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NY Good Questions: How Can I Keep These 2 Pieces Together?

7.16couch.jpgDear AT,

After much searching, as well as fabulous input from Apt Therapy, I ordered the Gus Modern Carter Sectional in Totem Storm.

It arrived yesterday, to my delight.

It is a beautiful and comfortable piece.

However, upon delivery, I learned that it does not come with any sort of mechanism to keep the 2 pieces together.

I even called the company, and they confirmed that nothing is included, nor could it be ordered.

I was shocked, since it cost roughly $2800...

 
 
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Anyway, I am seeking a way of keeping the sofa and chaise together.

I found something online called "Sofa Snap", but it requires drilling into the frame, which I would prefer not to do.

Sigh, I am a bit melancholy that my perfect sofa is marred by this omission of hardware.

Any suggestions you could provide to keep the pieces together without drilling the frame would be much appreciated.

Thanks! Louise

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painting, fixing & repair, Good Questions

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Comments (27)

I would go with the sofa snap system. I have my upholsterer use it on all of our sectionals and it works great. I don't see another options, maybe some else has one. Could you use duct tape or heavy duty carpet tape. It would probably ruin the fabric underneath the sofa but would eliminate the need for drilling.

posted by SBDesign on 2008-07-16 15:39:22
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Go to homedepot and buy a large padded clamp (not heavy duty) get underneat and clamp the two pieces together. It wont be visible.

joel

posted by joel maria pirela on 2008-07-16 15:40:02
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Couple of c-clamps attached to the underside of the frames?

posted by Shawn on 2008-07-16 15:40:03
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I would agree with Shawn. They make c-clamps in a large range of sizes. You could definitely find some small enough to be quite hidden. Not to mention this is probably the cheapest fix compared to how sturdy it will be.

posted by willsager on 2008-07-16 15:44:02
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All its feet on a rug (if you have one) should keep it together fairly well

posted by praia designer on 2008-07-16 15:45:17
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How about these clamps?

http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=IrwinProd100029

Rotated correctly you shouldn't be able to see them unless you are laying on the floor.

posted by baltimorerowhouse on 2008-07-16 15:52:13
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Would discretely cable-tying (i.e. http://www.buycableties.com/) the adjoining legs together work? Cable ties can get pretty tight, and if hidden up at the top of the legs they'd probably not be visible?

posted by 22209 on 2008-07-16 15:54:03
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Umm do they really move that far apart? floor surface too slippery? I've used those rubber grippy sticky pads for furniture before. Cheap, and they work pretty well.

posted by onephatcow on 2008-07-16 15:58:45
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Sofa snap is the type of hardware that is typically used in the industry for securing two pieces together. You could mount it to the under side of the frame and you wouldn't see it. Drilling into the frame to secure something like that wouldn't damage it. It only requires small screws.

posted by Laura on 2008-07-16 16:05:05
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I had a nearly identical sofa custom made and I've never had a problem with the pieces separating, even on my marble floor. I would give it a try for a while and if it still bothers you, try the clamps the others have suggested.

posted by mistabelle on 2008-07-16 16:13:58
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i would go zip ties. cheap easy, small and tight. i doubt it'll move that much at all and these babies are pretty darn strong.

posted by pinstripeprincess on 2008-07-16 16:23:51
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go with the clamps, it is a good idea. u might have to cut the lining underneath to make it work correctly, but just a little. You could also just stick it on a rug, that tends to help

posted by kristian on 2008-07-16 16:26:20
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lots of good ideas on this previous AT post as well, asking the very same question...

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/seating-sofas-armchairs/good-questions-how-can-i-keep-the-sofa-and-chase-together-045535

posted by sniplet on 2008-07-16 16:49:49
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rubber bumpers on the feet.

posted by jeffnyc on 2008-07-16 17:02:30
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Two words... Duct Tape!

posted by GHB on 2008-07-16 17:16:36
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How heavy are the couches? My grandparents (well, now just my grandfather) have a few sectionals that have been in the same place for over 20 years now. They've never budged, even when I was young and used them as trampolines.

posted by pileofkittens on 2008-07-16 17:21:06
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hmmm, what about some velcro, particularly if there were some kind of long piece that could be wrapped around itself.

zip ties would be cheap and easily removed and replaced!

posted by beevee on 2008-07-16 17:24:18
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Picture wire, twisted snug. Like zip ties, but a little less bulky.

posted by jrochest on 2008-07-16 17:34:59
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I was the "asker" of the question that sniplet linked to.

I can say that sofa clamps are the way to go. Just required screwing them into the bottom of the sofa. Most sofa's (mine included) come with a extra wide wooden brace bit in the middle to screw to. Just feel around.

Mine came from Room & Board, but there were similar devices linked in the comments.

I would put down the extra bucks (they are not that expensive) and get a proper clamp rather then tieing them with wire (which could scratch the legs)

posted by louisw on 2008-07-16 17:46:27
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My parents have had sectionals all my life, and have never had a problem with them moving apart.

Your sectional did not come with hardware to link the pieces together for a good reason: it doesn't need it.

Plus, it is much easier to vacuum, clean up after a party, and hunt for things that fall underneath if you *can* move the components apart.

posted by monika1 on 2008-07-16 18:04:19
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My free-standing sectional came with things that snap it together - they are fairly large and totally invisible.

I agree with trying it without anything and, if there's a problem, the clamps or plastic ties.

posted by Taureg on 2008-07-16 19:52:29
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"rubber bumpers on the feet"

Agreed. That's what we use.

posted by mscot on 2008-07-16 20:21:41
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All of these comments will help. I would also be upset if GUS MODERN didn't think this through for their customers. At any price, who wants to duct tape or clamp a brand new sectional together?

posted by wild-er on 2008-07-16 20:38:15
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Man, what a bummer! It IS beautiful, so congrats on your purchase. Have you tried getting suggestions from the company? Although, it sounds like they weren't much help to begin with.

posted by somuchbetter on 2008-07-16 21:01:25
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That's a shame that they don't provide that, especially for the price. I could see a sectional not splitting apart on carpet or if you're fairly gentle with it, but in our house we have a Room and Board sectional (that yes, has connectors) and it sits on hardwood flooring with kids bounding on/off it. It always stays together, though obviously slides from time to time. I can't imagine what it would be like w/out that connector.

posted by tdominey on 2008-07-16 22:30:20
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I got a huge heavy sectional and that sucker is always coming apart in the middle. Even when it's sitting on a rug. Every time somebody plops down it moves. The rubber things work well but it's hard to move around if you want to vacummn or sweep under it. Unfortunalty the way mine is made I can't clamp it but I like the padded clamp idea. When you want to unseparate just unclamp it.

posted by citygirlincountry on 2008-07-16 23:34:42
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My sectional sofa with a similar problem, but the structure is of a kind that I cannot use clamps.

What I'm going to do and recommend is to get this sort of plate with couple holes and just screw it, really.

http://www.etrailerparts.com.au/702224.jpg

Couple of those plates and small 3/15 mm screws will do the job.

posted by mikko on 2008-07-17 10:23:16
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