Another upholstery blog?
Seriously?
Well yeah. There’s a lot of upholstery and we are brimming with way too much information about it in our heads.
So, we have to get it out somehow, consider this our furniture diary, where can spill all our innermost furniture knowledge.
And that way we save our families from having to listen to it.
AND in the meantime, you’re learning a little something!
Okay, okay, to the point.
This upholstery blog will give you information on coated, leather, and faux leather type, upholsteries.
So, let’s dive into the technicalities:
Leather
Leather is the only coated upholsteries that naturally occur.
Leather is made from the skin of cattle, goats, and pigs. However, because of this, it is a fair bit more expensive than other types of coated upholstery.
Vinyl (PVC)
Vinyl or PVC is a synthetic fabric that has the look of leather but is far cheaper making it the go-to in most high-traffic areas.
Of all the synthetic-coated upholstery, vinyl is the best option for places that use strong cleaners.
Polyurethane (PU)
Polyurethane is a fabric that is created by taking a standard textile substrate and coating it with polyurethane resin, which seals the tiniest of spaces in the textile making it ultra-cleanable.
Because of this, it is lighter in weight than vinyl which means it ‘breaths’ easier, making it more comfortable to sit on for longer periods.
Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)
Thermoplastic elastomer, or TPE, is a rubber-like material that is much like plastic. So, a version of vinyl that is made from a different type of material than vinyl.
Vinyl is plastic-based but TPE is a recyclable thermoplastic-based.
Silicone
And silicone is the final coated upholstery. Silicone is one of the most versatile and strongest of the coated upholstery, however, it is generally a little more expensive.
It is created using quartzite, which is a raw material, also known as crystalline silica.
So what coated upholstery is best for your use?
Reach out to get expert advice – info@flexxform.co!
References
Hossain, M. A. (n.d.). Coated fabric | Types of coated fabric. Retrieved from Advance Textile:
Knoll Textiles. (n.d.). Coated Upholstery Characteristics Polyurethan, Vinyl & Silicone. Retrieved from Knoll Textiles:
LDI Interiors. (n.d.). Understanding Coated Fabrics: PVC, PU, TPE, Silicone. Retrieved from LDI Interiors:
Star Thermoplastics. (n.d.). What is TPE? Retrieved from Star Thermoplastics: https://www.starthermoplastics.com/products/what-is-tpe/