

You don't actually need to take measurements since foam sheets usually come in a standard size. The width is usually 1 meter, length 2 meters. Naturally, you can adjust the material to the desired size in a workshop, but this is probably a rather pointless solution. It is much cheaper to buy several standard sheets of foam and repair the sofa. The remaining material can be easily used for other household purposes, for example, to replace the upholstery in a small chair.

What it is

If you are thinking about how to replace worn-out foam rubber in furniture, then the best option is definitely to purchase the same foam rubber, or even higher quality. Before studying the types and trying to find out which is better, let’s understand the very essence of the material.

Foam rubber is a type of polyurethane foam, therefore the material can also legally and reasonably be called polyurethane foam. The strong opinion about foam rubber as a low-quality material is no longer relevant.

Currently it is used as:

• furniture upholstery element;
• popular packaging material;
• isolation;
• material to ensure heat conservation of various pipes;
• construction material;
• component for sports mats;
• filler for children's playrooms, rooms, etc.

Buying polyurethane foam of various types for appropriate purposes is not a problem at all today. And it doesn’t matter whether you live in Tyumen, cities like Chelyabinsk, Volgograd, Perm, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow or in some suburb. There are hardware stores everywhere. Plus, he does not forget about the possibility of purchasing inexpensively at retail in Leroy Merlin and through online stores.

Sintepon

Creates additional softness and elasticity

It is an intermediate material. The top of the filler is covered with padding polyester. It is also used to fill sofa cushions.

Available in various densities. Required density indicators for different furniture elements:

• back, armrests – 300 g/sq.m
• seat – not less than 400 g/sq.m
• pillows – more than 300 g/sq.m

These indicators must be strictly observed. Then the sofa will be soft and visually attractive. It will delight you with its coziness and comfort.

This material is popular for its properties.

Source: krrot.net

Natural latex

Ideal for all sleep products

Natural latex is made from rubber of natural origin. Rubber in its pure form is very capricious, so it is supplemented with an inhibitor.

The material is widely used in filling furniture. The proportion of rubber in such a filler should be in the range of 45-65% in order for it to have the necessary qualities:

• elasticity
• elasticity
• wear resistance

Natural latex is one of the best fillers. It has unique properties.

• Thanks to the high level of elasticity, it supports the body well, eliminating unnecessary swaying and swaying. Restores shape very quickly
• The latex structure gradually adapts to the contours of the body and responds even to light pressure. This makes it very comfortable, allowing you to support those parts of the body that need it: neck, head, lower and upper back, spine
• The porous structure allows air to pass through well, which prevents moisture from accumulating in the filler itself.
• Has good thermoregulation: keeps warm in winter, keeps cool in summer
• The high quality and strength of latex makes the filler durable in use and less susceptible to deformation.
• The material is hygienic and hypoallergenic
• The filler is absolutely silent in use

• The disadvantage is the high cost of this filler.

There is artificial latex - highly elastic polyurethane foam. The main differences between natural filler: it has a grayish tint and feels greasy to the touch.