Factors to consider before purchasing seating for your Place of Worship

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November 11, 2014
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December 2, 2014
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November 11, 2014
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December 2, 2014
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Factors to consider before purchasing seating for your Place of Worship

1. What factors should a church consider when deciding to purchase chairs pews or theatre seating?

“Different styles of worship require different styles of seating”.

The most important factor to consider is that different styles of seating require different seat spacing and this could affect your total seating capacity.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Traditional Style: Pews could be used throughout, but would combine appealingly with wood framed chairs

Contemporary Style: Theatre Style Seating especially designed for the Worship Market and if required could be mixed with interlocking chairs to match.  If all non-fixed seating is required in your sanctuary, using only interlocking chairs is also appropriate for this style.

Multi-Use: Chairs which are interlocked for your formal services, can be re-positioned and used together with tables for a banquet style setting.  For frequent multi-use setups, it is recommended to use a metal frame chair as they are more resilient than wood when moving and stacking repeatedly.

When a Worship Style has been determined, you can then work with different seating configurations which will help determine your final seating capacity

 2. What are some of the different kinds of chairs available?

Look for designs that ensure maximum support and that suit your specific needs. This could include chairs for your sanctuary, clergy or platform, choir, classroom, chapel, banquet hall, café and social gathering places.

Metal frame chairs and Wood frame chairs are available.

3. Can chairs be installed on a sloped auditorium floor?

Yes, chairs, can be used on sloped floors, but will depend on the degree of slope. If the slope is more than approx. 3%, then the back legs will need to be modified at the manufacturing plant

4. Realistically, how long can a church expect seating to last? What are some typical manufacturer’s warranties?                                                                                                         The “lifetime” of church seating will depend on the overall usage per week. Realistically a church can expect their seating to last:                                                                                              Pews:  Upholstered – 20-35 years                                                                                                                 All wood –50-100 years                                                                                        Auditorium:   Theatre seating – 10-20 years                                                            Chairs:            Metal frame –15-25 years                                                                                                                    Wood frame- 20-25 years

Make sure you understand what “lifetime” means. You may be surprised to learn that a Lifetime Warranty only covers the lifetime of the product. If the product has an expected life of ten years than that “lifetime” warranty is only good for ten years.                                                                 Typical Manufacturer’s warranties –                                                                                         Pews: Upholstered – 25 years, Foam & Fabric 15 years                                                                               All wood – 25 years                                                                                             Auditorium:    Theatre Seating – 10 years                                                                                       Chairs:  Metal Frame – 25 years, Foam & Fabric 10 years                                                                               Wood Frame – 10 years

Manufacturer’s Warranty’s will typically cover all defects in material and workmanship under normal usage during their warranty period.  Keep in mind that there will be normal wear and tear during your weekly and sometimes daily usage.

5. For a church that wants to make sustainable choices, what seating products should they consider?                                                                                                                               The first and most important consideration is to find a Company that uses sustainable practices. This starts with a commitment called stewardship, and it means the Company actively seeks to conserve, recycle and act with respect toward the environment.  This could include, but is not limited to, sourcing of raw materials, recycling, and some manufacturing companies will operate co-generation plants where it converts wood scrap to electricity.

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