Cushions

[patrick16]

I am having my cushions re-upholstered and using the original foam. The original foam was wrapped in a plastic wrap inside the vinyl coverings. The guy doing the work says that the plastic wrap is a bad idea.

I think that they would not have been wrapped originally if it was a bad idea. Anyone have any knowledge/insight on this? If I wrap them, is it a special plastic or can I just use kitchen cling wrap?

Its an 03 Gulfstream BTW

Thanks for any help.

 

[everwhom]

Pretty sure it's cushion "silk film" https://www.sailrite.com/Cushion-Wrap-S ... er-Fold-54

I washed a bunch of my cushion covers inside my boat and replaced them without the film -- seems to work just fine either way.

 

[glacierbaze]

The foam should be covered with a layer of batting. The wrap makes it a lot easier to keep everything together getting the covers off and on.

 

[seasick]

I am having my cushions re-upholstered and using the original foam. The original foam was wrapped in a plastic wrap inside the vinyl coverings. The guy doing the work says that the plastic wrap is a bad idea.

I think that they would not have been wrapped originally if it was a bad idea. Anyone have any knowledge/insight on this? If I wrap them, is it a special plastic or can I just use kitchen cling wrap?

Its an 03 Gulfstream BTW

Thanks for any help.

The plastic served two purposes: It helped shed water. If the original foam gets wet, it can hold moisture for a long time.
The plastic also made insertion of the foam into the cover a lot easier.
You upholsterer might be concerned about the plastic trapping moisture that might get past it. That is a possibility especially if the plastic is torn or beat up.
Many of the original vinyl cushions had a breathable fabric on the back or bottom to vent out water and moisture. If that was the case for your cushions, the new once should have it too.

If the cushions you are having done are not exposed to the elements, you will be OK without the plastic assuming you don't usually get your cushions wet. That said, vinyl sheds water better then fabric.
If the upholstery is intended for exposure to the elements, I would recommend the plastic or a changeover to new foam that doesn't absorb water, similar to Dryfast foam. Note that that foam is pretty expensive but really does the job of shedding water.

My advice:
Vinyl or fabric inside: Plastic is optional but if the original is in good shape, use it.

Vinyl outside: It's a coin toss but I would chooses a suitable foam that can deal with water.
Fabric outside: The water shedding foam would be my choice.

 

[Fishtales]

I honestly thing the plastic is more there to help get the cushions inside the cover and positioned properly. They don't seal the material and the cover does more to protect the cushion than the plastic wrap. Seasick is correct. Most exterior cushions have the fabric backing to let them breath and dry out. The interior ones have the plastic wrap and they are mostly 100% breathable.

Just my 2 pennies.

 

[seasick]

I honestly thing the plastic is more there to help get the cushions inside the cover and positioned properly. They don't seal the material and the cover does more to protect the cushion than the plastic wrap. Seasick is correct. Most exterior cushions have the fabric backing to let them breath and dry out. The interior ones have the plastic wrap and they are mostly 100% breathable.

Just my 2 pennies.

I originally thought also that the plastic was there to help with insertion of the foam until I took apart my bolsters. They were wrapped in plastic too even though the foam is not slipped into the bolster but rather the vinyl is pulled over the foam and stapled to the backer board. On the old foam, there were moldy spots and most of them were where the plastic had broken down and didn't shed water.
As mentioned, for the new bolsters I uses Dryfast foam and it is amazing to see what happens when you pour water on it. The water runs though like the foam wasn't there. In fact one of the challenges of using it is that liquid contact cement also runs right through it. The spray cement works better.

If you took a piece of the original foam and wet it, it was like a sponge.
The plastic wrapping doesn't make the assembly water proof but rather it helps shed water towards the breathable mesh.
Does it really make a lot of difference? I guess I am not sure. That said, for upholstery exposed to the elements, I would always choose new closed cell foam.

 

[patrick16]

I am having my cushions re-upholstered and using the original foam. The original foam was wrapped in a plastic wrap inside the vinyl coverings. The guy doing the work says that the plastic wrap is a bad idea.

I think that they would not have been wrapped originally if it was a bad idea. Anyone have any knowledge/insight on this? If I wrap them, is it a special plastic or can I just use kitchen cling wrap?

Its an 03 Gulfstream BTW

Thanks for any help.

Wow, thank you very much for all the info, I really appreciate it!