Wendell's Furniture

What to look for:

There are many different brand names on the market today and for the most part, all of them build quality products. One of the best rules of thumb for finding quality Sofas and Loveseats is to find out what they are actually constructed of, starting with the frame. Solid wood is definitely the best product to use in frame construction, but it is important to remember that no frame is good just because of the wood used in its construction. It's good to find out whether the wood is kiln dried and what country the wood originated from. Usually, Asian hardwoods are not as good as American products for quality in the kiln and production process.

Most Sofa/Loveseat frames are built of some type of wood but, in the not to distant future, plastics will start to be used as regular construction material in lots of frames. This is because plastic is cheaper to produce and with new break-throughs in the development process, plastics can now be glued, screwed, sanded and shaped just like wood.....without the problems of humidity effecting them, like wood. Be sure to make sure that you are not buying an "all wood" frame that is nothing more than particle board and staples.

Ask if you can see how it's constructed if possible. Although, bear in mind that most manufacturers use some sort of dust cover under their products to keep them clean and protected, so seeing the actual frame construction may be a bit tricky.

A good salesperson will be able to explain how the frames are actually assembled. Fixed legs are usually more stable and solid than the screw-on type, but the screw-on type come in an array of sizes and shapes from thin to 6" wide bun shapes. Some are definitely more stable, but they will all last just as long if you occasionally make sure to tighten them and NEVER push a sofa to move it, ALWAYS lift it with two people (if possible) or lift one end slightly and pull it to where you want it. This will help to keep you from folding screw-on legs under the frame. Obviously, if the leg is an actual piece of the frame, it will be harder to hurt the leg when moving it, but it can happen.....just never push it around the room; it will save your Sofa or Loveseat and your back as well.

The more solid a sofa or loveseat frame is, the more it usually weighs. Don't be afraid to pickup one end of the piece you are looking at and see how it feels. If it is too light.....it's probably not built too well. If it seems to flex in a twisting-like motion when you pickup one end it's probably not too stable, NOTE: All frames will have some sort of flex to them, this is to help with humidity and temperature changes the frame may endure in it's life.....use your instinct here, too much flex is not good, a couple of inches is normal and fine. I know this sounds like a lot but you really should be able to find all of this out in just a couple of minutes when actually shopping. Now, on to cushions and springs...

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