Fabric Protection Plans

9 years ago

I just bought upholstered furniture from Laz Boy Furniture Gallery for a rental unit I own in FL. I purchased furniture from them last year and declined fabric protection.

In both purchases, I made sure all the fabric I selection was type "W" -- the furniture in my home is in a formal living room that will never see food.

The rental is a different matter. People I don't know could be sitting on the furniture with a wet bathing suit or even suntan lotion on their skin. And they could be eating their dinner on my couch while watching TV.

I also have no control over how they clean any spots or stains they make -- because I am 1200 miles away.

I am suspicious of the fabric protection plans because #1 -- I think it probably wears off over time, #2 -- I am not their to call them for a technician to visit, so what would be the point? #3 -- I never understood why you have to pay extra to to protection on your couches.

Should I spend the money on it for the rental or just roll the dice?

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Comments (5)

PRO
Elite Interiors & Furniture Gallery
9 years ago
We use Guardsman Furniture Protection. They no longer use a fabric protection as it voids the cushion warranty & they were replacing a lot of cushions. There are a lot of "sunbrella" fabrics out now to be used on indoor furniture; you may want to look into using one of these fabrics for the rental.
PRO
Wellington's Fine Leather Furniture
9 years ago
Again, I agree with Elite Interiors. Sunbrella fabrics are the best way to go in a fabric. Your guests can spill bleach on your furniture and it will not stain. Many good furniture manufactures offer these fabrics on their furniture products. Have you ever considered leather? Leather furniture far outlasts fabric and no maintenance or odors with spills. Just a thought.
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I do not sell furniture protection plans in my store, because IMHO they are worthless. These are statistical sales that do nothing more than count on only 8 to 10 % of customers ever invoking a claim. When a customer does make a claim, they simply credit you with a dollar amount to buy a new furniture item as replacement. What they count on is the fact that the vast majority of people will never file a claim. There is NOTHING you can apply to fabric that does not wear off in short order. Typically any fabric protectant is good for about three months, depending on use of the upholstery. Most water-based fabric "protectants" are worthless. Scotchguard is the only product that I've ever seen that works, even it has to be re-applied periodically. However, Scotchguard was quietly pulled from industrial use several years ago as a suspected carcogin. 3M did this voluntarily before the government stepped in. Fabric used to be vat-dipped in Scotchguard, and workers exposed to it were developing cancer at higher rates. However, even though it was taken off the market for industrial use, it remains as a consumer product you can buy in a spray can. Apply it yourself and when water droplets no longer stay atop it, respray your fabric. As for wood, simply wax or polish it for protection.
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This topic has been discussed many times, you can do a search on this to see. My advice is to determine if the fabric you are buying needs protection. Most natural fibers maybe except wool should have a type of sealant applied to the yarn to resist absorption of liquids or oils. Using the appropriate chemical applied at the mill will provide this protection, under normal use for the live of the fabric, unless it is cleaned in a way to remove most of this protection. The most common man-made fibers resists absorption of any liquids or oils. And are usually easily cleaned. These fabric protection plans is more of a crap-shoot on if your getting any real benefit from the application or chemical used.
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You're going to buy a rather iffy furniture protection plan, from a disreputable furniture store, and you are wondering if it is a good idea? Does not the furniture come with a warrranty already covering any manufacturing defects? Wouldn't your home owners insurance cover just about any major mishap to your household belonging? And if you pay with a major credit card you have even further protection. What would this extra plan costing over $200 cover that the other protections would not? There is no guarantee that Steinhafels will be helpful if you try to recover using the furniture protecton plan you bought. As you have already indicated they don't have a great reputation and they would not be the ones you would be dealing with anyway. You would have to deal with an out of state company with a boiler room operation. Where is this Guardsman Elite company really located? Have you made any effort to contact them to see how they handle customer service? What possibley could go wrong with your furniture within five years, that would cost more than $200 to repair?
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So far, I was able to remove the second stain (with the power bar); but am having difficultly with the first one (old brown bag lunch). So far, no water marks, but second stain area is still drying after I blotted as much as I could. The second stain seems to be more of a dryish stain, whereas there was something in the lunch (fruit I think) that had spoilt and leaked through the fabric. Looks like chocolate milk was spilt there, but there was no container in the snack when I found it. The location is not ideal either since it's in the seams, welting and zipper area. I hate to have to bring in an upholstery cleaner as other than this stain the sofa is spotless as we rarely use it. I am just really upset at my DD (she claims she did not stuff her lunch back there, but bag had her name on it). I can't figure out why it was put there--perhaps younger DD trying ot get older one in trouble, who knows. I would be less upset if they had been sitting there and spilled some food because at least it was an accident, but this seems deliberate and now may have ruined an expensive sofa. It's in the corner and completely hidden by the cushion so could be worse. Sometimes I get so upset with her disregard for our possessions--there are pen marks on the family room sofa which I have to get out from time to time because she sits there, does her homework, leaves cap off pens. Still she is a straigh-A student taking all honors classes, really good in many ways, no trouble with drugs, etc. so in large scheme of things, I suppose I should not complain.... Oh well, I've not given up I can get it out and may end up taking just the cushion to the dry cleaner or perhaps I should get the Folex and try it. I've used that before for carpets (when we used to have carpets). It always worked well.
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PRO
Elite Interiors & Furniture Gallery
9 years ago
I agree with Wellington's Leather Furniture regarding leather however I would recommend a protected leather in a rental situation where people may be sitting on the furniture with suntan lotion to prevent oil staining.
freethinker99
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Just a comment about Sunbrella. These fabrics are great as a rule. For the most part they are 100% Solution-Dyed Acrylic. These fabrics have come a long way and have certain benefits such as they are not bothered by sunlight, bleach, wet bathing suits and an added feature pet hair does not seem to stick to them. In my opinion they don't feel quite as nice as more natural fabrics such as 100% cotton or linen or blends of the two. It has also been my experience that a heavy duty 100% cotton twill fabric on a slipcover for example washes more easily.

As far as pigmented leather I think you are much better off with a full aniline dyed leather which are dyed all the way through. Pigmented leathers do resist scratches but a pigmented leather when it does scratch really looks scratched and they can be difficult to repair. Pigmented leathers are from the inner layers of the hide as hides are usually shaved into 3 layers as a rule. The inner layers are the weakest layers. The inner layers are sanded, buffed and more or less spray painted with a pigmented leather and we all know what happens with paint it eventually peels. Pigmented leathers are also cold in the winter and hot in the summer as they don't breathe. However everyone has their own opinion and this is just mine and many people will say to buy a pigmented leather in a situation such as you have described..

As far as protection plans I am all in favor of them. If you damaged your sofa and it needed to be replaced you would be very happy to have one of these plans. However in every case the protection plan companies do not cover rental properties. If you do buy one of these plans never tell the protection plan company you have rented your property or it will void your plan. Of course should you decide to buy a plan and rent your home you shouldn't really even be buying a plan as it violates the contract but that it up to you.
PRO
Elite Interiors & Furniture Gallery
9 years ago
Freethinker99 I agree that Sunbrella fabrics do no feel as good as 100% cotton or linen which are natural fabrics but many today feel as good as other polyester/acrylic fabrics. In addition to the furniture protection plans being voided for rentals with a few exceptions such as commercial furniture manufacturers the manufacturer warranty on the furniture is voided when used for rental purposes. I would prefer full aniline dyed leather but it will stain if suntan lotion gets on it.

Fabric Protection Plans

Comments (5)

Elite Interiors & Furniture Gallery

Wellington's Fine Leather Furniture

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freethinker99

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