Questions to ask

This is a section that I have been wondering about.  I don't want to bias you with my thoughts so I am going to start with a free form questionnaire, post it and then go back and edit it later.  I am going to start from ground up, but before I do learn about the company.  How long they've been in business, are they the actual manufacturer, what is their credit rating (tell them you're going to check the finalists with Dun and Bradstreet.  When your church puts a deposit down it almost always will not get it back if the company folds.  I have seldom heard of it happening.  So if you've put half down on a $50,000 project the church is out $25,000.  Be careful about the company.

1. How do you anchor your pews to a concrete floor (use a wood floor if that is appropriate)?
2. How do you conceal the anchor holes?
3. Do you anchor the intermediate supports or just the end supports?  Most just anchor ends, but can anchor intermediate supports.
4. What is the shape of your end supports the base?  Most have a slight curve so the outside edges are the primary contact with the floor.  Flat pews might rock if the floor is not level.
5. Do you scribe or use feet on your intermediate supports?
6. How are your intermediate supports constructed - solid oak or veneer over what? How is the oak glued together - face-to-face, edge-to-edge.  How many plies is it?  You can tell this from the samples, if that is what the company is quoting. 
7. If they answer engineered wood ask about the specs on it.  If they answer solid wood ask what exactly is it?  If they answer solid oak ask what species and how is it glued.  A side note here - I have seen companies call particle board solid oak because they said that the particle board they used was only from oak trees.  I have seen companies substitute ash for oak, so make sure the wood is specified in the contract.  
8. How thick are your intermediate support and your ends?
9. How is the seat attached to the ends?  How deep is the routing?  
10. How are the ends constructed.  Is there veneer?  How are the solid pieces of oak in the end glued together?  
11. How is your seat pan constructed?  
12. Is there a rounded front edge in the seat pan?
13. How is the seat pan attached to the ends and intermediate supports
14. How is the seat pan attached to the seat back
15. What kind of foam are you using in the seat pan and the seat back?  Here is a link to the Polyurethane Foam Association with key definitions.  Make sure to check out the terms density and Indentation Force Deflection (IFD).  How does the foam feel to you?
16. How is the fabric stretched over the foam?  Check the samples for seams.  Some manufacturers have seams and some don't.
17. How is the back attached to the seat seat and the ends?
18. How is the cap rail attached to the seat back?
19. What type of wood goes into the seat back?  Particle board and plywood are common materials in fabric covered pews.  When there is wood on the back side of the pew back then manufacturers will vary.  Some will use veneer over their standard material and others will utilize solid oak.
20. What kind of foam is used in terms of density and IFD and how is the foam shaped.  Most companies offer contoured foam as an option and it does affect how the pew sits.
21. How high is the seat back?  Make sure the sample they're showing actually is identical in terms of the dimensions.
22. If the cap rail has splices what kind of joint do they use?  Most manufacturers work hard to avoid this, but sometimes on long pews they do have to join cap rails.
23. Ask about fabric options, but most companies use the same suppliers.  Most fabric is polyolefin or a blend, which had a lot of issues when it first came on the market.  Today, it is very good and relatively inexpensive per yard.  Some companies really like to promote nylon fabrics or nylon blends.  Is there a backing material on the fabric?  Most fabric companies have stain resistance built-in, but ask about it anyway.
24. Ask the double rub characteristics and learn about the warranty on the fabric.  Fabric warranty is often outside the pew contract.  If there is an issue with a fabric the pew manufacturer will refer you to the fabric mill.
25. Ask about the warranty?  Make sure someone on your committee reads the various warranties.  If someone is offering a lifetime warranty ask them to define lifetime.  If the foam fails, if the seat back pulls away from the seat, if the cap rail comes off, if the spring breaks (in a spring seat pew), if the fabric fades within a year, if the anchors come out of the floor, etc will it be covered?  Some will and some won't.
26. Are there any requirements on the church to maintain the warranty?
27. What are the recommended maintenance procedures for the pews?  Are they required for the warranty.
28. Do the pews have any labels that identify the manufacturer anywhere on them?  Most companies don't and after several generations, no one knows who made them or the fabric or the finish.  If is a good idea to put something on the underside of one of the back pews to have there or to have a permanent file on record at the church office
29. Who does the install.  Factory trained installers are not necessarily employees of the company.  Are they company employees?  If they are not company employees, read the fine print of the warranty to make sure the pew company is providing the warranty for the installation workmanship.  Who provides the fabric warranty?  That is typically from the mill, but good to clarify.
30. If you're planning to add more pews later, it is good to buy extra fabric in the same mill run for the additional footage.  Ask for pricing on that.  Most manufacturers leave extra stain for touch-up should ends or supports get scratched up.  Confirm that.
31. Confirm the delivery dates and check on the storage costs if your project is delayed.  Some manufacturers are very particular when a project is delayed.  Pews take up a lot of space and if several projects are delayed at one time it can be a real problem for the company, so they charge churches for storage after a certain point. See what their policy is on this.
32. Make sure you are in constant contact with the sales person if your church is delayed and the pew delivery has to be pushed back.
33. Make sure your check is ready when the delivery truck arrives.  Most companies will not unload the pews unless there is a check in the drivers hand.  
34. Have members there during installation.  People who understand construction are best.