Leather suite repairs

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

Real leather does not peel or flake. While it may just be a damaged finish or after-market paint (click here for an example), more often, … Read more

When it comes to leather scratch repair, let your fingers be the judge. If you can feel the damage caused by your dog or cat, … Read more

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 […]

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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

Just like leather, vinyl cracks as it ages and desiccates (dries out). Unlike leather, however, the cracks often create sharp edges that curl upward and … Read more

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.

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Leather interior repair - Profshinservice

Everyday use of a car affects the condition of its interior. On the leather upholstery, every scratch, abrasion is noticeable and “an eyesore”, so if they appear, you should not postpone the interior repair. If you do not pay due attention to the panels and trim, the car will become unattractive.

THE MOST COMMON LEATHER INTERIOR DEFECTS

Leather interior emphasizes the status of the owner of the car. Unfortunately, modern manufacturers often try to save money even on premium brands of cars, and this especially often applies to the quality of finishing materials - leather and its substitutes. Often, low quality products are used instead of natural materials. But even the highest quality material loses its properties and visual appeal over time. nine0003

The most common defects that can occur on such upholstery:

cuts;
abrasions, wiping of the top layer;
burns;
ruptures of finishing, connective tissue;
scratches;
punctures and others.

Also, car owners often face such a problem as scuffed plastic parts of the cabin. Therefore, interior plastic repair is often carried out in conjunction with the restoration of leather upholstery. To repair the leather interior, special tools and kits are used to restore the skin. In most cases, high-quality interior restoration allows you to completely transform the interior of the vehicle. nine0003

FEATURES OF RESTORATION OF DEFECTS OF THE LEATHER INTERIOR

Interior leather repair is a complex procedure, so many motorists decide to entrust this procedure to specialized workshops. Some vehicle owners decide to do it on their own, but this is impossible without special skills, tools and restoration products: paints, cleaners, solvents, etc.

Having decided to repair a leather interior, it is important to choose the right materials, tools and coloring agents. Interior upholstery repair is painstaking work, it is difficult to carry it out without a serious approach and professionalism. Before you start repairing the car interior, you need to clean it of dirt. nine0003

AUTO LEATHER PAINTING

The procedure must be carried out with strict adherence to the technology of work and using high-quality consumables.

Repair with staining is carried out in several stages:

surface preparation;
filling cuts with special chemicals, applying texture;
application of the coloring composition.

Strict adherence to technology allows you to update the appearance of leather upholstery, hide defects without compromising its elasticity. The selection of materials must be done in compliance with the technology of work in order to avoid drying out, cracking of the repaired skin area in the heat. Very often, painting the skin in a car interior allows you to return its external characteristics to its original appearance. Unlike a complete upholstery of the interior, this repair option is associated with lower costs, despite the fact that this is a rather complicated and painstaking procedure. nine0003

Painting allows you to completely eliminate scuffs. It is important to choose the right texture and paint for the material, as an illiterate choice of tools and unprofessional work can exacerbate the situation. Fortunately, this procedure in the salon is inexpensive, and positive emotions from the updated interior will very quickly pay off all the costs.

LOCAL REPAIR of leather car interior

Any damage to the skin - holes or cracks - turns into a real problem. In some cases, in order to carry out repairs, it is necessary to dismantle individual interior elements. But if professionals start work, instead of a complete reupholstering, you can get by with local repairs. In each situation, the necessary repair means are selected individually. nine0003

ADVANTAGES OF SALON REPAIR IN PROFSHINSERVIS

Before starting work, our specialists will conduct a thorough inspection for the presence of existing and hidden defects, which may soon become noticeable, and eliminate them.

We will carry out comprehensive work on problem areas.

We will repair the plastic of the car interior so that the client receives a completely renovated interior that will look like new. nine0003

Useful information

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Comfortable waiting area

In our branch on the street. Sorge, d. 7A there is a cafe. In it, you can comfortably spend time watching the work on your car on the monitors, as well as using high-speed free WI-FI.

Car interior leather repair. Restoration of car interior leather in Novosibirsk

Under the influence of moisture, temperature changes, ultraviolet radiation and other factors, the interior leather loses its attractive appearance: it wears out, cracks and tears. However, do not rush to completely replace the material. It will be much faster and cheaper to make a restoration. Car interior leather repair can be complex (removal of defects on the entire surface of the seat, steering wheel) or local (treatment of only individual damaged areas). nine0003

Benefits of restoring the leather interior:

The original interior material and its unique texture, as well as contrasting stitching, are preserved.
Restoration of the skin in the car saves time, as it takes from several hours to 1-2 days.
Restoration is much cheaper than re-upholstery.
We work according to LeTech technology, completely duplicating the process of leather dyeing according to the factory technology.

Service cost:

Service name	Cost
Leather dyeing
Side support	from 1 500
Seat cushion	from 2.000
Seat back	from 2 000
Cushion + sidewall
Whole seat (front)	from 3 500
Rear seat	from 2 000
Repair of scratches, abrasions, burns	from 1 600
Care (seat cleaning + special treatment)
Whole interior (doors, dashboard, seats, steering wheel, handles)	3000-5000

How is the restoration done?

First, a deep cleaning of the skin is performed to assess its general condition.