How To Repair Cracked And Peeling Leather Couch

Knowing how to repair a leather couch is essential if you lot 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 besides ages beautifully making information technology the perfect investment piece. A leather burrow is always on trend and picking a neutral shade ensures it will always get with your scheme.

Yet, leather tin can exist decumbent to damage – including scratches. We've asked the experts and collated their advice to ensure that y'all know how to keep your couch looking its absolute all-time.

See: How to clean a leather sofa – and then that information technology looks as good as new

How do you repair a damaged leather couch?

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

Notwithstanding, before you commence on repair projects, it's important to plant the condition of the leather and the age of the couch. 'But like tire wear on a vehicle, leather piece of furniture tin can get worn downward and sometimes degraded beyond the point of repair.' says Jesse Johnstone, president of Fibrenew

So tin 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?

Yous tin restore your faded leather couch past spot-touching specialist dyes and finishes, that are simply practical with a sponge and allowed to dry – it is very piece of cake to do yourself, plus information technology's a lot more cost-constructive than purchasing a new leather sofa.

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

Withal, when it comes to spot-touching, the main claiming is matching the color. Lesandre advises picking a company with a color matching service, and while this does add to the price, it ensures that your bear upon-ups will be hardly noticeable.

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

How to soften one-time leather?

You can soften old leather by investing in a specialist conditioner – ideally 1 that contains lanolin – to keep the cloth supple.

'To protect your leather, using a specialist conditioner from a quality intendance kit volition assistance to clean and condition your production, reviving the sheen of the leather and preserving its soft suppleness. To forestall the leather losing its rich colour or from condign dry, employ this conditioner twice a twelvemonth,' says Suzy McMahon, ownership director Sofology.

In that location are several DIY methods that include using petroleum jelly or coconut oil, simply 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 uniform with leather couches and will achieve your desired effect.

Tin you fix a leather couch that is peeling?

Yous tin fix a peeling leather burrow quite easily. However, genuine leather does not peel or flaking off. This is instead a clear indication that your couch is fabricated of bonded or blended leather which is also known every bit faux leather. You can temporarily improve the expect of your imitation leather sofa with a filler and color but this will be a short term set up. It is worth considering replacing information technology 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 and then become damaged with stress and use.' You tin can prevent this by using a conditioner which should be practical once or twice a year at most.

If information technology's already too late to forestall cracking, thankfully you lot can set a cracked leather couch by using a filler. Rub 'due north' Restore's water-based leather filler kit costs from $23 and is simply practical to cracks, then treated with a color to conceal them.

How do you repair a rip in a leather sofa?

Y'all can repair a rip in a leather couch with super glue, a canvas or leather sub patch, some sandpaper and a abrupt pocketknife. You may as well need some filler and a leather dye that matches your sofa. All of these items are available online or from DIY or domicile stores

'The basic process is to clean upward the tear past carefully trimming information technology with a abrupt blade, then identify the patch underneath the tear and super glue both sides of the torn textile to it, placing the edges of the tear together if possible then 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 expert super gum, volition concord firmly for the lifetime of the sofa and be nigh invisible.'

If the patch or join is still visible, then push heavy leather filler into the gap, edifice it upwardly into sparse layers. You tin so color the filler and the patched area to brand certain information technology blends in. 'As always, it is best to exam whatsoever dye you employ on an inconspicuous area first to make sure information technology matches,' advises John.

If the damage is severe then DIY repair may non be possible and you should consult a professional. 'An good upholster tin can remove the ripped panel and replace information technology with ane cut from matched leather,' advises Greg Miller, leather technician from Blenkinsop Leathers Ltd.

'How price effective using a professional would be is doubtful, especially with a lower budget sofa. The nearly economic option might be to merely replace it, though of course non the virtually environmentally-friendly.'

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

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

'Leather is thick and can exist tough to stitch by hand. It requires special needles, threads, tools, and know-how in order to do information technology properly, have it match the rest of the couch, and ensure it holds upwards over fourth dimension.' says Jesse Johnstone, president of Fibrenew 'Professionals will be able to match the seam to the same design equally the rest of the couch and make certain that information technology 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 impairment. If y'all are looking to repair a small area of cracking or a single scratch on a DIY basis and so it tin can cost every bit little equally $twenty for a patch repair kit.

Exist certain to fully inquiry a product before committing every bit there are lots of budget options that tin cause more damage than good. Magic Mender or Rub 'n' Restore both have lots of advice nigh finding the all-time DIY kit every bit well as offering personalized advice to aid you lot with your specific problem.

See: How to restore wood piece of furniture – an expert guide

For larger repairs, it is worth consulting a professional but this does come at a price. Larger professional person repairs tin can cost between $500 and $ane,200 – and in some cases information technology will toll less to replace the slice rather than repair so exist certain to become a option of quotes before you make up one's mind on whether to repair or replace.

Having graduated with a first form degree in English language Literature four years ago, Holly started her career every bit a features writer and sub-editor at Flow Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with information technology insight into the complexities of owning and caring for catamenia 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 state-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, wild animals and nature.