Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt

1126 days ago

Sagging sofa cushions – what’s the cause?

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (The Curtain Store)

“When selecting the fabric and style of a new lounge suite it is crucial to consider its future environment”

Picture this:
You purchased a brand-new couch this autumn. It has extra wide cushions on the seat. It’s sleek, it’s chic, it takes up one third of your lounge and most … View more
“When selecting the fabric and style of a new lounge suite it is crucial to consider its future environment”

Picture this:
You purchased a brand-new couch this autumn. It has extra wide cushions on the seat. It’s sleek, it’s chic, it takes up one third of your lounge and most importantly, you can melt into it on a Friday evening after work.

Fast forward to mid-spring. Sure, you passed all those cold winter’s nights watching movies with the family and you have spent more of the lockdown sitting down than you would like to admit, but now that it’s almost time to pop your bubble your brand-new couch is looking a little… dishevelled.

When selecting the fabric and style of a new lounge suite it is crucial to consider its future environment. To prevent your dream couch from becoming saggy and stretched on the seat cushion after prolonged use, or to remedy the situation, we’ve reached out to James Dunlop Textiles’ Auckland-based Upholstery Specialist, Robert Street, to provide insight into the problem and offer some solutions.

Why does the fabric on a newly upholstered sofa appear stretched and out of shape after only a few months of use?

There are several factors that could come into play here, let’s look at them one by one.

Firstly, it is rare for an upholstery fabric with a synthetic component to stretch as synthetic fibres are very stable. Natural fibres are generally stable but can ‘move’ over time depending on the weave. Twill weaves don’t move (think denim jeans) but basket weaves can move a little. Natural fibres such as cotton and linen can absorb the humidity in the air and ‘relax.’

However, all of James Dunlop Textile’s fabrics undergo the seam slippage test, which is performed as part of the fabric’s evaluation and quality testing process, where any possible issues like the weave stretching are highlighted. Any fabrics with seam slippage test failures are identified and resolved before we manufacture a product for our range.

What is Seam Slippage?
Seam slippage is the separation of yarns in a fabric, usually along a sewn seam or join. Generally, the yarns don’t actually break, they just pull apart leaving an unsightly gap along the fabric join.

So what could be the cause?

With this in mind – we can eliminate fabric stretch as the issue here and look at what the likely cause could be.


1. Foam
Good quality foam loses 5-7% of its loft within the first 3 months of use – this may be a contributing factor here. Some furniture manufacturers use a pre-crushed foam (the Gucci of foams) which prevents this loft loss – while being more expensive, it is worth it as you really do get what you pay for in furniture.

2. The Design
There are two main types of couch designs – cushion seat and fixed seat.

Cushion Seat: The sides of a cushion seat pull upwards, and therefore do not need extra fabric as the cushion flexes to allow the fabric cover to release into the compressed foam in the centre, where you sit.


Fixed Seat: A fixed seat requires an allowance of extra fabric in the back of the base cushion. This extra fabric moves forward, compensating for the foam compressing when you sit on the couch. Once you stand, the foam lofts again and if the extra fabric does not move back to the base of the cushion fast enough it will be trapped, causing a ‘puddled’ saggy look.


Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

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1130 days ago

SPCA Pet of the Day: Meet Peggy

Reporter Community News

"Hi there, my name is Peggy and boy am I a ball of energy. I have not had the best start to life so would love a second chance at happiness. I can be a little wary in new situations and meeting new people, so would love an experienced and patient home. One that has the time to put in the extra… View more"Hi there, my name is Peggy and boy am I a ball of energy. I have not had the best start to life so would love a second chance at happiness. I can be a little wary in new situations and meeting new people, so would love an experienced and patient home. One that has the time to put in the extra training I need as I have not had much. I am very food motivated so will pick things up quickly. I can be very puppy like when comfortable around my people so require a home with older teenagers or an only adult home, one that is confident around larger than life personalities. The team here have mixed me with other dogs, so I could go to a home with an existing dog. One that is social and has a similar play style to me. A dog that is happy to share their space and their humans. I have yet to be cat tested. If you think I am the dog for you please contact the canine team for more information."

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1126 days ago

Meet Alexandria Lindsay, our 2021 Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year finalist from Waitara

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Alexandria Te Ripeka "Pearl" Lindsay (Te Āti Awa o Taranaki) started gardening to grow her own food -- and now she's growing food for her community too.

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1126 days ago

Have your say on Wellington’s rapid transport future

Let's Get Wellington Moving

Let’s Get Wellington Moving is looking for your feedback on four transport options that will change how Wellingtonians get around and ensure we’re ready for the future.

Your trips of tomorrow could include modern electric vehicles with lots of space and a smoother ride, such as light rail … View more
Let’s Get Wellington Moving is looking for your feedback on four transport options that will change how Wellingtonians get around and ensure we’re ready for the future.

Your trips of tomorrow could include modern electric vehicles with lots of space and a smoother ride, such as light rail and bus rapid transit – take a look at the options and have your say today.
Find out more

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1126 days ago

WANTED WANTED WANTED

Goldco

GOLD•COINS•WATCHES•PAINTINGS•ANTIQUES •COLLECTABLES

Family not interested? | Have you stopped collecting? | Downsizing or moving? | Lying in a cupboard unused? | Unwanted jewellery? | Would cash be more useful?

If yes to any of these questions, then please see our buyers this week.… View more
GOLD•COINS•WATCHES•PAINTINGS•ANTIQUES •COLLECTABLES

Family not interested? | Have you stopped collecting? | Downsizing or moving? | Lying in a cupboard unused? | Unwanted jewellery? | Would cash be more useful?

If yes to any of these questions, then please see our buyers this week. We will buy single items or complete collections.

The recent lockdown has seen many of us take the time to sort items we no longer require or simply want to turn into cash.

We are currently very short of stock and keen to buy any of these or similar items.

Please see us at any of the multiple venues in the Wellington area.

Buying now at a venue near you deal with the specialists.

Click here for venues
Find out more

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1130 days ago

Trick or Treaters Welcomed

Andy from Naenae

We've decorated our home in Kerkwall Drive, Naeane in preparation for Halloween with lights, digital projections and audio which we will have going both Saturday and Sunday nights. The digital projections we show from 5 pm to 8:30 pm are family-friendly. After 8:30 pm the projects change a bit… View moreWe've decorated our home in Kerkwall Drive, Naeane in preparation for Halloween with lights, digital projections and audio which we will have going both Saturday and Sunday nights. The digital projections we show from 5 pm to 8:30 pm are family-friendly. After 8:30 pm the projects change a bit to be a little more spooky. The house looks amazing when it really gets dark :)

1130 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Reporter Community News

This weeks photo is from Louise Thomas.
"A grey warbler/riroriro (Gerygone igata) staking out his patch with a song on my afternoon walk at the Manor Park Golf Sanctuary, Lower Hutt."

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1127 days ago

There, they're and their!

NumberWorks'nWords Lower Hutt

There, they’re and their are the big trio of commonly confused words with all three of them pronounced the same.
- There means the opposite of here; “at that place.”
- They’re is a contraction of “they are” or “they were.”
- Their means “belongs to them.”

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1127 days ago

Meet our first finalist for the 2021 Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Get to know Darfield gardener Bronwyn Adams-Hooper, who runs a horticulture programme for the 18- to 21-year-olds serving time in the youth unit at Christchurch Men’s Prison. With her help, they've been growing veges that win awards at their local A&P show.

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1127 days ago

IT’s $2 BOOK WEEK

Tamsin Matthews from Red Cross Shop Petone

All booking only $2 each

RED CROSS SHOP IN PETONE
169 Jackson st

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1127 days ago

Meet Caitlin, a mechanical engineering apprentice and racing enthusiast

Competenz

Caitlin chose a career path that works with her passion for building stock cars.
Find a job you actually like - this is your sign to embrace the fluro!

Click here for more info.

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1127 days ago

Win a $20k advertising package

2degrees

2degrees is all about fighting for fair which is why we’re giving Wellington businesses the chance to win a $20,000 advertising package.

Apply before 6th December at 2degrees.nz/shoplocal.

T&Cs apply
Find out more

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1128 days ago

Free

Saranya from Waterloo

Study table and working printer.Pickup waterloo. Contact 0220328453

Free

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1129 days ago

Rubbish Dumping

Patricia from Normandale

Be on the lookout for these two with their trailer dumping their rubbish on private property in Normandale! If you know them you might like to suggest that they dump their rubbish in their own back yard!

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1131 days ago

Dog

Jean from Naenae

Looking for a double dog box thanks

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