Contract vinyl is the heavy-duty 1.2mm grade for busy public seating. Decor vinyl is the lighter, styled range for low-wear pieces.
“What is contract vinyl?” is the question our trade counters answer most often. This guide explains what separates contract grade vinyl from our Decor Vinyl range, how to match each to a commercial environment, and how to buy in quantity with confidence. Kehls has supplied the Upholsterer, Motor Trimmer and Public since 1970. For thickness on its own, our vinyl thickness guide compares every gauge we stock.
Contents
- Contract vs decor vinyl at a glance
- What makes a vinyl contract grade?
- Choosing by environment
- Where decor vinyl belongs in a commercial fit-out
- Buying commercial quantities from Kehls
- Get a quote on contract grade vinyl
- Resources
- FAQ
Contract vs decor vinyl at a glance
Two ranges, two jobs. Contract Vinyl 1.2mm is commercial grade vinyl upholstery built for seats that never rest; Decor Vinyl is the styling range for features that need looks and easy maintenance more than raw wear resistance.
| Specification | Contract Vinyl (1.2mm) | Decor Vinyl |
| Thickness | 1.2mm, the heaviest gauge we stock | Lighter decor weight, shapes easily |
| Wear rating | Engineered for constant public use; confirm rub count on the spec sheet | Styled for lighter, decorative duty |
| Cleaning tolerance | Withstands frequent commercial wipe-down regimes | Easy maintenance under light cleaning |
| Style range | Practical commercial colours and grains | Texture, colour and printed vinyl options |
| Typical settings | Restaurants, clinics, schools, offices, hotels, public seating | Headboards, wall panels, accent furniture, interior features |
| Per-metre value | Higher, costed against years of daily service | Accessible, costed against the feature it creates |
| Kehls range | Contract Vinyl 1.2mm | Decor Vinyl |
Key takeaway: match the range to the duty cycle, not the colour card. A booth seating forty covers a day needs contract grade vinyl; a headboard that touches nothing but pillows does not.
What makes a vinyl contract grade?
Contract grade is a duty rating, not a marketing label. Four specifications separate contract vinyl upholstery from lighter ranges; check each before you sign off a commercial order.
- Thickness and seam strength: Contract Vinyl is 1.2mm thick. The heavier gauge gives stronger stitched seams and higher puncture resistance than 0.8mm or 1.0mm vinyl, and on seating that is slid across and knocked daily, seam strength decides lifespan.
- Abrasion resistance: rub counts, measured in Martindale cycles, are the trade’s standard wear test for upholstery. Where your project specifies a minimum rub count, confirm the figure on the range’s spec sheet.
- Cleaning tolerance: commercial grade vinyl upholstery must tolerate frequent cleaning with commercial agents, not just an occasional soapy wipe. Vinyl’s non-porous, water-resistant, quick-drying surface is why it leads hospitality seating and healthcare seating.
- Fire retardancy: many public-space fit-outs require fire-retardant furnishing materials. Requirements differ by project, so confirm compliance against the range’s spec sheet before ordering.
“If the public sits on it all day, we point you straight at Contract 1.2mm. The gauge is what keeps seams tight through years of daily wipe-downs.” (Trade counter consultant, Kehls)
Myth: any thick vinyl counts as contract grade.
Reality: thickness is one leg of the specification. A vinyl earns the contract label when gauge, abrasion resistance, cleaning tolerance and, where required, fire performance hold up together. That combination makes vinyl for commercial use a different purchase from a home project.
Contract vinyl fabric: what the term means
“Contract vinyl fabric” is what many buyers type into a search bar, and it almost always means vinyl: a coated sheet material sold by the metre. We also stock a separate woven Office and Contract fabric range, a cloth alternative for task seating and panels. It is a different product with different properties, so decide vinyl or cloth first, then pick the range.
Choosing by environment
Different rooms punish upholstery differently. Use these quick specifications as a starting point, then confirm details with your branch.
Restaurants and cafés
Specify Contract Vinyl 1.2mm for booths, banquettes and chairs. Restaurant seating vinyl must shrug off food oils, spilt drinks and nightly wipe-downs without the surface breaking down. The 1.2mm gauge holds stitched seams tight through constant sliding in and out of booths. For hospitality seating that trades seven days a week, contract grade is the only sensible spec.
Clinics and healthcare waiting rooms
Healthcare seating needs a non-porous, water-resistant surface that dries quickly between cleans. Contract Vinyl 1.2mm tolerates the frequent wipe-down regimes clinics run through the day. Confirm the range’s compatibility with your facility’s approved cleaning agents on the spec sheet before ordering. Order free samples and test your own products first.
Schools and public institutions
School chairs take punishment no office seat ever sees. Puncture resistance is the spec that matters most here, and the 1.2mm gauge resists pen points, keys and daily knocks far better than lighter vinyl. Stitched seams are essential on any seating panel; glued joins will not survive a term of high-traffic upholstery use.
Offices and reception
Reception seating greets every visitor, so specify contract grade vinyl wherever the public waits. Behind the scenes, our Regular 0.8mm and All Purpose 1.0mm ranges cover moderate-traffic staff and meeting seating at a friendlier per-metre value. Match grain and colour across both zones by ordering free fabric samples before you commit the spec.
Salons and studios
Salon chairs deal with tints, dyes and constant wipe-downs, which puts them firmly in contract territory. Specify Contract Vinyl 1.2mm for styling chairs and waiting benches. Decor Vinyl earns its place on the feature wall and reception panelling instead, where its textures and printed finishes set the look without carrying the wear.
Where decor vinyl belongs in a commercial fit-out
Not every surface in a commercial fit-out earns wear. Decor Vinyl exists for the surfaces that set the tone: headboards in hospitality rooms, feature wall panels, reception facings and low-use accent chairs. The range combines texture and colour, with printed vinyl available for patterned or branded features.
Its lighter weight also shapes and wraps more cleanly than heavy gauges, which is exactly what panel work needs. Decor is not the junior option; it is the styling option, built for a modern finish with easy maintenance.
Scenario snapshot: a George guesthouse refits ten rooms. Headboards and wall panels go into Decor Vinyl for texture and a printed feature finish; the breakfast-room chairs, used by every guest every morning, are covered in Contract 1.2mm. Two ranges, one supplier, each doing the job it was engineered for.
Buying commercial quantities from Kehls
Specifying is only half the job; supply is the other half, and we keep it simple whether you’re covering one reception bench or fitting out a franchise.
- Vinyl by the metre: we stock and sell every range above by the metre, so you order what the job needs.
- Free fabric samples: sign off colour, grain and feel from a physical sample before the order is placed.
- Three branches: Cape Town (Maitland), Pinetown in KZN and George on the Garden Route, each with its own WhatsApp line.
- Free delivery: in and around Cape Town, Monday to Friday.
“Approve the spec from a physical sample, never from a screen. Colour and grain read differently in the room, which is why samples are free.” (Branch manager, Kehls)
Get a quote on contract grade vinyl
Tell us the environment, the furniture and the metres you need, and we’ll recommend the right range at the right per-metre value. Request a quote through our contact page, WhatsApp your nearest Kehls branch, or ask for free fabric samples to put contract grade vinyl and Decor Vinyl side by side on your own furniture. Affordable and quality, by the metre, since 1970.
Resources
- International Organization for Standardization, ISO 12947-2, Textiles: Determination of the abrasion resistance of fabrics by the Martindale method: https://www.iso.org/standard/61058.html
- British Standards Institution, BS 5852, Methods of test for assessment of the ignitability of upholstered seating by smouldering and flaming ignition sources: https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/methods-of-test-for-assessment-of-the-ignitability-of-upholstered-seating-by-smouldering-and-flaming-ignition-sources
- Kehls, Upholstery Vinyl Guide: https://www.kehls.co.za/upholstery-vinyl-guide-thickness-types-and-applications/
Frequently asked questions by customers
What is contract vinyl?
Contract vinyl is upholstery vinyl manufactured to a heavier specification for commercial environments where seating is used constantly by the public. Our Contract Vinyl range is 1.2mm thick, highly durable, long-wearing and easy to maintain. It is the grade we recommend for restaurants, clinics, schools, offices, hotels and public seating. The name comes from the contract furnishing trade, where materials are specified for fit-out contracts rather than home use.
Can decor vinyl be used commercially?
Yes, in the right position. Decor Vinyl is styled for decor-focused applications: headboards, wall panels, accent furniture and interior features that need a modern finish with easy maintenance. In a commercial fit-out it belongs on surfaces that are seen more than they are sat on. For seating that carries constant public use, specify Contract Vinyl 1.2mm instead. The two ranges work well together on the same project.
How long does contract vinyl last?
Quality vinyl maintains its flexibility and resists cracking for years when it is cared for, and contract grade is engineered to do that under constant commercial use. Actual lifespan depends on traffic, cleaning practice and upholstery quality; stitched seams are essential on seating. Keep a simple wipe-down regime with suitable cleaning agents and the surface will stay presentable through years of daily service.
What does contract vinyl cost per metre?
We sell vinyl by the metre, and pricing varies by range and colour, so ask your nearest Kehls branch for a current quote. The better question is value per metre: contract vinyl costs more than lighter grades upfront, but it is engineered to serve for years under constant use, which usually makes it the more affordable and quality choice over the life of the fit-out. Request free fabric samples with your quote.
