Replacing foam rubber in a sofa

Many manufacturers are trying to save money in the process of manufacturing upholstered furniture and use ordinary foam rubber as a filler. And if you understand that the appearance of the sofa continues to be attractive, but it becomes uncomfortable to sit on, this indicates that the foam rubber has become unusable and needs to be replaced with a new filler urgently.

If you don’t want to spend money and contact craftsmen, then you can easily do this work yourself at home. All you need is to stock up on the necessary tools and carefully follow the instructions that will be presented in today’s article.

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

Repairing upholstered furniture is a process during which it may be necessary not only to replace foam rubber, but also to repair other components, along with replacing the upholstery.

Important! When you decide to restore your sofa, there is no need to rush. The first step is to decide whether you can limit yourself to replacing the filler, or whether you will need to change the casing as well. And based on this information, you can stock up on materials and the necessary tools.

Choosing foam rubber

In order for the sofa after renovation to retain its attractive appearance longer and to make rest on it as comfortable as possible, you will need to follow certain rules when choosing materials.

The foam sheet is selected according to two indicators:

• Thickness;
• Density.

The thickness of the foam sheet should be from 4 cm, and the density should be about 30 kg/m3. The service life of the updated filler and its performance will directly depend on these indicators. If the foam is thin and soft, it will collapse in just a few months, which will require replacement again.

And in cases with excessively dense foam rubber, it will simply be uncomfortable to sit or lie on the sofa, because it will be too hard. In view of the above, when going to the store to purchase foam rubber, you need to pay attention to its brand. The first numbers indicate the density, and the last numbers indicate the hardness of the material.

Not only the service life of the sofa, but also the price of the foam rubber depends on these indicators. Therefore, when you come to the store, do not hesitate to squeeze the material in your hands, as this will help you determine the required rigidity, and thereby purchase the best option.

Taking measurements

As such, measurements are not required, due to the fact that foam sheets in most cases have a standard size. Their width is 1 meter and their length is 2 meters. Of course, workshops can make you custom-made material, but this would probably be a foolish idea and costly financially.

It’s easier to purchase several sheets of foam rubber and repair the sofa, and if the material remains, it can always be used to repair the rest of the furniture or find another use.

Sofa reupholstery

1. Initially, the sides are removed and the back is disconnected.
2. Then the sofa folding mechanism is separated.It is best to take a photo at the end of each stage so that you can easily assemble the sofa to its original state after completing the repair work.
3. Afterwards the upholstery is removed from each component. To do this, use a flat screwdriver or an anti-stapler.
4. At this stage, the foam rubber in the sofa is replaced at home for every detail.
5. In order for the layer to be as even as possible, it is necessary to cover the new upholstery with canvas.
6. Afterwards we return the sofa upholstery to its place and put it back to its original state.

Expert advice

Professionals recommend making replacements yourself in several situations.

1. The furniture has been used for a long time, its use has become uncomfortable when used as a sleeping place.
2. There is a manufacturing defect on the sofa or poor quality filling was used in the manufacture of the furniture.
3. In cases where the sofa has become overly soft.

Remember that you can fill the sofa yourself at home. But if the relevant knowledge is missing, it is best to turn to specialists!