Sofa accordion does not fold, what should I do?

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Repair of accordion sofas

The sofa transformation mechanism “accordion” received its “musical” name due to its visual similarity with the instrument of the same name. Its berth consists of three articulated sections, two of which form the backrest when folded, and one forms the seat. This design ensures maximum compactness, because after transformation the useful area of the sofa increases three times! Moreover, the procedure itself does not require any effort, since the entire load is transferred through the rollers to the floor. It is enough to pull the front section, and the sleeping bed will roll out, taking a horizontal position. It should be said that the reliability of a sofa with an accordion mechanism is very high. Its design is suitable for daily intensive use. Since the weight of the sofa during transformation is almost completely transferred to the floor, no points of tension arise. With one small exception - the rollers of the “accordions” gradually wear out. If they are not replaced in a timely manner, the defective roller begins to damage the floor covering. In addition, the deterioration of its mobility and functionality leads to increased load on the sofa transformation mechanism with subsequent deformation of its elements. If nothing is done, even the wooden elements of the frame may suffer.

Accordion: I'm not a sofa, I'm a bed

It looks like a sofa, but inside it looks like a bed. And this is not a trick. A FURNITURE CONFIDENT learned all the details about accordion sofas from the manufacturer, director of the furniture salon “Sofas and Sofas” Sergei Vasilyevich Poroshin.

– Sergey Vasilyevich, why does the sofa have such a musical name?

– The music of a sofa is its mechanism, and the mechanism for unfolding an accordion is really similar to the bellows of a harmonica.
Its back seems to be folded in half, and in order to get a sleeping place, the sofa needs to be stretched. – What does a sofa accordion consist of?
How do you get the bed effect? – An accordion is, first of all, the most comfortable type of folding sofa for daily sleep. Among the sofas that slide forward, it is the accordion that provides a flat sleeping area without sagging or height changes. That’s why some manufacturers say about it: “I’m not a sofa, I’m a bed.” The only alternative to an accordion for sleeping is a Eurobook.

The basis of the accordion sofa is a metal frame. This durable material makes the mechanism lightweight and the sofa easy to transform. Next is the anatomical basis. We use orthopedic armor (aka slats) exactly like a bed. This is the key to a comfortable sleeping place. Then a real mattress is placed. It may contain polyurethane foam (PPU) or an independent spring block. The choice of filling depends on the client’s wishes. Some people like to sleep softly, while others need a firmer option. And finally, the case. If the cover is removable, it can be washed. This means that the sofa will be easier to care for.

– Does the accordion need to be moved away from the wall when unfolding?

– Most models have a backrest, so the sofa does not need to be moved away from the wall to get a sleeping place.

– Sergey Vasilyevich, tell us what to look for when choosing an accordion in order to buy a really high-quality model?

– Accordion sofas from different manufacturers differ in the quality of their mechanisms and fasteners. Therefore, the first thing that is important to check is how easily and conveniently the option you have chosen folds and unfolds. The coating of the metal frame must be smooth and the latches must be soft. The weight of the sofa directly depends on the thickness of the pipe: the thinner the wall, the lighter the sofa.

Second. You need to pay attention to the quality of the foam rubber. Just unzip the case and look at its color. High-quality foam rubber will have a pink tint. If you see white, it means it is low-density foam rubber; it will be easily pressed.

Third. For an accordion with an independent spring unit, look at how the mechanisms are secured. The accordion should have a solid sheet under the back; if this sheet is split, it will be uncomfortable to sleep.

Fourth. There are accordions with and without drawers. If you want a model with storage space, evaluate the material from which the box is made. Laminate is better in this case. Check how the box is secured, what kind of wheels are there, and whether they roll smoothly.

– Is the size of the wheels or their material an indicator of the quality of the sofa?

– As a rule, now most manufacturers have standard wheels. They do not leave marks on the floor and completely solve the problem of transformation 2 times a day.

– How long does a polyurethane foam (PPU) mattress last for daily use?

– The warranty period is 18 months, but in practice it can be used for 5 years or even more. If the PPU mattress lies on orthopedic armor, then under load it does not press down much. Sometimes, to extend the life of a mattress, you just need to turn it over. This is easy to do at home if the cover is removable. In any case, if necessary, you can always order a new mattress, and it will cost much less than a new sofa.

– What fabrics are best for an accordion? Is it true that long-pile fabrics become deformed when folded? Are there leather accordions?

– The accordion is a covered furniture, and the fabric, like a classic sofa, does not stretch. Therefore, an accordion can be made from leather, artificial leather, fleecy fabric, jacquard, tapestry and other materials, the main thing is that the fabric itself is of high quality.

– Sergey Vasilyevich, how to correctly calculate the place for transforming the accordion so that the new sofa fits well at home even when unfolded?

– To find out the ideal size of your future sofa, simply measure your space. The length of accordions is standard - about 1.95 m. This is above the average height of a person. The overall length when unfolded, together with the rear backrest, is 2-2.05 m. And the width can be different: 0.8 m, 1.2 m, 1.4 m, 1.55 m, 1.8 m. Plus each armrest takes up 10 to 15 cm of space. Therefore, if only a narrow sofa or chair format suits you, but you want to make the sleeping area freer, choose a model without armrests. When assembled, the accordion is very compact and takes up little space. This is also important for everyone who chooses a sofa bed.

Recommendations for choosing a sofa with an accordion mechanism

So, you came to the store to buy a sofa and, naturally, you want it to serve you for a long time. What to check:

Presence of visible defects. Perhaps something can be discovered during a visual inspection. Of course, this applies not only to the upholstery, but also to the frame, slats, fastening bolts and seams.
Unfold and fold the sofa in the store, evaluate how smoothly and easily it happens and what sounds you hear. There shouldn't be any creaking. A characteristic click indicates the serviceability of the mechanism.
Sit down on the sofa, stand up and see how quickly the upholstery returns to its original form and whether any holes or bubbles form.
Be sure to ask the seller for a quality certificate for the product; the guarantee for such a sofa must be at least 18 months.

And of course, before buying, determine the location of the sofa in the apartment, measure how it will look when unfolded.

Mechanisms for transforming sofas

Let's reveal a secret: there are no “bad” and “good” transformation mechanisms; there can be a wrong approach to choosing a suitable model. A review with short illustrative videos will help you understand what types of sofas there are and find “your” option.

When choosing the type of transformation, pay attention to how the sofa unfolds, lightness and speed, contact with the floor and the presence of a linen drawer. The purpose of the future sofa is also important - daily use or unfolding from time to time?

A mechanism familiar to many from childhood. The transformation from sofa to bed is simple and intuitive. Time-tested folding sofas are equipped with a spacious linen compartment under the seat and have an attractive price due to the simplicity and unpretentiousness of their design.

How to unfold: the seat goes up until it clicks, and then goes down. The backrest takes a horizontal position, forming a flat surface for sleeping and resting.

What's good about it: low price, quick folding method, spacious drawer for linen.

What you should remember: the distance from the back to the wall must be at least 10 cm; effort must be made to unfold it.

A reliable and easy-to-use sofa transformation mechanism. Due to the absence of loops at the joint, the sleeping surface is smooth and comfortable. The sleeping area is located along the sofa, which is ideal for narrow spaces. There is no need to think about how to unfold or fold the “Eurobook” and there is no need to move it away from the wall each time – the design of the model moves forward.

How to unfold: Roll out the seat and lower the backrest - the place to rest is ready.

What’s good about it: reliability and spacious drawer for linen, no need to move the sofa every time you unfold it, suitable for narrow rooms.

Things to keep in mind: Models without wheels may scratch the floor.

This type has all the advantages of a “Eurobook”, and even more. Raising sofas are not equipped with casters and move apart without touching the floor. The lifting mechanism pushes the seat up and it seems to step forward, leaving the floor covering untouched. The reverse folding mechanism is also effortless.

How to unfold: pull the seat up and towards you and lower the backrest.

What’s good about it: it doesn’t interact with the floor, it’s equipped with a linen compartment, and you don’t need to move it when unfolding.

What you should remember: folding requires more effort than in a Eurobook.

Ambulance: how to fix a sagging sofa

Furniture also has a certain shelf life, especially upholstered furniture. The first thing that catches your eye is the condition of the upholstery, and then the shape of the sofa. Too unkempt appearance plays a paramount role. You want to relax and have a good time on the sofa, but all the enjoyment of the moment can be ruined by the unpleasant appearance of the upholstered furniture. In order not to scare away guests and please your eyes, you should monitor the condition of your soft pet - the sofa.

If you are not happy with the furniture, the easiest way to change the situation is to buy a new sofa. But it happens that our soul becomes attached to things and parting with them is not so easy. Today we’ll talk about a sagging sofa. Small dents and uneven surfaces make the product look old. But this is not a death sentence, everything can be fixed, and how to do this - read our article.

We conduct an examination and make a diagnosis

If you are about to repair anything, you need to know what we are dealing with. A sofa is not a stool, everything is more complicated here. Before solving any problem, you need to determine the cause of its occurrence.

Sometimes the reason is on the surface - soft sofa pillows. But it happens that you have to dig deeper - in the spring block, the frame of the product. In the case where the pillows are not the issue, the sofa needs to be disassembled and the hidden part inspected. How to do it:

Remove all the cushions and turn the sofa upside down and carefully inspect the entire perimeter of the sofa. There may be reasons for the problem - broken boards or torn fabric.
The sofa consists of a frame that connects all parts of the sofa together. Its design includes slats - the soft part of the sofa is placed on them. This part is traditionally made of wood. Some parts may break due to abnormal loads. Because of this, the entire seat may sag. During inspection, you need to identify the “weak link” and replace it. Cracked, rotten, fallen out - all this needs to be repaired.
If nothing suspicious was noticed when turned upside down, then perhaps there is a breakdown in the very heart of the sofa - the spring block. But getting there won't be so easy. The technical fabric upholstery needs to be removed. This is almost a jewelry job that requires care and special tools depending on the type of fastening.

Eurosophist

Folding systems on a metal frame are reliable and durable. Perfect for active daily use, they can easily withstand rearrangements and moves.

How to unfold it: press the edge of the backrest from top to bottom – it will smoothly lower and take a horizontal position. To reverse the transformation, pull the backrest frame up.

What’s good about it: it has a metal frame at the base and does not require moving the sofa away from the wall.

What you should remember: the only drawback of such systems is the relatively high cost.

The sofa, which contains a “dolphin” mechanism, unfolds with particular ease and speed. The device was named after the animal of the same name due to the similarity of movements.

Typically found in corner sofas. The frame of the berth is held in place by special brackets at the level of the main part of the sofa. Thanks to its compactness, this model will fit well into the interior of a small room, and a spacious linen drawer under the corner will help hide home textiles and household items.

How to unfold: slide the frame out from under the seat and pull it up.

Like a cat's tread, sofas with the Puma mechanism unfold as quietly and neatly as possible. No scratches from legs or dented tracks from wheels - even the most demanding floor covering will not suffer from daily unfolding. When transforming, minimal effort is required: pull the seat up a little, and then the mechanism will do all the work.

How to unfold: pull the berth towards you by the seat, and the part located below will appear behind it.

What’s good about it: noiselessness and gentle treatment of the floor covering, easy to unfold.

Something to keep in mind: straight models do not have a drawer for linen. For corner models it is located behind the ottoman.

What to do if the sofa falls in the middle?

Many people have logical questions about how to make a sofa that has sunk in the center of the seat. Don’t panic, you can solve the problem yourself and at home. This procedure will take some time and during repairs you may need the help of your friends, since the dimensions of the sofa can be quite large. But as a result, you will receive updated furniture that will last even longer and have a pleasant appearance.

But what to do if the depth of the sofa begins to sag very much? Do not despair, any soft sofa will become deformed over time and, of course, it can be restored. Buying a new model will in any case cost more than correcting old defects. Moreover, many people love their furniture and do not want to change the features of the interior.

What do you need to work with a sofa?

Repairing a dented sofa is easy if you prepare in advance all the elements necessary for the work. The final result depends on you, because you can make it harder or, on the contrary, correct it and create a soft sofa that resembles a feather bed. Any sofa will eventually sag, so you need to be prepared for this course of events. So, in order to restore sagging sofas, you need to have on hand:

foam seal;
pliers;
foam;
fabric tape.

Sofas are the part of the furniture on which household members spend most of their time. Therefore, it’s normal to push through over time, the main thing is to know how to correct the situation.

Step-by-step description of the work

First, you should turn your sofa over so that its frame can be seen. All work depends on this action, since this is the only way to understand what is damaged in the furniture. Most often, in this case, the frame itself breaks, less often the foam rubber and upholstery are dented. In any case, the damage can be fixed.

When replacing the frame, you need to install not only new boards, but also all the screws, since corrosion can form on the old ones, causing various types of fungi. With foam rubber things are even simpler; just use an anti-stapler to remove the upholstery and replace the soft part.

In some cases, people try to immediately change the upholstery of furniture, because in this way it looks newer and fresher, but at the same time has a shape familiar to household members.

How to fix a sofa yourself if it collapses in the middle? Check the places where the pillows are placed. Perhaps someone just sat down very sharply and broke the base. Replacing it is simple; you just need to remove the cushions, select the boards to size and secure them carefully. You can put plywood on top for density.

A bigger problem could be that the springs on the sofa break. In order to restore furniture, you will need to remove the upholstery, the soft layer and find the cause of the unevenness. Then you should carefully remove the broken part with pliers, and then screw in a new spring. They are sold in many hardware stores, so you won’t have to look for a long time for the part. The main thing is to secure it tightly at the base, otherwise you will have to disassemble the upholstered furniture again.

In some cases, the pillows themselves may be the cause of the unevenness of the sofa. For example, after washing they became much softer than before, and now, when you sit on them, you feel like you’re falling through. Fixing this problem is as easy as shelling pears. You need to add more filling to the pillows, and then carefully sew them together.

Before you begin, evaluate the problem at hand. Based on this, already purchase the material and start doing business. Remember that even a beginner in this field can easily cope with the task.

Sketching and drawings

The drawings and diagrams necessary to make an accordion sofa with your own hands can be found on the Internet, you can substitute the required dimensions, taking into account the free space in the room, the desired length and width of the bed. But first you need to decide on the design. The soft part can rest on a metal frame with lamellas made from a round or rectangular pipe or on a carpentry frame made of timber and fiberboard. To make a metal frame yourself, you will need metal pipes, high-quality lamellas, lath holders for attaching wooden lamellas to the frame, and other fasteners, a pipe bender, and welding. To absorb the load, it is important to correctly calculate the step of fastening the lamellas. Working with carpentry is much easier.

This article describes in detail how to make a sofa with an accordion transformation mechanism on a wooden frame, consisting of the following parts:

soft part of 3 sections - rear back, front back and seat;
2 soft straight armrests;
a stiffener connecting the sidewalls at the rear;
bottom drawer on wheels;
guide for rolling out the drawer.

You can implement your project. When drawing a diagram or sketch, you need to think through the following points:

the armrests will be hard or soft, straight or complex in shape;
will the unfolded sofa have a high back-headboard, or just a stiffening rib connecting the armrests;
Will there be a box under the seat?

Repair of a sofa with an accordion mechanism

You meticulously chose a sofa, you seemed to have checked everything, but suddenly “something went wrong”, the sofa stopped folding out. There may be several reasons for this, and you can often fix them yourself. The most vulnerable places are wheels, hinges and frames. If the rollers stop rotating, they can simply be replaced. Unscrew them and screw on others of the same size. If the slats are cracked, and you will understand this, if the sofa begins to creak or the fasteners fail, they can also be replaced. These parts are sold in furniture stores.

If the problem is in the mechanism or in the hinges, then it is better to turn to a professional. If you need to repair the mechanism, it will cost you quite a lot, so don’t try to save money on cheap models, buy sofas with steel frames, they will last you longer than wooden or aluminum ones.

Materials, accessories, tools

To make a sofa you will need:

for armrests - timber with a section of 25x50 mm, plywood 10 mm or chipboard 25 mm for the frame, fiberboard (hardboard) for the sides;
timber and fiberboard for the frame of the soft part;
boards for the frame of the box, fiberboard for the bottom, plywood for the facade;
plywood or chipboard for stiffeners;
guide boards;
foam;
furniture fabric, leatherette can be used for the sides;
transformation mechanism, support hinges, wheel supports;
self-tapping screws, bolts and nuts, furniture or universal glue.

When ordering a transformation mechanism, you need to pay attention to its purpose:

for installation on a metal frame;
for installation on a wooden frame;
universal.

The height of the transformation mechanism must correspond to the thickness of the mattress; an unsuccessfully selected mechanism will protrude above the plane of the sleeping place.

The tools you will need are a tape measure, a ruler, a pencil, a screwdriver and/or drill, a hammer, a stapler with staples, and scissors. If furniture covers will be stretched over the soft part, you will need a sewing machine.

Spring block repair

Restoring the spring block

A serviceable spring block determines the absence of sagging of the sofa and its comfort. It consists of zigzag springs and fastening to the body in the form of arched profiles-brackets.

Materials and tools for repair.

Screwdriver and screwdriver.
Construction stapler and staples.

Sequencing

Disassemble the sofa into elements.
Carefully remove the upholstery.
Remove the filler and backing.
Loosen the tension on the faulty spring and replace it.
Reassemble in reverse order.

Adviсe

If many springs are faulty, it is better to replace them as a whole unit.
Replacing the rubber bands in the back is done in the same way.

Furniture manufacturers are increasingly moving away from springs in favor of slats. The change process is the same.

Armrests

The easiest way to make armrests is rectangular in shape; they can be made quite wide. The armrests are completely symmetrical and differ only in the direction of the bolt for assembling the elements. Sequence of work:

Assembling a frame from 4 strips of plywood (top, bottom, front, back walls) and 7 vertical beams, the 7th beam is installed closer to the rear wall of the frame, a hole is drilled in it for a bolt. The bolt is immediately installed in place and fixed from the head side.
Covering the frame with foam rubber (allowance at the edges of 0.5 cm).
Covered with fabric (allowance of at least 5 cm, for a model with drawstrings more).
Manufacturing, pasting with foam rubber, covering the sidewalls from fiberboard (a hole for the bolt is immediately drilled in the inner sidewall).
Installing the side panels into the body, fixing them with self-tapping screws in the corners.

If tightening is being done, it is convenient to cut holes in the foam rubber using a joker pipe with a pointed edge. Instead of furniture buttons, you can use footrests on a nail, covering them with fabric. The prepared bearings are driven into the holes with a mallet, the fabric in the tightening areas is pre-fixed to the plywood with a stapler.

Soft part

Using self-tapping screws, a timber frame is assembled (frame and 2-3 transverse stiffeners).
The frame is covered with fiberboard on top.
Holes for bolts are made in the lower part of the rear backrest; in these places, the beam must be reinforced with plywood overlays 5-10 mm thick.
The frames of the rear and front backrests are laid side by side. The bars, which are in contact, are screwed with self-tapping screws from the inside of the frame closer to the corners. The bars are marked and drilled for mounting holes for the hinges that will fasten the backs together.
The fiberboard is covered with foam rubber 8-10 mm thick, density 22. You can glue foam rubber of a smaller thickness in several layers.
On the sides of the front backrest and seat, holes are marked and drilled for the transformation mechanism.
Frames covered with foam rubber are covered with a stapler using padding polyester or batting, upholstery fabric, or furniture covers are sewn and stretched over the soft part.

Box and small parts

The box frame is assembled from 4 boards; the boards are connected to each other using vertical bars, which are installed in the inner corners. The diagonals of the box are measured - they must be the same. A stiffening rib is attached in the middle. The fiberboard bottom is secured with short self-tapping screws. The front and rear rollers are screwed into the corners. Holes for the transformation mechanism are marked on the sides. The front panel is covered with fabric and attached from the inside to the front wall of the drawer.

The 2 guide boards along which the rollers will ride are connected to each other by two transverse boards, the ends of which, after assembly, should reach the middle of the bottom of the armrest. The parallelism of the guides is checked by measuring the diagonals. The rear stiffener is covered with fabric.

Assembly

The back and front backrests are pressed against each other and fastened with hinges, the hinges are fixed with self-tapping screws.
The front backrest and seat are connected using a transformation mechanism, which is secured with bolts with a diameter of 10 mm.
The assembled soft part is turned upside down, a box is placed on top, and a transformation mechanism is attached to its walls.
The guide crossbars are attached with self-tapping screws to the bottom of the armrests.
The sofa without armrests turns over, folds, rolls onto the guides with rollers, and the bolts protruding from the armrests are recessed into holes in the rear backrest.
The stiffener is attached with self-tapping screws to the rear walls of the armrests.

When the sofa is folded down, the rectangular armrests do not cover the gap between the back and front back. Therefore, it is advisable to cut it out of plywood, cover it with fabric, and attach triangles to the back back with corners that will close it.