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Leather repairs for couches


How to repair a leather couch – and restore it to its best

(Image credit: DFS)

Knowing how to repair a leather couch is essential if you own one and have a busy family home – and especially pets who might sneak on it occasionally. 

Due to its durability and longevity, leather is a firm favorite when it comes to upholstery. Leather also ages beautifully making it the perfect investment piece. A leather couch is always on trend and picking a neutral shade ensures it will always go with your scheme.

However, leather can be prone to damage – including scratches. We've asked the experts and collated their advice to ensure that you know how to keep your couch looking its absolute best. 

See: How to clean a leather sofa – so that it looks as good as new

How do you repair a damaged leather couch?

'Although leather is pretty tough, it can of course be cut, torn or punctured. This can obviously be upsetting as leather is a fairly expensive fabric, and replacing damaged covers might be a significant expense. Fortunately, that is very rarely necessary as cuts and tears can usually be repaired at home with a little care and the right tools.' says John Darling, founder of luxury upholsterers Darlings of Chelsea .

However, before you embark on repair projects, it's important to establish the condition of the leather and the age of the couch. 'Just like tire wear on a vehicle, leather furniture can get worn down and sometimes degraded beyond the point of repair.' says Jesse Johnstone, president of Fibrenew

So can leather upholstery be repaired? Yes, leather upholstery can be repaired. Read on to find out how.

How can I restore my faded leather couch to color?

(Image credit: Darlings of Chelsea)

You can restore your faded leather couch by spot-touching specialist dyes and finishes, that are simply applied with a sponge and allowed to dry – it is very easy to do yourself, plus it's a lot more cost-effective than purchasing a new leather sofa.

Lesandre Holiday, CEO of Rub 'n' Restore says most touch-up projects 'only require a 2 to 8oz color  (US$16 to $48) and 2 to 4oz clear finish (US$8 to $14). All genuine leathers are candidates, even lesser quality corrected grain. The exceptions are nubuck and suede.'

However, when it comes to spot-touching, the main challenge is matching the color. Lesandre advises picking a company with a color matching service, and while this does add to the cost, it ensures that your touch-ups will be hardly noticeable. 

'We offer a service that requires sending a sample and may cost up to US$60 with an 8oz color minimum.'

How to soften old leather?

You can soften old leather by investing in a specialist conditioner – ideally one that contains lanolin – to keep the material supple. 

'To protect your leather, using a specialist conditioner from a quality care kit will help to clean and condition your product, reviving the sheen of the leather and preserving its soft suppleness. To prevent the leather losing its rich color or from becoming dry, apply this conditioner twice a year,' says Suzy McMahon, buying director Sofology .

There are several DIY methods that include using petroleum jelly or coconut oil, but these have been shown to have mixed results and may stain your couch. It is worth selecting a specific leather conditioner to ensure that the product is compatible with leather couches and will achieve your desired effect.

Can you fix a leather couch that is peeling?

(Image credit: Philip Lauterbach)

You can fix a peeling leather couch quite easily. However, genuine leather does not peel or flaking off. This is instead a clear indication that your couch is made of bonded or blended leather which is also known as faux leather. You can temporarily improve the look of your faux leather sofa with a filler and color but this will be a short term fix. It is worth considering replacing it with a genuine leather sofa which, while more expensive, will last a lot longer.

Genuine leather will crack rather than peel. 'This happens due to the desiccation of the fiber, as its natural oils evaporate,' says Lesandre Holiday. 'This causes the leather to shrink and stiffen and then become damaged with stress and use.' You can prevent this by using a conditioner which should be applied once or twice a year at most.

If it's already too late to prevent cracking, thankfully you can fix a cracked leather couch by using a filler. Rub 'n' Restore's water-based leather filler kit costs from $23 and is simply applied to cracks, then treated with a color to conceal them. 

How do you repair a rip in a leather sofa?

(Image credit: Future)

You can repair a rip in a leather couch with super glue, a canvas or leather sub patch, some sandpaper and a sharp knife. You may also need some filler and a leather dye that matches your sofa. All of these items are available online or from DIY or home stores

'The basic process is to clean up the tear by carefully trimming it with a sharp blade, then place the patch underneath the tear and super glue both sides of the torn material to it, placing the edges of the tear together if possible so there is no gap,' says John Darling founder of luxury sofa manufacturer Darlings of Chelsea.  

'In many cases, this is sufficient and, with a high-quality patch and good super glue, will hold firmly for the lifetime of the sofa and be almost invisible.'

If the patch or join is still visible, then push heavy leather filler into the gap, building it up into thin layers. You can then color the filler and the patched area to make sure it blends in. 'As always, it is best to test any dye you use on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it matches,' advises John.

If the damage is severe then DIY repair may not be possible and you should consult a professional. 'An expert upholster can remove the ripped panel and replace it with one cut from matched leather,' advises Greg Miller, leather technician from Blenkinsop Leathers Ltd .

'How cost effective using a professional would be is doubtful, especially with a lower budget sofa. The most economic option might be to simply replace it, though of course not the most environmentally-friendly.'

How do you repair a split seam on a leather couch?

When it comes to repairing a split seam on a leather couch, in most cases it is best to leave this to the professionals.  

'Leather is thick and can be tough to stitch by hand. It requires special needles, threads, tools, and know-how in order to do it properly, have it match the rest of the couch, and ensure it holds up over time.' says Jesse Johnstone, president of Fibrenew 'Professionals will be able to match the seam to the same pattern as the rest of the couch and make sure that it will hold together.'

How much does it cost to repair a leather couch?

The cost of repairing a leather sofa will depend on the extent of the damage. If you are looking to repair a small area of cracking or a single scratch on a DIY basis then it can cost as little as $20 for a patch repair kit. 

Be sure to fully research a product before committing as there are lots of budget options that can cause more damage than good. Magic Mender or Rub 'n' Restore both have lots of advice about finding the best DIY kit as well as offering personalized advice to help you with your specific problem. 

See: How to restore wood furniture – an expert guide

For larger repairs, it is worth consulting a professional but this does come at a price. Larger professional repairs can cost between $500 and $1,200 – and in some cases it will cost less to replace the piece rather than repair so be sure to get a selection of quotes before you decide on whether to repair or replace. 

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature. 

How to Repair Leather & Vinyl Furniture and Upholstery

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A flexible vinyl and leather filler kit is needed to repair upholstery that has: Repairing peeling bonded, bicast, and polyurethane leathers is not recommended. See … Read more

CC, the original Vinyl Lady (and mom), got her start in 1987 repairing leather in auto interiors for dealerships in Southern California. Her skill and attention to detail set her apart from her competitors, and she was sought by upholstery and fabrication shops that specialized in collectible cars and hot rods.Early on she developed the Sandpaper-Super-Glue […]

Most holes in vinyl or leather upholstery can be fixed with a subpatch and leather filler. However, when the hole is larger than 2 inches … Read more

Repairing cat scratches on vinyl or faux leather is painstaking work, and perfection is nearly impossible (unlike similar damage to real leather). The results are … Read more

Scratched, scuffed leather or dry, porous vinyl are often corrected with little more than a new finish and gentle sanding. Click here for instructions. Deeper … Read more

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Welting or piping, the cord trim on upholstery, can be a tricky repair due to the curves involved. The key is to avoid getting any … Read more

Perforated leather or vinyl upholstery is a tricky repair. If the perforations no longer align, the result is likely to be imperfect. Each hole needs … Read more

Ask yourself, has the thread and stitching come undone? Or has the leather, vinyl or fabric torn along the seam, and the stitching remains intact? … Read more

Peeling or flaking is usually a sign of a delaminating bicast, bonded or faux leather and may be cost prohibitive to repair. Look at the area that has chipped away. If a woven fabric or microfiber is exposed and absorbs water, it’s a composite or synthetic that is difficult to restore. Learn how you’d do it, and why we don’t recommend it here.

Sometimes, however, peeling or flaking is simply a damaged finish or after-market coating on real leather or vinyl. If the grain is intact, it is easily corrected sanding, stripping, and a new finish.

A cracked dashboard indicates a structural issue beyond the abilities of a standard leather or vinyl filler. Most dashes are made of either rigid plastic … Read more

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Restoration of leather furniture with improvised means, the necessary recommendations

Leather furniture gives the room a luxurious and rich look. Interior items made of leather require special care. Over time, the furniture loses its original appearance and requires repair. You can contact the salon, where the specialists will update it. Restoration of leather furniture is also possible at home. In order to update interior items with your own hands, different methods and means are used. Recommendations and advice will help to properly restore. nineOl000 scuffs appear, and the color becomes not as saturated as it was originally. It is possible to restore the original beauty of interior items with the help of their full or partial painting. nine0024 For these purposes, manufacturers produce paint in the form of a liquid or spray. The latter are more convenient to use and allow you to restore the color of the furniture in a short period of time. Spray paints an upholstery, without soiling clothes and a human body. Liquid paint is cheaper, but the process takes longer.

In order to carry out the process correctly and update the color of the furniture, it is recommended to follow the instructions:

  1. First clean the surface of dirt and dust. Dry the upholstery thoroughly; nine0008
  2. In order not to stain decorative elements and furniture inserts, cover them with masking tape;
  3. If there are other objects nearby, it is better to cover them with a cloth or film. This will prevent paint from getting in while updating the color of the furniture;
  4. Take a can of paint and spray at a distance of 20 cm from the repair site;
  5. After that, leave the product for a while until the paint dries;
  6. To make the color brighter, the surface is painted again. nine0008

It is recommended that you first check that the color of the furniture and the paint match by shade. To do this, paint a small area in an inconspicuous place. Wait for the paint to dry, as the color may change by half a tone. If the shades match, you can start painting all the furniture.

Move the sofa outdoors Lay a floor protection cloth on the floor Remove dust and dirt from the covering Spray the upholstery with water Apply dye Remove paint residue

Stain cleaning

Sooner or later stains appear on the upholstery. To eliminate them, various means are used, which are selected for each type of pollution separately. For example, to get rid of greasy stains, talc, starch and salt are used. All ingredients are mixed, sprinkled on the contaminated area. Wipe the area to be cleaned with a damp cloth.

It is important to get rid of stains as soon as they form. Some of them will be difficult or even impossible to withdraw in the future. Do-it-yourself traces of fresh blood from leather furniture are cleaned with a rag soaked in cold water. If the spots are already old, use a different method. An aspirin tablet is dissolved in a glass of water. The contaminated area is wiped with a cloth soaked in this solution. Soap solution will perfectly cope with the problem. nine0003

For best results, it is recommended to use laundry soap. To prepare the product for 200 g of water, you need 1 tablespoon of soap shavings.

Stains from pens, markers and paints can be removed with ordinary citric acid. 1 tablespoon of the product is dissolved in a glass of water. After that, the stain is washed and wiped with a dry cloth. If drinks are spilled on the furniture upholstery, it doesn’t matter. A detergent will help to easily remove traces of tea, juice, coffee. In order not to spoil the upholstery, it is better to use a substance that does not contain chlorine. The liquid is foamed and applied with a cloth or sponge to the stain. nine0003 Wipe down with a soft clothRemove excess residueApply special cleanerLet the furniture dry

Remove scuffs and scratches

Leather sofas and armchairs scratch easily. If the upholstery is not cut through, it will not be difficult to basically get rid of the scratches. To restore leather furniture at home, you will need olive oil and cotton swabs. To get rid of scratches, do the following:

  1. Pour oil on the scratch and the area around it; nine0008
  2. Gently wipe the area with a cotton swab in a circular motion;
  3. Leave for 1 hour to dry;
  4. If the scratch remains, repeat the procedure 2-3 more times;

In some cases, damage may remain, then resort to another method. The scratch is again oiled, a cotton cloth is applied. Then, with a warm iron, iron the upholstery area directly on the fabric. The thermal effect leads to a better penetration of the oil into the fabric. If necessary, repeat the procedure. Apply only a warm iron to the damaged area. 10 seconds will be enough. nine0003

Another product that eliminates scratches is shoe polish. Apply the cream to the damaged area with a cotton swab. It will become invisible. This method does not remove scratches, but merely masks them. The best result will be obtained if the shades of the cream and the upholstery of the furniture are completely the same. Deeper scratches or abrasions can be repaired with a special leather filler as follows:

  1. Clean the damaged area with rubbing alcohol; nine0008
  2. Allow furniture to dry within 10 minutes;
  3. Apply a special filler to the scratch;
  4. Paint the damaged area.
Wipe the finish with alcohol Treat with sandpaper Rub the finish Cover with paint

Repairing holes and cracks

Repairing holes in furniture will require a patch and crack filler. The restoration of a leather sofa in this case looks like this:

  1. Clean the surface with medical alcohol;
    2. nine0007 Apply leather glue or superglue to the inside of the damaged area with a toothpick;
  2. Gently press down on the hold and straighten it out. Quickly wipe off excess glue with a cloth or napkin;
  3. Sand the bonding area with sandpaper. It should become soft to the touch. This item is only needed if superglue is used;
  4. If the color of the leather has changed, paint the area and apply a top coat.
    5. nine0019

    Repair cracks with Liquid Leather. It is a coloring and adhesive plastic substance. The set contains 7 liquid leather colors. To find the right shade, mix several colors.

    Before use, the surface of the furniture is treated with alcohol to clean and degrease. The agent is applied to the damaged areas with a brush, leveled. When everything is dry, repeat the steps again.

    Treat with alcohol Apply glue to the hole Press down the holds Paint the coating Treat with sandpaper

    Household and folk remedies

    Shops offer a wide range of leather care products. When using them, be sure to follow the instructions. Restoration of interior items from leather is possible using folk remedies. Restoration by folk methods is carried out at peril and risk, since the described examples are personal experience and the initiative of people, and the consequences can be unpredictable.

    Grease stains are sprinkled with cornstarch, which will absorb all the grease from the upholstery. Stains from a marker or felt-tip pens are removed with nail polish remover without acetone. For these purposes, you can use hairspray. Wine spilled on furniture is removed with medical alcohol. Also, stains are removed with lemon juice. Light dirt can be removed with make-up remover milk. With a cotton pad dipped in this product, wipe the surface and remove excess. This method is not suitable for frequent use. nine0003

    Do not use harsh chemicals when cleaning leather furniture. Spots should be removed as soon as they appear. The surface of the furniture must not be subjected to intense mechanical stress.

    Video

    Leather sofa repair. Order repair of leather sofas in Moscow.

    Leather sofa repair. Order repair of leather sofas in Moscow.

    Typical problems of leather sofas

    Leather sofas in domestic use have the same problems as any other similar products. Perhaps only scratches on the surface of the skin and the appearance of squeaks distinguish leather models from others. The main problems of this type of sofas are sitting places and breakage from frequent opening and pulling apart, depending on the design, as well as damage to the upholstery or upholstery of the product. Repairing a leather sofa is a great opportunity to breathe life into an “old friend”.

    How and what is repaired on a leather sofa? nine0127

    Repair of leather sofas, in principle, is not much different from the standard repair of such furniture. But upholstery tears, cracks on the surface of the skin are restored in a special way. To do this, a special agent is used, which is sprayed onto the surface of the skin and allowed to dry, or the leather cover is replaced. The second stage, which involves the repair of leather sofas, consists in applying a means of restoring the structure of the skin.
    Also, transformation mechanisms often break inside, which are responsible for folding the product. In most cases, they are simply replaced with new ones. nine0003

    Call the master

    If you have any problems with your furniture, you can always order the repair of leather sofas at home with the call of the master at home. Restoration will take a little time, and the result will delight you. You simply will not find the place where the flaw was on your leather friend. You can order the replacement of springs, the internal mechanism and even the replacement of the skin with a new one. The sofa interior fittings used in this case will be of high quality and reliable in operation. nine0003

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    Departure of the master with samples of materials (more than 300 types) - free of charge!

    * The cost of furniture delivery in one direction is 2000 rubles, in both directions - 4000 rubles.
    The result of the calculation is approximate, the master will be able to report the full cost of the work after the departure and evaluation nine0003

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    Reviews

    Each repair is a separate case, and the cost depends on many parameters:
    complexity and labor costs, cost of materials, repair location and
    furniture dimensions. Here we give an approximate cost, and you can also use our
    calculator.

    I ordered a reupholstering of a kitchen sofa with an intricate and rather inconvenient configuration. I took up this at the insistence of family members - I myself would prefer to buy a new one. Now I see: no new one is needed, the master completed the upholstery in an exemplary way.

    Elena, December 2017

    I express my gratitude for the work of master Alexei and the constant support from Sergei. Quickly and very efficiently, they reupholstered a part of the sofa, which was catastrophically damaged by the sharp claws and teeth of a beloved pet. nine0003

    Natalia, November 2017

    Many thanks to Alexander for the fast and high-quality upholstery of my sofa. Now it's better than new. Great job!

    Galina, August 2017

    CJSC "Central Polyclinic of the Literary Fund" thanks the team of LLC "Franch-Guide" for the professional performance of furniture repair work. Repair of furniture is made qualitatively and quickly. Thank you for your cooperation. April 2017

    In July 2016, MAOU "Secondary School No. 6" turned to the company Profremontmebeli furniture for a furniture upholstery service.
    Thanks to the organization for the efficiency. February 2017 Just leave a request and we will contact you.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Yes, we do. After the departure of the master, a contract for the provision of services is drawn up, and an invoice for payment for services (prepayment) is issued. After the completion of all works, an invoice for payment of services (balance) is issued, and a complete set of closing documents (act of completion, invoices, contracts) is provided.

    First, a contract is concluded, which specifies the cost of work and materials. The advance payment is usually 50% of the order amount. This money primarily goes to the purchase of materials that will be used in the repair. nine0003

    Yes, you can. Our masters make qualitatively any kinds of work on repair of upholstered furniture. You only need to leave a request, and we will return your furniture to its original appearance.

    Yes, of course. You can independently purchase the material you need. In this case, the cost will be calculated a little differently. For more information, it is better to contact our consultant by phone +7 (495) 357-72-73.

    Not at all. We will reupholster an individual element: pillows, armrests, backrests, etc.

    Our main specialization is the repair of upholstered furniture, including upholstery, upholstery or restoration. We work with sofas of all types, armchairs, chairs, specialized upholstered furniture. We also do work on carriage screed, wall drapery, upholstery of modular systems, production of wall panels, repair of wooden furniture and restoration of paintwork.

    We usually work from home. It is more convenient for both the client and us. In addition, you do not have to once again take out and bring in furniture for transportation. This will increase its service life. In some cases, we transport furniture to a workshop equipped with all the necessary tools and equipment. And after the completion of the work, we return the furniture […]

    Yes, of course. All work is carried out in accordance with the contract, which also indicates the warranty period - 365 calendar days.

    Usually we repair furniture at home, however, it is possible to take it to the workshop. The terms of repair depend on the number of repaired items, complexity and size. Usually, the repair of the sofa takes from 1 to 2 weeks. Urgent orders are fulfilled on the same day.

    Yes. We carry out travel outside the Moscow Ring Road at a distance of up to 80 km.

    Yes, of course. The master measurer always brings with him a catalog of fabrics and leathers that we can offer you for replacement.

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