Deconstructing a Quality Church Chair - Part 2

In part one of “Deconstructing a Quality Church Chair” we discussed the importance of having a strong core base like plywood to ensure that your chair will hold up under consistent use and weight pressure. Equally as important and in the same context is the chair frame. The combination of the chair core material and the chair frame are the determining factor in how much weight your church chair will be able to hold. Safety, above all other factors, is the most important baseline for a church chair. A variety of demands will be placed on any given church chair in any given sanctuary, and the seating must be adequate to accommodate any demand that is placed on it.

Because safety, quality, and chair longevity are so important to us, all of our full size church chairs feature welded, sixteen gauge, steel frames. These steel frames are finished with a hardened powder coating for a smooth and visually appealing final product. This not only guarantees they are able to handle a weight load, it also gives them a higher stacking ability. Because of this increased stacking ability, included on these steel frames are stacking buttons. Stacking buttons are impact absorbing plastic knobs located on the inside of the frame legs that extend beyond the steel framing so that, rather than steel on steel stacking, it becomes plastic button on steel stacking. This method helps to avoid frame scratches from consistent frame friction. The same friction absorbing material used for the buttons is used to form a curved cap for the feet of the chair so that there is no scratching of floors or pulling of carpet.

All of our church chair frames also include welded ganging devices on both sides of the chair that allow for chair interlocking.  These welded steel “hooks” follow a lift and lower in place pattern and accomplish two important goals: First, it creates the same seating ability as a traditional church pew because the chairs form into one extended bench that maximizes seating space and second, it creates seating that complies with the common fire codes for public gathering places. Many of our church chairs also have welded in book racks underneath the seat, or have an option to install book racks on a seat to seat premise based on need.

When you have a plywood seat and back and a well gauged, welded steel frame with stacking buttons and ganging devices, you have the core of a quality church chair.