Different Types of Furniture Springs

There are many factors that determine whether a sofa is good quality; a few examples are upholstery materials and construction. The most important component being the sofa’s spring system. This guide will show you the different kinds of spring systems, which one is the best and how to check which spring system your sofa has!

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8 Way Hand Tied Coil Springs

Labor-Intensive/Highest Quality

8 Way Hand Tied Coil Springs

Long considered the highest quality standard of suspension, this is the most labor-intensive and costly option that makes an overall high-quality piece of furniture. With this kind of suspension, numerous coil springs are supported on the bottom by either metal or jute webbing and are secured to one another on the top with twine tied in eight different spots by hand. The twine keeps the springs from shifting and also ensures the suspension won’t start to squeak over time. To see if a sofa or chair is eight-way hand-tied, pick up the cushion and push on the seat deck; you might be able to feel the separate coil springs and the twine through the fabric. You can also check the bottom of the furniture and feel if it has a hard bottom, jute webbing, or thick 2-3 inch metal strips that hold the coil springs.

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ZigZag Sinuous Springs

Most Common

ZigZag Sinuous Springs

You’ll probably come across the term sinuous springs more than eight-way hand-tied, since it’s the most common suspension in low-to-mid-priced sofas. This suspension is made of zigzag pieces of metal set in rows attached from the front to the back of the sofa or chair. It’s true that sinuous zigzag spring sofas are less expensive than eight-way hand-tied, and if properly made they will perform better than a drop-in spring system. Just make sure the wire is at least 8-gauge and that there are at least two silent tie wires running across and clipped to each spring. To see if a sofa or chair has zigzag springs, pick up the cushion and push and feel around the seat deck; you might be able to feel the s shape metal of this spring system. If you check the bottom of the sofa or chair, you will feel a loose piece of fabric.

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Drop-In Coil Springs

Less Labor-Intensive

Drop-In Coil Springs

A less labor-intensive version of a 8 way hand tied spring suspension. This suspension system can оffеr ѕоmе оf the same ѕuрроrt of the 8 wау hand tied springs while cutting down оn labor соѕtѕ. Drop-in coils are coils mounted on a metal frame added to the furniture as a single piece. This system isn’t supported on the bottom; they are nailed or screwed on to the sides of the furniture frame. There’s a lot of metal-to-metal contact, which can lead to some squeaking. To see if a sofa or chair has drop in coils, pick up the cushion, push and feel around the seat deck; you might be able to feel the metal circles and wires of this spring system. If you check the bottom of the sofa or chair, you will feel a loose piece of fabric and you might feel 8 gauge wires that connect to the small end of the coil springs.

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Jute Webbing

Strong, Sturdy, Lightweight

Jute Webbing

Saggy, upholstered dining room seats, sofas or chairs often only require new webbing to make them like new again. Jute webbing gives the seat its firmness by providing a sturdy, strong and lightweight base for the cushion and fabric. Old webbing may stretch or tear, resulting in a lumpy and uncomfortable seating. You can replace the webbing but use the same upholstery if you like, or update the entire chair with new fabric that matches your decor. Jute webbing has little to no bounce so expect a strong and durable seat support that will last a long time if properly made.

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Elastic Webbing

Stretchy, Bounce, Lightweight

Elastic Webbing

Furniture elastic webbing is used on sofas, chairs or dining seats to support seat and back cushions. Elastic webbing is more stretchy and has more bounce than jute webbing which provides a more comfortable seating; however, stretchy webbing does tend to give out faster if not properly installed. Some lower quality sofas have this support system which isn't ideal if you plan on keeping the furniture for the long run, but ,if in a tight budget, it's not always a bad choice.

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