With most of spending up to 40 hours a week in our office chairs, whether that’s a home, or in the office and regardless of how well our trusty office chair is made, it wont last forever. The lifespan of the office chair, generally has approximately 5 years use, before a replacement is required.
We can become quite protective of our own particular chair and nothing can be quite as annoying as finding that a colleague has moved our height settings or in fact borrowed our chair…but when should we say farewell to our trusted friend and look for a new one? What are the important signs that it needs replacing?
- It doesn’t feel as comfortable as it used to
- The warranty is outdated
- Your back aches after a day in the office or home office
- It looks worn and damaged
- The seat cushion is flattened
- Chair parts are no longer working-e.g caster wheels and gas cylinders
Material
Cheap materials can cut your chairs life expectancy down to as little as six months. Chairs that constantly need to be replaced are not only bad for your budget, health and productivity, but they’re detrimental to the environment as well. Some will be more durable than others, material and brands need to be taken into account.
Leather chairs are very hard wearing and offer a prestigious look with comfort to match.and can offer just as much comfort. To keep your leather chair in top shape, avoid keeping it in direct sunlight and make sure to clean every once in a while.
Fabric chairs are one of the most common choices for computer chairs. They’re comfortable, easy to maintain and come in a wide variety of colours and patterns that make it easy to match your existing decor, and with fabric being hardwearing, they are able to deal with daily regular use for many months and years.
Mesh chairs offer a breathable mesh filter-like seat that can provide hours of comfort. These types of chairs encourage the flow of fresh air and can provide you with cool comfort, especially during the summer months.
Vinyl is considered one of the most durable. This office chair material is easy to clean and comes in a variety of sizes, and you can find a huge executive range as well.
Frequency Used
How will the chair be used? Will it just be used by you, or will it be used by multiple people? If the chair you’re looking to purchase is just going to be used by you, then it will last longer. If the chair is going to be used by multiple people, then you will most likely want to look into purchasing a chair that can withstand heavy usage.
Environment
The environment in which you work will have a huge impact on the longevity of your office chair. A chair used in a dirty, dusty environment such as a warehouse may not last as long as a chair used in a cleaner setting. At the very least frequent cleaning will be required to keep the mechanism and casters working smoothly to improve its lifespan.
For further information on the expected lifespan of the office chair, and to discuss all your office chair requirements, please contact us here.