Furniture made of leather is generally more expensive than furniture made from other fabrics like cotton, acrylic, wool, or microfiber.  However, furniture experts consider leather to be the best all-around upholstery fabric.  This is because leather is extremely tough, softens and develops character with age, and is easy to clean.  It is also water-repellent and does not hold dust or smell.  But, leather isn’t perfect—it can develop scratches, holes, or cuts.  And many people are intimidated by the prospect of trying to deal with these impairments.

Repairing leather doesn’t need to be difficult, though—and most of the time it can be done at home without even expending much effort.  In fact, because leather is so easy to repair, this type of furniture can last for many years, looking better as it ages.  Here is a guide to keeping leather furniture in great shape for years to come.

Repairing Holes in Leather Furniture

Holes in leather furniture do not often occur; however, they can happen for a variety of reasons.  For example, a dog’s or cat’s nails could puncture a hole in the course of jumping onto the furniture piece.

In order to properly repair this type of issue with a piece of leather furniture it will be necessary to purchase a leather repair kit that contains patches of leather.  Even though the leather repair patch will be placed under the hole and will be only minutely visible, it is still advisable to buy a kit that matches the color of the furniture piece being repaired.  It is not a good idea to keep a repair kit at home on hand; this is because the elements of the kit can deteriorate with time and may be too old to work correctly by the time they are needed.

Follow directions on the leather repair kit, of course.  In general, though, kits will state to place a patch under the hole and then put repair compound on top of the hole.

Repairing Cuts in Leather Furniture

These typically happen as a result of an accident or from the spreading of a small hole.  With a cut in leather furniture, it is essential to keep the piece out of use until the repair has been made.  This is because if people use the furniture piece while it has a cut, the cut is likely to expand.

To repair cuts, a kit with chemical compound is needed.  The compound will be used to fill the gap; then it will be necessary to secure the cut edges together.

Repairing Scuffs and Scratches on Leather Furniture

Scuff marks occur when something with hard edges is pushed against the leather furniture; these often happen when a person is moving to a different home or when moving furniture throughout the home.  Scratches can come from any sharp object, from a haphazardly-placed metal nail file to a quickly-jumping dog, for instance.

To repair these marks, it is necessary to have the chemical compound from a leather repair kit.  Inject the compound into the scratch or scuff and blend until the marks are no longer visible.

Photo Credits: Ruth L

Originally posted 2009-09-11 06:17:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• Lumber Terms pt 2 Ply - This term describes a single layer of veneer. Pressure Treating - This term describes impregnating pieces of lumber with chemicals like fire retardants and preservatives through the forcing of the chemicals with high pressure into the wood's very structure. Reman - This is a shortened term referring to......
• It Might Be Time to Consider DIY for Home Improvement When insurance deductibles become so high that it becomes impossible to make claims to repair blown down fences and make routine home improvements, or when the waiting list for contractor help becomes impossibly long, it might be time to consider getting things done yourself. In the age of big box......
• Repairing Damaged Drywall Sheets of drywall are generally quite strong, but they are only made out of gypsum plaster that has been pressed between two sheets of thick paper. The thing that ensures rigidity is the kiln drying process. The basic construction of the drywall allows for it to be inexpensive as well......
• The Basics of Drilling 3 Drilling without splinters! Drilling a hole completely through a piece of stock is going to leave an edge that is rough and splintery on the way out. In order to create a hole that is clean, you should look for the point of the bit as it is piercing through......
• DIY Home Flooring Repairs Methods by which floors are repaired depend entirely on the type of floor you currently have. Factors like the type of floor, and damage severity are important points to consider for repairs. Repairing Ceramic Tile Nothing ruins a kitchen or bathroom floor like a chipped or cracked tile. Luckily, ceramic......

Related Websites

• Golf Glossary Continued 5 Ground Under Repair - Any area of the course that is undergoing repairs. There is no penalty for removing a shot that has landed in ground under repair. Hacker - A duffer can also be called this. Half Shot - When a player uses a half swing, the shot itself......
• Antique Furniture Repair The first piece of advice when you are thinking of antique furniture repair is to stop. Don't do anything until you've read this blog - it could save you (or gain you) thousands. Every antique dealer has horror stories to share --- there's the woman who stripped the old paint......
• Get to Know More about Coins and More There are certain things that you will be able to do whenever you have free time. Among the different things that you will be able to do is that you will be able to get everything that you will need to satisfy your interests. These different hobbies can include just......
• Tips for Finding Great Deals on Old Coins and Paper Money When you get started with collecting currencies of any kind, there are different things that you are likely to be concerned with. One of the main things that people will be concerned with is the kinds of currency that they have as well as what the value is. Of course,......
• Where and How to Buy Antique Furniture Unless you are shopping around in a museum, it may be difficult to buy antique furniture dated before the 16th century. Collectors are generally only able to obtain pieces of furniture from the 1485 to 1600 Tudor Period and onwards, and even the furniture selection from this period is relatively......

Online Stores

• Sets Sofas & Loveseats Living Room Furniture Home Store
• Dining Tables Dining Room Furniture Home Store
• Chemical Weed Control Pest & Weed Control Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Work Lite Leather Gloves & Protective Gear Garden Tools & Equipment Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
• Traditional Desks Home Office Furniture Home Store

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

furniture, Handy Man, Project, Repair