Wooden sofas and armchairs: quality issues and what to check before you order and before packing
A wooden sofa fails in the frame and in what is hidden under the cover: joints that loosen, springs or webbing that sag, foam that is not what was ordered, and fire labels that do not match the materials. Once covered, the inside cannot be seen, so check frames and filling during production and the finished workmanship and labels at pre-shipment.
How it is usually made: A solid wood frame, with exposed show-wood arms and legs or fully covered, carrying serpentine springs or webbing, foam and fibre filling, and a fixed or loose cover.
Put these in the purchase order
An inspector can only hold the factory to what is written down. Add your AQL, moisture limit and golden sample to every order as well.
| Specify | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Frame joinery and wood | Species, moisture limit and joint type; the frame is invisible once covered. |
| Suspension | Springs or webbing, their type and spacing. |
| Foam and filling | Foam grade and density and fibre wrap, with supplier documents. |
| Fabric and fire compliance | Fabric, pattern matching, and the fire rules and labels for your market. |
| Seat height, depth and firmness | With tolerances, against an approved sample. |
Defects to look for on a wooden sofa
Usual class by our default definitions: critical is unsafe or unshippable, major affects function, saleability or durability, minor is cosmetic. Your own defect list always overrides it.
| Defect | Usual class | Usual cause | How it is checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame joint loose or cracked | Critical | Wet wood, staples or glue in place of joints. | Inspect the bare frame during production; rack and sit-test finished pieces. |
| Fire label missing or not matching the materials | Critical | Labels applied without matching the build. | Check labels against the materials and the test records for the market. |
| Springs or webbing sagging or noisy | Major | Too few springs, loose clips, webbing not tensioned. | Sit-test every seat; listen and feel for bottoming out. |
| Foam not as specified | Major | Cheaper foam substituted. | Check foam during production; compare firmness with the sample. |
| Pattern not matched, puckered seams, visible staples | Major | Rushed cutting and covering. | Inspect seams, pattern match and the underside. |
| Show-wood finish off the sample | Minor | Batch variation. | Compare against the golden sample. |
What to check during production, at inspection and before packing
During production
- Bare frames: joints, moisture and square, before covering.
- Springs, webbing and foam against the specification.
- Fabric lot and cutting for pattern match.
At pre-shipment inspection
- Sit-test every sampled seat and back; rack the arms.
- Inspect seams, pattern match, staples and the underside.
- Check fire labels and records against the materials.
- Measure seat height and depth; compare firmness with the sample.
Before packing
- Fabric wrapped against dirt and moisture; corners and legs protected.
- Detachable legs and hardware sealed and labelled.
- Cartons strong enough to stack without crushing the cushions.
Moisture, finish and sampling
- Moisture: put a limit for your destination in the PO and have it read with a pin meter on sampled pieces. Wood shipped wet cracks after delivery. Targets by market are in the wood guide.
- Finish: approve a golden sample and hold every batch to it; finishes cured in humid weather can bloom in transit.
- Sampling: AQL 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor defects at General Level II by default. The AQL calculator gives the sample size for your order.
- Hardware: count kits against the bill of materials; wrong or missing hardware turns a sound product into a return.
Rules that may apply to a wooden sofa
| Rule | When it applies |
|---|---|
| UK fire safety | For upholstered furniture sold in the UK. |
| US flammability standard (16 CFR 1640, TB 117-2013) | Upholstered furniture made or imported from 25 June 2022, with a permanent CPSC compliance label. California also requires a flame-retardant disclosure label. |
| Formaldehyde (TSCA Title VI, REACH) | If frame parts are plywood or MDF. |
Wooden sofas and armchairs: questions
Can a pre-shipment inspection check what is inside a sofa?
Not without opening it. That is why frames, springs and foam are checked during production, before covering.
What fire rules apply to a wooden sofa?
For the UK, the upholstered parts must meet the fire safety regulations and carry the right labels. For the US, upholstered furniture must meet the federal flammability standard (TB 117-2013, adopted as 16 CFR 1640) and carry its permanent label.
Related guides
- Dining chairs: Joint strength, corner blocks, wobble, seat height, colour matching across a set.
- Cane and rattan furniture: Treatment against borer and mould, weave consistency, webbing fixing, moisture-safe packing.
- Benches: Seat sag over the span, leg joints, storage lids and stays, cushions.
- Leather sofas and chairs: Leather grade, hide marks, colour matching, finish, seams, chemical and fire rules.
- All furniture inspection guides
- Free furniture inspection checklist (PDF)
Have your wooden sofa order checked before you pay
Tell us the factory, the product and the date. We reply with scope and a fixed quote within 24 hours. A pre-shipment inspection starts at $249.
Talk to an inspector Pre-shipment inspection