Sniffs_Markers and I would like to get a vinyl (not leather) recliner for our 75-year-old. He has seen my leather/vinyl mix recliner and really likes it.
The reason we want to get him one for Xmas is because at 75, he’s is a bit doddery, chain smokes, and often falls asleep in his current fabric lazyboy with a lit cigarette in hand. His current fabric chair has some rather alarming scorch marks as a result.
We want something a lot less flammable that still looks classy. We don’t want to invest the big bucks in a leather one because… well… he will burn it with a cigarette.
So, does anyone know if vinyl would be a good or bad idea?
We know it melts a bit, but if it doesn’t burst into flame as easily as his present chair, we’ll be happy.
This is just off the cuff as I havent been in the upholstery business for years. Most vinyl immitation leathers are fairly flame resistant but IIRC leather is superior. Also more expensive so I understand your hesitation.
If memory serves me wool is the best for cig burns because you can just buff off the ashy part of the burn leaving the damage pretty well concealed.
You can rest assured that furniture manufactured by a name brand outfit will meet US flamability codes. Look for the label.
If you are extra concerned about a fire hazard try googling “flame resistant upholstery” you should get hits for some advanced fibers.
Thanks, Evil. Leather is still a possible option, but at his age and wobbliness, there will be spills and burns. Knowing this, the cost is irksome.
That’s one of the reasons other fabric upholstery is out of the running. Stains and spills. We need leather or vinyl – the stuff my friend’s mother calls “puke-'n-wipe.” So spills puddle on top for a several seconds and don’t soak in as easily. (He’s too slow to rush for paper towels.)
I remember a cigarette leaving only a round, melty mark in an old vinyl chair when a friend accidentally burned it with a cigarette. Far preferable to smoldering (some of the scorch marks on his fabric chair are larger enough to worry us.)
He has melted large holes into table cloths and the like.