If you have bought a sofa bed before, you know that there is typically at least one issue that pops up while you have it. Whether it’s a squeaky spring, a lopsided sofa or just wear and tear due to age, there always seems to be something that comes up with a sofa bed you put a sizable investment on.
We at La-Z-Boy South Texas have been designing and manufacturing sofa beds for a long time. We understand the importance of durability and high-quality furniture, which is why every piece of furniture we make is hand-crafted with high-quality materials.
That being said, we understand and respect that buying furniture is not just a purchase you make. Buying furniture, especially a sofa bed, is an investment. It is best practice to know everything you can about the investment you are interested in making before you make the final decision.
In this article, we will discuss the 4 common problems with sofa beds at La-Z-Boy and give an honest assessment of each issue to help you decide if a sofa bed at La-Z-Boy is worth it for you.
In this article...
- Why purchase a Sofa Bed?
- How much does a La-Z-Boy sleeper sofa cost?
- 4 common problems with La-Z-Boy sleeper sofas
- Failure of Sofa Bed Mechanism
- Wear and Tear of Sofa Bed Mattress
- Comfort Level of Sofa Bed
- Size of Sofa Bed
- What's Next?
How much does a La-Z-Boy sleeper sofa cost?
4 common problems with La-Z-Boy sleeper sofas
Why purchase a Sofa Bed?
A sofa bed, also called a sleeper sofa, is a sofa that can turn into a full-sized bed. This is the perfect furniture piece for you if you frequently host guests and/or family but do not have enough rooms or beds in your house to accommodate everybody.
A sleeper sofa’s versatility in those circumstances is why they are popular for someone who hosts large group gatherings. During the day, the sofa looks and functions like a regular stationary sofa that everybody can enjoy.
How much does a La-Z-Boy sleeper sofa cost?
La-Z-Boy offers many different sofa beds to accommodate personal style preferences and room sizes. While all of these sleeper sofas have the same functionality, the price varies based on size and other unique features.
The price of a La-Z-Boy sofa bed hovers between $3,000-$4,000 depending on the factors listed above. For example, the starting price of the Amanda Queen Sleep Sofa is $3,099.00, while the starting price of the Kennedy Full Sleep Sofa is $2,899.00. The main reasons for the price difference between the two are the size of the bed and the width of the sofa itself.
In contrast, the price of a regular Amanda Sofa starts at $2,399.00, and the Kennedy Sofa starts at $2,229.00. The main factor for the major price difference is that when you upgrade to a sleeper sofa, you now have another place to sleep in your home for your guests!
Please note that La-Z-Boy prices listed in this article are subject to change without notice. The costs of the Amanda and Kennedy are current as of February 1st, 2024. Please contact your local La-Z-Boy South Texas store for up-to-date pricing.
What are the 4 common problems with sleeper sofas?
Now that we know what setting or circumstances a sofa bed would be a good fit for you, the next step in evaluating if it is worth it for you is learning what the common problems are with them.
Some of the following issues are worse than others and therefore may affect your ultimate decision. While reading through the common problems and solutions or treatments to the problems, try to envision yourself going through the solution process to help get a better grasp on whether a La-Z-Boy sofa bed is right for you or not.
1. Failure of the Sofa Bed Mechanism
1This problem can be multi-layered if someone is inexperienced with a sofa bed. A common problem we hear from La-Z-Boy customers who buy a sleeper sofa is that the pull-out bed mechanism is hard to work.
If the bed doesn’t pull out for you, it can be really frustrating and this can lead to yanking on the bottom of the sofa. This can result in a damaged mechanism that will cost money to fix the issue.
A failed mechanism is not always the result of human error, however. The sofa bed mechanism can also become damaged by rusting metal or even simply just by sitting on the cushions of the sofa itself.
If you cannot pull the bed out of the sofa, this can also be a problem that is a result of the age of the sofa bed or even a manufacturing issue that the sofa bed had before you bought it.
How do you fix or prevent sofa bed mechanism failure?
If the mechanism issues you are experiencing stem from a lack of knowledge of how to use the function, the good news is that this can be addressed before damage even arises.
The best way to pull the bed out is to remove the seat and back cushions from the sofa and gently pull from the bottom of the sofa. If the bed catches the side of the mechanism on the way out and gets stuck, gently push the bed back in all the way and try again. The bed will glide smoothly right out of the bottom, avoiding damage to the metal.
If the mechanism issue is determined to be structural, we recommend contacting the La-Z-Boy service department to inform us of the issue. La-Z-Boy will either repair the mechanism or order a new one if the issue cannot be repaired.
If your sofa bed is covered by La-Z-Boy warranty, a mechanism failure will also be covered under the warranty.
2. Wear and Tear of the Sofa Bed Mattress
Another common problem we see with La-Z-Boy sofa beds is associated with wear and tear of the sofa bed mattress itself.
As much pride as we take in the construction of our furniture and the quality of the materials, we acknowledge that the mattress itself is not the same as a real bed.
One common question we get from customers interested in sofa beds is “Can you sleep on a sofa bed every night?”
Since a sofa bed is not built with the same level of sturdiness as a bed and does not have the same support as the bed frame, we do not recommend the nightly use of a sofa bed. General wear and tear of the mattress associated with age can accelerate with the nightly use of the sofa bed. Sofa beds are made for convenient overnight use for guests, not for nightly use.
Another common problem we see from La-Z-Boy sofa beds is associated with the air mattress upgrade. If you choose to upgrade the mattress to the blow-up air mattress, you will also receive a device that is used to pump up the air mattress. Generally, as a result of age, the device may develop holes from wear and tear over time.
How to fix or prevent sofa bed mattress wear and tear?
If you find that the regular mattress is showing signs of wear and tear, the most effective solution is to invest in a replacement mattress. It's important to note that these mattresses, while functional, may not withstand the same level of durability as a standard bed mattress and may wear down more quickly.
If you experience holes developing on the device used for the blow-up air mattress, there is a solution to that problem. We recommend using a bicycle patch kit to repair the holes that can develop in the device. This is a very affordable and quick fix that costs $4.49 at Auto Zone in San Antonio, for example.
3. Comfort Level of the Sofa Bed
As we discussed in the previous problem, sofa beds are not the same as regular beds that are designed for nightly use.
Since the sofa bed mattress does not have the same level of support or structure that a normal bed mattress has, the comfort level of the mattress is a tier below a regular bed mattress. Since the framework of a sleeper sofa is not as strong as a bed frame, customers often express that they feel harder parts of the mattress poking up at them when laying down on the mattress.
Another common question we are asked at La-Z-Boy regarding sofa beds is “Can I put a regular mattress on a sofa bed?” Due to the size and framework of a sleeper sofa, it is not able to support the weight of a regular mattress.
As a result, the sofa bed mattress itself is not thick enough to protect the common poking from springs associated with a sofa bed. This is the primary reason why we do not recommend nightly use of a sleeper sofa.
If you'd like to come sit on a sofa bed yourself, feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our in-store designers to make your visit more efficient.
How to make a sofa bed more comfortable?
Since the poking and hardness of the springs can be a real problem when attempting to sleep on a sofa bed, La-Z-Boy offers a memory foam mattress upgrade for its sofa beds. There will be an additional cost to upgrade to the memory foam mattress upgrade, so it will be up to you to come into the store to determine if the comfort level is worth the upgrade.
4. Size of Sofa Bed
The actual size of the sofa bed itself is a common problem we hear about from customers as well. La-Z-Boy offers sofa bed sizes ranging from twin, full, and queen.
When shopping online for a La-Z-Boy sleeper sofa, you will be able to find the dimensions of the sofa. What you won’t find is the dimensions of the sleeper sofa in its converted form, or when the mattress is pulled out.
It is very important to measure the dimensions of the living space you intend to put a sofa bed in before making a final decision. This will give you a much better idea of how tight or spacious your space will be when the sofa bed is there.
In addition, this is also a reason why we believe there is no substitute for coming into a furniture store. You will be able to not only visualize how the length and width differ when the sleeper sofa is in its converted form, but you could also bring a tape measure to get the exact dimensions to make sure they make sense in your living space.
Are Sleeper Sofas worth it?
As we discussed, sleeper sofas are versatile and serve their purpose.
If you frequently host guests or don’t have enough beds in your home to accommodate your guests, sleeper sofas, or sofa beds, are a great option for additional sleeping arrangements. This way you will be able to accommodate an overnight stay while also being able to slide the mattress right back in so you can enjoy the function of a regular sofa.
Routine, nightly use, of a sleeper sofa is not recommended. As we discussed earlier, the structure and framework of a sleeper sofa are not sturdy and durable enough to support regular use of the sofa bed and will accelerate wear and tear associated with age.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you whether or not a sofa bed is the right fit for your personal circumstances and living space.
What's Next?
Now that we have a much deeper understanding of the common problems associated with La-Z-Boy sofa beds, you should have a lot more information to determine whether a sofa bed is the right fit for your home.
While we hope this article has provided you with valuable information, we understand that the best way to determine if a sofa bed is right for you is to visit a La-Z-Boy location and experience each sofa sleeper firsthand.
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