Question:
We purchased our Flexsteel Latitudes family room furniture a few years ago.The furniture is wearing well, but the couch seat cushions need more filling.
The sales woman said that when the seat cushions flatten out, I just need to add more fiber. I don’t know how or where to add the fiber. Is there one type of fiber that is best for cushions?
Answer:
You cannot just “add more filling” to couch cushions.
Theoretically, you could stuff loose fiber into the cushion cover.
But the seat cushions will look lumpy & uneven, and could easily be even less comfortable than they are currently.
Your current cushions are not made using loose fiber.
That construction is used only for pillows or back cushions.
Take the cushion to any custom upholsterer or reupholsterer.
They will probably recommend replacing the complete foam core and fiber wrap.
Replacing only the fiber wrap will cause the same problem you have now.
The 1.8 density foam used in Flexsteel Latitudes sofas generally has a lifespan of 3 – 5 years before losing resiliency and comfort.
If you have owned your sofa for at least three years, you may want to consider replacing all three cushion cores.
Replacing cushion cores with 1.8 density foam will give you another 3 – 5 years of life for the sofa. Higher density foams will last longer. For example:
2.0 density foam will last 1 – 2 years longer than 1.8 density.
2.5 density foam cores should last 10 – 15 years.
[Note: Flexsteel’s sofas have changed their cushion construction recently.]
They now use a composite cushion that combines a 2.0 density foam core with a 1.2 density outer layer of foam.
There is also an option for a 2.5 density foam central core, combined with a 1.2 density outer core.
These new composite cushions are fairly recent. There is no data on how well they will hold up over the long run.
I would not be surprised if the 1.2 density foam breaks down very quickly.
These cushions could break down even sooner than 1.8 density foam cushions.
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