Other Skilled Trades Upholstery 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does COM mean in the upholstery trade?
- Commercial-grade material approved for contract use
- Customer's Own Material meaning fabric supplied by the client (Correct answer)
- Cotton Organic Material certification
- Center of Manufacturing batch code
Correct answer: Customer's Own Material meaning fabric supplied by the client
COM stands for Customer's Own Material, meaning the client supplies their own fabric for the upholsterer to work with rather than selecting from the shop's inventory.
Question 2: What is muslin used for in upholstery?
- As a type of high-density foam
- As a base layer over padding to smooth the surface before the finish fabric (Correct answer)
- As the final visible covering fabric
- As an adhesive activator
Correct answer: As a base layer over padding to smooth the surface before the finish fabric
Muslin is a plain-weave cotton fabric stretched over padding and batting as a smooth base layer before the decorative finish fabric is applied.
Question 3: What does ILD Indentation Load Deflection measure in foam?
- Foam density in pounds per cubic foot
- Foam firmness—the force needed to compress foam 25 percent (Correct answer)
- Foam durability rating
- Foam temperature sensitivity
Correct answer: Foam firmness—the force needed to compress foam 25 percent
ILD measures foam firmness by specifying how many pounds of force are required to compress a 4-inch foam sample by 25 percent; higher ILD equals firmer foam.
Question 4: What is the purpose of gimp or decorative trim in upholstery?
- To provide structural support at the frame joints
- To cover tack lines and raw fabric edges for a finished appearance (Correct answer)
- To add weight to help the fabric drape correctly
- To attach the upholstery fabric to the frame
Correct answer: To cover tack lines and raw fabric edges for a finished appearance
Gimp or decorative trim is hot-glued or tacked over exposed tack lines and raw fabric edges to create a neat, finished look.
Question 5: Why does grain direction in upholstery fabric matter?
- It affects only the visual pattern direction for aesthetics
- Aligning the warp grain prevents distortion uneven wear and an unprofessional look (Correct answer)
- It only matters for fabric with a visible nap or pile
- It affects only the structural strength of the fabric
Correct answer: Aligning the warp grain prevents distortion uneven wear and an unprofessional look
Keeping the fabric grain aligned with the warp threads parallel to vertical ensures the fabric does not pull, twist, or wear unevenly over time.
Question 6: What is the primary difference between coil springs and sinuous no-sag springs?
- Coil springs are used only in cushions; sinuous springs only in backs
- Coil springs are individually tied in a grid; sinuous springs are S-shaped wires in parallel rows (Correct answer)
- Coil springs are made of rubber; sinuous springs are metal
- There is no functional difference between the two types
Correct answer: Coil springs are individually tied in a grid; sinuous springs are S-shaped wires in parallel rows
Coil springs are individual hourglass-shaped springs tied together in a grid for premium support, while sinuous no-sag springs are continuous S-shaped metal wires running in parallel rows.
Other Skilled Trades Upholstery 2
What does COM mean in the upholstery trade?