Water-repellent or waterproof - the difference in numbers
The market writes "weatherproof" and usually means water-repellent: the fabric sheds splashes, but in heavy rain or standing water it soaks through eventually. The measurable difference is the water column to UNE EN ISO 20811. All three fabrics below are outdoor grades, only one is waterproof.
| Fabric | Water column (UNE EN ISO 20811) | Lightfastness (ISO 105-B02) | Abrasion (ISO 12947-2) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agora Liso Waterproof, PU-laminated on the back | 1,000 mm, waterproof | 7-8 of 8 | 20,000 cycles | 304 g/m² |
| Agora Liso, standard finish | 180 mm, water-repellent | 7-8 of 8 | 20,000 cycles | 260 g/m² |
| Dralon Acrisol | no manufacturer figure, water-repellent | 4-6 of 8 | no manufacturer figure | 220 g/m² |
Waterproof cushions made to measure, sorted by furniture
All eight versions are made from the same laminated Agora fabric and are priced by the configurator from your own dimensions. You enter length, width and thickness, choose colour and construction, we sew.
Seat cushions, back cushions and what else lies outside
An outdoor seat cushion needs different foam from a back cushion, and a scatter cushion needs none at all. That is why we sort by function rather than by furniture name. What goes inside a pad is explained in cushion filling.
Outdoor seat cushions
These carry your weight, so they take hard-wearing foam (Schaumstoff) at density 40/50. That is furniture grade, not packaging foam. Thickness runs from 4 to 20 cm; from 12 cm upwards extra thermal fleece is added.
Back cushions, straight or wedged
These only support you, so they may be softer at density 20/30. Straight backs suit pallet furniture, wedged ones suit lounge sofas with a sloping backrest.
Soft cushions for deep furniture
A loosely filled back cushion without a firm edge. On very deep lounge furniture it works better than a taut backrest.
Bench pads instead of cushions
For garden benches and seating without a back. A pad is flatter and longer than a cushion. Every furniture type is collected under custom cushions.
Round and half-round seats
Not every seat is rectangular. Round, half-round and chair shapes sit under seat cushions. Measuring help comes from the measurement instruction for cushions.
No seating involved
Purely decorative cushions and all non-laminated versions can be found under outdoor pillows.
How a cushion actually stays dry
A waterproof Agora fabric (Outdoorstoff in our German catalogue) does not by itself make a waterproof cushion. The needle holes along a seam are holes, and a fully sealed pad balloons when you sit on it. We solve both on the sewing floor. The measurements we need are shown in the measuring instructions for deep seat cushions.
Seams sealed by machine
The sewing thread swells on contact with moisture and closes the needle holes. On top of that, every seam is sealed in a separate production step.
Concealed air vents
Air has to leave when you sit down and return when you stand up, otherwise the seams tear. The vents sit under a weatherproof fabric flap, together with the zip.
Breathable despite the laminate
The PU laminate lets 240 to 320 g of water vapour per m² and day escape. The foam core dries out from the inside instead of trapping moisture.
Foam core wrapped in thermal fleece
The foam is wrapped in thermal fleece 0.5 cm thick at 50 g/m². It gives the pad its soft edge and holds warmth on cool days.
Covers only, without a core
We also sew the cover on its own if your existing foam still carries you. You give us the dimensions and the colour, the construction stays the same.
Not machine washable
The laminate tolerates no washing machine, no tumble dryer, no dry cleaning and no pressure washer. Stains come off with lukewarm water and mild soap, details in the Agora waterproof care instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Feel the fabric first, then measure
The colour on your screen is not the colour on your terrace. Fabric samples go out free of charge, and if you are unsure about the construction we will work through your dimensions with you.