Consider Both Firmness and Support When Purchasing Foam

Written by Carlo Badalamenti.

The main factor in determining the density of a sofa foam replacement is the amount of material used. A piece of foam with more material used per square inch will always be denser than a piece with less material. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a denser foam seat will be harder. The way that the material is produced plays a larger role in determining the foam’s hardness or softness than its density.

It’s possible to have a high density foam that is very soft or a low density foam that is firm to the touch. This is because there’s a distinct difference between a foam’s firmness and the amount of support it provides. A piece of foam with a high level of support will quickly regain its shape after someone sits down on it. This means that it will be less likely to go completely flat when someone is in a chair.

Meanwhile, the firmness of the foam is a measure of how the foam feels to the touch. It’s the difference between a piece of foam feeling stiff versus feeling softer. Which type of foam a person selects will often come down to a matter of personal preference.

In fact, both firmness and support should be considered when shopping at a site such as the Foam Factory for foam for a replacement sofa seat. There is measure called the “support factor” which takes into account the foam’s support level and firmness in order to determine how comfortable the foam will be to most people.

Carlo Badalamenti is the Marketing Manager of the Foam Factory, a family-run business for more than 30 years. Based in Southeast Michigan, the company sells foam for any residential or commercial need.