Top 3 reasons

Reason Number 1.

Vinyl and Upholstery has a lifespan.

This information is rarely spoken about by manufacturers of Pilates, medical, chiropractic, and fitness equipment. The manufacturers realize the installed fabric can look presentable for many years. They would like you to think that replacing upholstery on your equipment is rare. The truth is most manufacturers have a separate division which can sell you new pads, and the "parts" division is often as lucrative as their sales division.

It's often difficult to make the decision to reupholster when the majority of your pads look "ok". Consider the liability of having old or worn upholstery which has exceeded it's warranty.

Pilates Studios, chiropractic offices, wellness centers, physical therapy offices, and fitness training facilities all have similar pads and upholstery - standard upholstery and premium grade upholstery has different lifespans depending on the practical use of the equipment. The lifespan of upholstery does not always affect the look of the fabric. You should consider the age of the fabric you are considering to reupholster.

Although the color looks good and there is very little damage, the age of the material plays a big part in determining if it's time to reupholster your pads. Different vinyls and upholstery can look presentable for 10 to 15 years with limited use. In commercial settings it's important to remember the age of the upholstery matters significantly.

The outer layer of most upholstery used for Pilates, medical, chiropractic, and fitness upholstery has a coating to not only protect against bacteria but to also protect the porosity of the material. Studies have shown up to a 78 % loss of the protective coating and has become nearly 39 % more porous within the first 4 years. Additionally, for liability reasons manufacturers rarely warranty an upholstery coating for over 5 years. If your upholstery is over 5 years old your facility is at a much higher risk of infections.

If your upholstery is over 5 years old, it is most likely not under warranty and your facility's risk of infection is much greater. This means your risk of spreading infection and your facilities risk of a lawsuit becomes your responsibility.