The Suite was presented for re foaming and possibly re-webbing, understandable given the age of the suite, the leather was still in excellent condition and new foam and re webbing would have given this suite a new lease of life.  Upon removal of the bottom protective under cloth our staff discovered the shocking truth.  The frame work on this suite had in fact had not been made in Italy but in fact in Asia.  It had been made from exceptionally poor quality timber (similar to the timber on packing crates).  Not only had the timber been poorly cut, the frame was held together with minimal staple’s and no carpentry glue what so ever.  The timber was extremely thin and was beginning to split in places that should in fact be the strength and support of the suite.

Naturally we advised our customer that should we proceed with the recovery it would in fact do more damage to their suite. This is due to the fact that our work (all be it, would have improved the comfort of the seating which is currently sagging) would have, in fact, split the already deteriorating timber.  Whilst our customer was disappointed that they were not going to have their suite freshened up as previously discussed, they were happy that we were honest and saved them from wasting their hard earned money.

Unfortunately, when you purchase a suite from the stores today and in fact in past years, you only see the finished look and not what quality has or more to the point has not gone into the making of your suite.  Be aware of the warranty provided on the frame of your suite and any warranty on the foam and fabric/leather.  Quality Australian foam comes with warranty as does any leather or fabric, they are often warranted separately by the product manufacturer.  This information should be advised in the warranty details provided from the furniture manufacturer.  Should you experience any problems with your foam or fabric/leather you would need to have these problems fixed by the manufacturer of the suite.  They in fact would complete the claim on your behalf to the foam or fabric/leather manufacturer.

Don’t be afraid to ask the retailer or manufacturer where the suite has been made or where the parts are being sourced from. There are some good furniture that is being imported from overseas,unfortunately, there are allot of bad furniture that is being imported from overseas also.  It’s your hard earned money that is paying for your furniture and you deserve to know how it is made and what it is you are in fact getting for your money.

The post Buyer Beware. What is your furniture made from? appeared first on Upholstery Design Solutions Adelaide.

• Protect your Furniture from direct sunlight. It is impossible to prevent colours from fading as no fabric or leather is 100% colour fast so it is important to take adequate precautions to reduce the amount of direct sunlight to your furniture.

• Dust. The long term villain ‘Dust’ is settling daily on your favourite furniture which is easy to see on polished tables but not noticeable on upholstered furniture.  It is important you vacuum regularly (weekly) using low suction to significantly extend the life of your furniture, as
  accumulated dust & grit can work their way into fabrics.  This can ultimately lead to the breakdown of even the strongest fabrics.

• Spot Cleaning. Try to treat spills & stains as soon as possible, gently remove any soil and mop up any excess liquid from the fabric.  We recommend that you follow the fabric manufacturers care instructions attached to your furniture.  Avoid saturating the fabric or filling with water or any other cleaning fluids.  Should a proprietary brand fabric cleaner be needed we again advise you to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and also recommend testing the product in an unseen area prior to general use.

• During the first three months polyurethane foam & fibre padding tends to become softer before finally stabilizing itself. Light creases may also form on the cover following this natural settling. These creases are absolutely normal.

Leather Care

• Your furniture has been hand crafted by us using only the finest selected hides. It is important to note that leather is a natural product & during the life of the animal it inevitably comes into contact with barbed wire, bushes & the horns of other animals. As a result of these encounters scars, scratches & grain variation appear on your leather. These individual properties are normal and they enhance the natural quality of your sofa, setting it apart from any man made or synthetic reproductions.

• Be sure to regularly use proprietary brand leather cleaners, such as Leather Master or Guardsman, depending on your use of the furniture. Ensure you follow the maintenance instructions as advised by the manufacturer.  Wipe any excess spots or spills with a soft cloth or sponge immediately. If staining occurs consult a leather care specialist. Avoid using detergents or other domestic cleaning agents as these products can damage your furniture.

• Leather, like our own skin, is porous so it is important to avoid as much as possible any build up of perspiration or body oils etc., on cushions or arms by regular maintenance. Without this regular maintenance, the build up of body oils can lead to the development of hard areas and possibly cracking in the leather.

The post Tips for Caring for your Furniture appeared first on Upholstery Design Solutions Adelaide.