Choosing a quality futon frame can be quite a challenge. Often good qualty frames are hard to find. This article about futon furniture hopes to shed some light on things to avoid and things to look for in a quality wood futon frame.
Having worked in furniture for many years I've seen a lot of things in terms of quality of construction and materials used both good and bad. The futon furniture industry has been no different. There are manufacturers using materials and construction techniques that impress me though and in this first article I hope to explain to you the reader why I think this manufacturer's futon frame products are worth your consideration.
About 15 years ago a furniture store I worked in picked up a line of futon products under the name August Lotz. This manufacturer was based in Wisconsin and had an interesting approach to the futon design. Part of that design was in the creation of how they built the seat and back sections to these futon frames which set them apart from everyone else.
Several manufacturers of futon frames around this time period typically connected the slats that were in the backrest and seat rest to the outer frame by using staple guns that drove staples through the slats into the frame or used nails to do this. The problem this created was that when one side of the frame was being closed over time, the slats worked themselves loose and fell out or caused a failure during operation that broke the ends of the frame. Other manufacturers would try dowel and glue systems by trying to dowel the slats up into the frame work. This system was a little better than the staples or nails but all too often these slats would again work themselves loose over time and would cause failure in the frame. In fact I'd go so far as saying these products gave futons a bad name unjustly. I won't even bring up imported metal frames which are the service headache of most futon stores. The futon frames I've mentioned above were all too commonly sold in the big box stores much to the disappointment of those who purchased them who thought a futon should be more.
The August Lotz approach to frame construction was unique though and is a good example of what a futon frame should be. They created a system of slat grids where the slats were incorporated into a grid section that would slide into an English dovetail joint within the outer frame work. The ends of the frames had end caps mounted and the frames were complete. This interlocking of parts made them highly resistant to damage and misuse and Lotz felt so confident in this design that a limited lifetime warranty was applied to these futon frames. The design they created did not go un-noticed as Consumers Digest awarded them a Best Buy award for premium futon frames. What is most impressive though is that this approach is a much higher end way of making a piece of furniture and August Lotz accomplishes this in the design and materials used in their frames. It's too bad consumers who purchased the big box frames never had a chance to see the quality or construction of an August Lotz frame. I'm sure they would been quite pleased by the quality and craftsmanship of this furniture and avoided the disappointment of lower end frames.
August Lotz also developed a simple mechanism to allow for front operation of their frames. They weren't the first to develop this feature but what they offer allows the frame to be converted without weight being placed in the wrong places and converted the frame correctly. Replaceable arm tops is also something unique as the tops of the arms use steel brackets and screws to mount the tops down. Over time these can be serviced and replaced. Manufacturers of futons don't make frames like this by thinking ahead August Lotz gives us another reason to consider their products.
Ash wood was originally offered as the primary wood for these frames but Lotz has since moved to Oak which is just as strong and durable as the Ash wood they once offered. Finishes offered are Medium in all styles and English Oak in select arm styles. Matching coffee, end and sofa tables are also available as are loveseats and chairs to match the futon sofas giving you an entire room of matching furniture.
This article was designed to show you the reader that futon framescan be made with quality construction techniques, quality materials and a commitment to a product above and beyond what most manufacturers would take time to do for their customers. These reasons in my opinion make August Lotz your first choice for a quality futon frame for your home.
In my next article we'll explore futon mattresses and what you should look for and what you should avoid in the most important part of your futon.
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