In detail: do-it-yourself leatherette chair repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
This article will describe and demonstrate how at home without much difficulty to replace the upholstery of a chair, and in another way - to “re-upholster” the chair.
And so, to begin with, the question arose about changing the color of the chairs, tk. a new white sofa was ordered and the chairs did not fit anymore due to their color. Further, it was decided to use the same material as on the sofa - Eco leather.
The whole process of replacing the upholstery material on chairs can be divided into several stages:
2. Cutting to the required dimensions,
3. Removing old material from the chair,
4. Pulling on new (eco-leather),
Further on the photo you can see all the stages. By the way, I almost forgot to tell you about the necessary tool. You will need very little of it, namely: scissors or a knife, tape measure, furniture stapler, screwdriver or screwdriver. Probably that's all.
It took about 2.5 - 3 hours to rewire 4 chairs, taking into account the fact that at this time the process of cutting eco-leather was taken into account, 2 breaks of 10-15 minutes. On average, a chair took 30 minutes, the longest time was spent to separate the old material, because staples were clogged well, just the sea.
By the way, it took 1.54 sq.m. to replace the old material of the chairs. eco-leather, i.e. a piece measuring 110 cm by 140 cm was purchased and that remained, since for one chair I cut out a square measuring 55 by 55 centimeters. The cost of the selected material was 13 euros per running meter, there are also cheaper and of course more expensive.
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Leather upholstery for furniture is considered one of the best materials. It combines strength with a presentable appearance. But in the process of use, stains and scratches will still appear. It is possible to carry out minor repairs of leather furniture on your own, although much depends on the nature of the damage. If the dirt or defect is not eliminated in time, the furniture will lose the value and color saturation of the upholstery. With scratches and cracks, the situation is even worse - if you do not start repairs in time, then the crack can grow to such a size that it will be easier to buy a new sofa.
To choose the right materials, you should carefully assess the condition of the furniture.This is necessary to understand the nature of the problem and determine how to fix it. Repairing leather furniture may require professional tools that are not advisable to buy for one-time home use.
If we are talking about simple pollution, then it will be enough to prepare a cloth and alcohol. With the repair of cracks, everything is somewhat more complicated. Before starting work, you will need to acquire construction tools - they will be used to disassemble furniture and remove old upholstery. This is a set of screwdrivers, wrenches, screwdriver, pliers, staple removal tool. Changing material involves using a staple gun. This is a basic set of tools.
There are repair options using paint, liquid leather and other improvised means. Therefore, it is worth purchasing them in advance. Do not forget about the filler of the sofa - the material may also need full or partial restoration. Foam rubber often acts as a filler. Be sure to get some thread and a needle. The sewing machine will do the job faster. If a partial or complete replacement of the upholstery is planned, then a large amount of new material will be required.
For leather furniture, stains are less critical than physical defects such as cuts or scratches. There are several main ways of restoring such furniture, aimed at both full or partial restoration of the material, and at hiding defects. The upholstery will not look the same, but the scratches will not be visible. The following repair methods can be noted:
The simplest way is to repair leather furniture using a product called "Liquid Leather" or its equivalent;
The scratch is painted over with varnish or paint, matched to the color of the upholstery. Here we are only talking about disguise;
An application is applied to the damaged area or a patch is sewn on, if the appearance of the product does not suffer from this;
The most difficult and time-consuming process is the complete constriction of the material. It is worth resorting to it only when the repair with liquid skin will no longer help;
Replacement of fittings. In some situations, it is not the upholstery itself that needs repair, but decorative elements or accessories.
If you have to work with large damage, you will need to fill the void with foam rubber or cotton wool. This area is glued from the inside of the upholstery. Using the table supplied with the liquid leather, you should choose the most suitable color. The damaged surface is cleaned, degreased, after which do-it-yourself leather furniture is repaired. There are no special rules for applying “Liquid Skin” to the surface. The liquid can be applied either with a brush or with a spatula. There is a trick that allows you to give the place restored with the help of the specified tool, the texture from the original material - you must attach a sample from the sofa to the damaged area.
Staining helps in situations where, after long-term use, the furniture has lost its appearance due to wear. In this case, minor cosmetic repairs should be carried out using painting. The paint itself can be produced both in the form of an aerosol and in the form of a spray, respectively, it will be easy to repair leather furniture. First you need to evaluate how the paint matches the color of the upholstery, and, if necessary, mix several shades to obtain the desired color.
The damaged surface is first cleaned of dirt, and then degreased with acetone. It is better to use sprays, they are more convenient to use. The paint should be applied in several layers. It is important that the previous coat of paint is dry before the next coat is applied. To make the paint dry faster, you can use a regular hair dryer.
The list of items that should be included in the repair kit is described above. To begin with, the sofa is examined, after which the old upholstery is dismantled.The side, rear parts of the sofa, as well as the seat, can be removed using a hexagon or a wrench. The staples holding the upholstery are removed with a special tool. The old filler, even if it is in good condition, is best removed for a while in order to assess the condition of the frame. If necessary, the filler is changed to a new foam rubber, and the damaged parts of the frame are also changed.
The pattern of the new upholstery should be done with a margin of 10 cm, while focusing on the old upholstery. After all the details have been cut, you can start sewing. In the absence of the proper skills, this process can be entrusted to a specialist.
The padding looks like this:
The cut-out piece is placed on the upholstery of the sofa. It is necessary to arrange the material in the center of the furniture;
The fabric is wrapped around the edges, in parallel with this, the tension of the material occurs;
The upholstery is secured with staples, which must be spaced at least 4 cm apart.
You need to start work from the middle and move to the edges. This will provide an even tension.
Stripes can solve the problem of scratches. The essence of the method is to cut and stick a piece of leather larger than the scratch itself. The patch should be round, although other shapes are acceptable. The cut out patch is glued to the bottom of the crack. As for the glue, it must be water-based. It is very difficult to find a patch that will not differ much from the main material, but even if you can find such material, the difference will be visible. In this situation, it is worth additionally using paint. The repair is complete when the coloring matter is dry.
Repairing leather furniture at home can be done with overlays or appliques. This method can be called unusual, because it radically changes the appearance of furniture. An overlay differs from a patch in that it is placed on top of the upholstery. The lining serves to inhibit further crack growth. Accordingly, the owner of the furniture realizes that the sofa or chair will no longer have its original appearance. But this can be avoided with a little imagination. With the help of contrasting overlays, you can depict an unusual pattern - it can be an abstract drawing or a specific image. It is better to put the pad itself on glue or sew it on with threads.
Threads and needles should not be used for the reason that they leave traces, which excludes the possibility of rearranging the lining to another place without consequences. The use of glue provides an opportunity for error. As is the case with conventional crack sealing, degrease the desired area before installing the patch.
There is a kind of adhesives that work with leather. You need to look for a product called universal skin glue. The specificity of the process lies in its effectiveness only for small cuts and cracks. Refurbishing leather furniture requires careful application of glue. You can apply the glue with a toothpick, match or similar stick. After applying the glue, press down firmly on the edges of the scratch. You can also pull off these edges with synthetic thread. All excess glue must be removed. It is far from always possible to crank up this procedure imperceptibly, that is, the place of gluing will still be visible. Then the damaged area of the material should be polished and painted.
Furniture supports, ties, wooden armrests, decor - all these elements can also break due to chemical or physical influences. Repair of these components, in most cases, is impractical. It's easier to immediately replace them with new ones.
Restoration of furniture includes renewal of the frame, replacement of upholstery, decoration and allows you to restore worn-out products. Chairs that have retained a solid frame are subject to repair.Upholstery with fabric will allow you to return the aesthetic appearance and fit the furniture into the color scheme when updating the interior of the room. Before pulling the chair with your own hands, you will need to prepare tools and materials, make patterns of elements, etc.
High-quality upholstery fabric is required for the upholstery of the chairs. Only furniture linen is recommended, since decorative fabrics will not withstand constant loads and will quickly wear out. The material must be strong and retain its shape. Important requirements for the composition - ease of cleaning with a brush with soapy water and washing.
The most common types of dense fabrics for upholstering furniture: flock, jacquard, chenille, tapestry, velor, boucle, etc. Decoration of interior items is also done with leather, eco-leather, etc.
Flock is a popular material for finishing upholstered furniture. The fabric is composed of cotton (35%) and polyester (65%). The material has a fine pile, is comfortable to use, durable, of high quality, wear-resistant. Caring for the flock is simple, the canvas can be easily cleaned with a brush and soapy water, since a thin layer of adhesive is applied to the base of the fabric during production.
Jacquard is often used for upholstery of pieces of furniture, since the material is dense and has a textured surface. The fabric is produced in 2 ways: the fabric is woven from yarns of different colors or created using solid fibers of a neutral shade. Monochrome canvases are additionally decorated with prints from colored paper using a hot press. The advantages of jacquard are strength, durability. However, the maintenance of the canvas is difficult.
The advantages of velor are in the smooth surface of the front part, the strength of the composition. The material has a small pile. The canvas is characterized by low crease, therefore it is optimal for finishing furniture items.
Chenille is similar in quality and texture to velor. Chenille fabric is made by interweaving the pile between two threads that are connected in a spiral. The advantages of the canvas are high strength, affordable price, practicality.
Boucle fabric is also used in the decoration of the furniture. The canvas is practical, lightweight, soft and elastic. The material drapes well, has water-repellent properties, is resistant to deformation. Threads for fabric creation can be colored or solid. The material is easy to finish, allows you to correct defects and uneven seams.
Tapestry is often used to pull the chair over. The material is heavy, consists of 3 layers, the weave of the threads is dense. For the manufacture of tapestry, synthetic fibers or natural yarn are used. Artificial yarns are added to improve the performance of the material. Patterns and geometric ornaments on the canvas are created by joining threads and yarns of different shades. It should be borne in mind that tapestry upholstery will not suit high-tech and modern styles.
Restoring tools are needed to re-tighten the chairs. The set includes screwdrivers, pliers, bolt wrenches, furniture stapler, sheets of sandpaper, brushes, scissors. You will also need: an anti-stapler for removing low-quality fasteners (staples), PVA glue, a hammer, a tape measure or a measuring tape, a sewing machine, a ruler, a pencil and chalk. Sheets of cardboard are required to create patterns.
For the restoration of furniture, appropriate padding is required. It is recommended to cover the chair with your own hands with padding made of synthetic winterizer, batting or sheet foam rubber having a density of 30-50 kg / m³. Polyurethane formulations are not recommended.
Before making the chair upright with your own hands, you need to restore the frame of the product. You will need to clean the furniture from old upholstery materials, sand the surfaces, remove irregularities. If necessary, the chair can be painted in a different color or covered with a translucent varnish.You will need to prepare the fabric, cut out the elements, lay the surfaces of the parts of the chair (back and seat) with foam rubber, then drag them.
Furniture restoration begins with dismantling the old upholstery. To remove the old fabric, you need to unscrew the seat with a screwdriver. The old nails are removed, the screws are unscrewed, the steel plates are removed. Use a flat screwdriver or a staple remover to remove the worn out staples.
Work on cleaning surfaces from foam rubber and tape is carried out carefully so as not to damage the furniture. Then the state of the chair frame is examined. The dried-up elements must be fastened with PVA glue and tightened with clamps. Cracks and irregularities are corrected with a sealant or putty.
Before calculating the amount of fabric, you need to measure the dimensions of the chair. The upholstery should be suitable for the backrest and seat frames. A seam allowance of 10 cm is required. You can use the old fabric parts of the chair to create patterns for the finishing elements.
Furniture fabrics are produced in widths of 130-140 cm. Therefore, elements for upholstery of 2 chairs can be cut out of one width of fabric. If there are patterns on the fabric, it is necessary to arrange the ornament so that all the furniture in the set looks harmonious.
The old soft chair base can be preserved. But if the quality does not meet the requirements, a replacement of the filler will be required. A thin layer of glue must be applied to the wooden seat, then a layer of foam rubber is laid out. The material must be pressed and allowed to dry, it will take about 10-15 minutes.
Foam blanks can be made in advance, taking into account the size of the elements. It is allowed to stick the material to parts of the chair and then trim the excess fabric.
A layer of thin padding polyester is laid on top of the foam rubber. The size of the material should be slightly larger than the base, so that you can freely wrap the frame on top.
Before tightening the seat with cloth, check the integrity of the frame. It is required to tighten the fragile joints, glue the cracks. The parts are tightened with clamps and left for several hours.
Then the rough upholstery is done. It is necessary to stretch the fabric over the layers of foam rubber and padding polyester on the seat. It is required to carefully staple the edges of the rough upholstery with a stapler. If during the decorating process the fabric is pulled tighter, you will need to pull out the staple with a thin screwdriver. After adjusting the web along the frame, the material must be fixed again with a stapler.
Eco-leather is a versatile material used in the production of haberdashery goods, clothing, footwear, furniture and car covers. The material is made by applying a porous polyurethane film to a cotton base. The elastic film is absolutely non-toxic, safe, breathable, but its service life cannot be called long.
About repairing eco-leather
There are several ways to repair a leatherette product. Spray paints and shoe polish help mask shallow scratches and small abrasions.
When starting to update the material, prepare the fabric paint in spray cans, warm water, a foam sponge, dishwashing detergent and orange peel.
Gloves, wallets, business card holders, which have lost their shine and color saturation, are wiped with a fresh orange peel. But keep in mind that the product will fade again in just a week. Greasy stains are excellent at removing dishwashing detergents. Put a little of the product on a damp sponge and wipe the stained area with it.
The gel can be washed off immediately or left for several hours. Gasoline or turpentine helps to fight stubborn stains. Professional paints for artificial and natural leather perfectly renew the color. The coloring pigment literally penetrates the fabric structure.
The main advantage of this method is its rich color palette: from neutral colors to acidic shades. Transparent varnish is used as a finishing layer. Sprays paint over areas of loose paint, fill in small scratches and level the surface. The product should be applied in the thinnest layer: a large amount of paint is the main reason for the formation of smudges and cracking of a freshly painted area.
Important! Spray paints should be sprayed at a distance of 20-30 cm.
Methods and materials
An alternative to aerosols and professional paints is liquid leather. The product contains an adhesive base, dyes and rubber resin.
Liquid leather creates a so-called leather relief on the surface. At first glance, ideal material has its drawbacks. For example, it is only suitable for filling in scratches, cuts and punctures. It will not be possible to patch up a large gap.
Difficulties arise when choosing the right shade. Rare colors are obtained only by mixing basic tones. During work, you must strictly follow the instructions and not neglect the basic laws of color. It is unlikely that you will be able to find an unusual color palette with a predominance of golden and silver shades.
Manufacturers offer only classic colors: black, white, red, green, blue, yellow, brown, gray. Liquid leather recreates both glossy and matte textures.
The main thing in restoring eco-leather is to recreate the relief pattern. Small plot of land (no more than 1 cm 2) it is better to paint over with a brush. The surface is pre-degreased for better adhesion of eco-leather with polymer material. The puncture, cut, scratch site is cleaned of protruding fabric fibers and glued with gauze from the inside.
Liquid skin is applied in two stages: first, the thinnest first layer, then the second layer, applied after two to three hours. The restored eco-leather dries completely in a day.
This method is only suitable for perfectly smooth surfaces. An ordinary napkin on which liquid skin is applied will help to recreate the relief. The napkin must be applied to an entire area with a clearly embossed pattern, and then dried for ten hours. This blank will serve as a template for creating natural unevenness.
The napkin should only be applied after two coats have been applied. You can get an imprint using a piece of natural or artificial leather, which is cut off from old shoes or gloves.
Attention! Never apply a thick layer of liquid skin.
Leather furniture looks impressive and stylish. People are increasingly abandoning the purchase of expensive sofas and armchairs upholstered in natural leather due to the high cost and ethical principles. Eco-leather has become an inexpensive alternative, which outwardly practically does not differ from natural leather, and even surpasses it in some respects.
Liquid leather is rightfully considered the best material for restoration and restoration of ecological skin. The polymer material fills in cracks, cuts, teeth and claws marks.
Restoration work is carried out in several stages:
the surface is leveled, threads and fibers are removed;
the edges of the cut or hole are neatly stitched or glued from the inside;
eco-leather is wiped with a liquid detergent and dried;
the desired shade is selected by mixing several basic colors;
liquid skin is applied with an artistic brush or foam rubber;
the repaired sofa is left to dry for a day.
Attention! You can remove smudges and even out the layers using a student ruler or an ordinary plastic card.
If the abrasions and damage take up a large area, then the furniture cannot be restored. It is also unlikely that it will be possible to restore its previous appearance to a sofa upholstered with eco-leather of an exotic color (light green, turquoise, coral, terracotta, lilac).At home, you will not be able to recreate a complex and ornate pattern with a napkin or a piece of old leather.
The leader among the manufacturers of restoration pastes is the French company Saphir. The revitalizing cream prolongs the life of damaged, frayed and discolored products. The product is suitable for smooth surfaces; when applied, it creates a durable and elastic layer that repels water. Saphir does not stain clothes and dries quickly.
Precautions During Repair
When working with liquid skin, wear plastic gloves on your hands. Such gloves are used by masters when dyeing hair. Rubber products are not suitable.
The armchair is an integral attribute of the interior, which is found in almost every home. A person uses this furniture almost every day, which leads to a deterioration in its condition. An operation such as repairing seats will help restore the technical parameters of the structure.
Furniture repair is a complex operation that depends on the type of product and the breakdown itself. Today, such operations are rarely carried out on their own. It is advisable to entrust the solution of such tasks to experienced specialists who will perform them much faster and better.
Furniture restoration is the restoration of not only its functionality, but also its appearance. A feature of upholstered furniture is that it uses fabric upholstery. To repair the internal structure, the fabric will need to be dismantled or replaced. This operation also requires some skill and effort.
Chair breakage is not always a problem, as you can try to restore it yourself. There are several types of operations that can be easily performed at home:
Padding. This process involves replacing the old fabric with a new one. This also includes changing the filler (foam rubber, etc.) and restoring the internal structure of the chair. If necessary, the wooden surface itself can be restored.
Upholstery. This approach involves upholstering the surface of the chair with fabric in order to update its appearance. Often, such operations are performed with old rigid structures, the surface of which is not so easy to restore with paint.
Repair. This is a general concept that includes the previously discussed operations. But often this word is understood as all repair work related to the restoration of the state of the chair frame. This can include strengthening the structure with metal corners, replacing legs or a seat, and restoring the surface of the material with paint and sanding.
To carry out all the previously described operations, one should not only have experience, but also stock up on a variety of special tools.
Modern armchairs are made from a variety of materials. The design of such modifications consists of many elements that can be replaced if necessary. Often these chairs include office models that are equipped with a gas-lift mechanism. For the restoration of such products, you may need several types of components:
Rollers. This mechanism is made from various types of plastic. When choosing this product, it is important to consider its purpose, connector type and fixing method.
Gaslift. Almost all office chairs are equipped with this element, which allows the chair to be held at a certain height. There are several types of these designs on the market today. It is important to pay attention to the type of mechanism that was previously used in the damaged chair.
Crosspiece. Plays the role of a pivot element. It is carried out in the form of a 5-ray star, to which the rollers are attached. When buying, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the material and the way of joining the parts.
There are many other components that will be needed when repairing such furniture.This includes everything from small knobs and bolts to specialized fabrics.
One of the ways to restore an old leather chair is to stretch it. This process is quite lengthy and laborious. New fabric is bought first. The upholstery can be done like leather and other popular materials. Some experts also recommend purchasing stuffing materials (foam rubber, batting). To simplify the operation of the constriction, you also need to have a stapler, nails, a hammer, etc.
The algorithm for solving this problem can be described in several sequential steps:
The process of upholstering a chair is slightly different from a constriction, although in many ways it is very similar to it. This operation involves covering the chair with a cloth. For such purposes, only furniture is used, which was not originally equipped with fabric upholstery.
Upholstery technology involves the performance of several sequential operations:
All other elements are sheathed according to the same principle. The material can be trimmed if necessary.
Old chairs are often very sturdy and durable. But after a long service life, they lose their attractive appearance. Do not rush to throw away such furniture, as it can be easily restored.
Computer chairs are a very common piece of furniture.
Sitting on a computer chair is much more comfortable than working on a chair or stool.
The lifespan of a chair depends on its quality and the materials from which it is made.
Most often, the coating from which the seats and backs are made deforms and loses its strength.
Woven fabrics can rip if used carelessly, and artificial leather can crack and become frayed. The chair becomes uncomfortable and looks unaesthetic.
Buying a new computer chair is an expensive solution to a problem.
Remains the most budgetary way - hauling. Many people think that this procedure can only be carried out in special workshops.
But the hauling of an office chair is easy to carry out at home.
You do not need to pay for the work of the master.
Rendering the chair at home will take from 30 minutes to 1 hour - much faster than in a workshop.
The chair does not need to be taken anywhere, you can replace the upholstery in the apartment.
The cost of the procedure is minimal.
Everyone has the necessary set of tools.
It is not at all difficult to disassemble and assemble the chair, you do not need any special skills and abilities.
By pulling the chair with your own hands, you can save both time and money.
To work, we first of all need a fabric.
The best option is a dense upholstery.
What materials are not worth buying? There are few exceptions.
The canvas will quickly become scuffed and lose its original appearance due to constant friction.
Such material is susceptible to damage from sharp objects, including pointed elements on clothing.
If the seat has lost its former softness, and the foam lining is very wrinkled, then you need to buy foam rubber, it will make the chair more pleasant and comfortable.
It is easy to find in sewing stores.
The fabric layer can only be replaced on the seat or on the back (if damage is present on one of the elements).
To do this, you will need much less materials than for a complete renovation of an office chair.
We have already figured out the correct type and quality of fabric. The amount of tissue can be measured in several ways.
Take measurements from backrest and seat. If you plan to add additional foam rubber, then this item should be taken into account when taking measurements. To the obtained data (length and width of the back and chair), it is necessary to add 5 cm.
The fabric will be fastened from the inside, for this you need allowances.
This can be difficult as the upholstery is stapled tightly to the frame parts.
Then you should measure the ready-made darts, adding allowances for using foam rubber.
You will need the following tools and equipment to rewind an old office chair:
The size is indicated on the stapler.
Both tools are suitable for disassembling the structure.
A screwdriver can be found in every home, and a furniture stapler can be borrowed from friends or rented from a furniture store.
Having prepared everything you need, you can get to work.
The process itself is not complicated, it is easy to cope with it alone.
The first step is to disassemble the chair. To remove the backrest, you need to turn the screw on the back (with a large head), you can remove the back panel by opening the latches (gently pulling on each corner).
Chair with detached backrest.
To disassemble the seat yourself, you must turn the chair upside down. Unscrew screws and detach armrests.
It is better to put all the screws in one place, so that by the end of the repair of the chair you simply do not lose them. Now you can start hauling.
The old upholstery must be removed by removing the staples.
Staples to be removed.
Next, you need to attach foam rubber and cut along the contour of the chair, then nail it with staples.
Cut out the foam rubber for the seat of the chair.
Work carefully with the stapler, this tool is quite powerful.
Stretch the new upholstery, securing it to the back of the seat base and backrest.
The outlines of the chairs are rounded, and this should be taken into account when stretching an office chair so that there are no folds in the fabric. Excess "tails" must be cut off.
Now you need to put the office chair back.
The hardest part of the job is to fit the parts correctly.
To do this, it is necessary to perform everything in stages, following the chair parsing scheme, but performing the manipulations in the reverse order.
First you need to attach the armrests, then assemble the seat frame and fix it with screws.
After that, we assemble the back by simply snapping in the protective back panel and the inner surface of the back. The chair is ready!
Pulling the upholstery on an office chair at home is not at all difficult.
It is only important to choose the right material for the upholstery and take measurements. It's cheaper to do it yourself at home than to pay for repairs in a workshop. The renovated armchair will delight you for years to come!
Artificial leather is used for the production of haberdashery goods, clothing, footwear, furniture upholstery, car covers. The finished coating is obtained by applying a textured polyurethane film to a cotton base. Such a film is safe for human health, it allows air to pass through well. Eco-leather things and furniture are resistant to abrasion, scratches and other damage. Any product becomes unusable over time, therefore, in order not to complicate the situation even more, it is necessary to take measures in time. Today we will tell you how to restore leatherette with your own hands. Several simple solutions to this problem will be presented to your attention.
Has your favorite jacket lost its former shine, and on the surface there are scuffs, creases and other damage? How to restore a leather jacket - let's take a closer look at your next steps:
Assess the extent of the damage. This must be done first of all so that you understand what kind of repair the product needs, how long it will take. First of all, you need to inspect the jacket, if there is severe damage on its surface, then for its restoration it is necessary to use deep dyeing agents, and the repair process itself will be painstaking and long.
Important! Small scratches on the artificial leather should be removed as soon as they are detected. This must be done to further preserve the thing and protect it from more serious damage to the material.
Do the repair yourself. It is advisable to do such actions only in case of minor defects on eco-leather.If you decide to restore a badly damaged leatherette on your own, then you run the risk of ruining the product.
Use the services of qualified professionals. The best way out of this situation is to contact a professional. This is due to the fact that working with natural and artificial materials requires special care, skills and adherence to restoration technologies.
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So, we come to the most important question: what are the ways to restore the imitation leather? The upholstery on the sofa is exposed to mechanical stress almost constantly, especially if there are small children in the house. You don't always want to get rid of a cozy sofa made of leather substitute if cracks and damage appear on it, outerwear or even small accessories. There are several options for getting rid of this problem.
This affordable component can give the former shine to gloves, wallets, business card holders and other small accessories. Please note that with this option it is impossible to remove scuffs and cracks on eco-leather, but you can only renew the coating. It is advisable to carry out such a procedure periodically in order to protect the material.
If a greasy stain has appeared on your jacket or sofa, and you do not know how to remove it, then ordinary dishwashing detergent will come to the rescue. It must be applied to a sponge and wiped off the contaminated area.
Important! When using this method, do not rub the surface strongly, so as not to spoil it even more.
With this method, you can quickly and easily remove even the most stubborn stains. Alcohol is able to penetrate deeply into eco-leather, which will visually mask all the flaws of the damaged surface. For rubbing alcohol or turpentine, you need to use a small piece of gauze to apply the product to the damaged material for 15 minutes. After complete drying, the skin will become one whole piece, and defects will be almost invisible.
Important! The most important thing here is to adhere to one rule: do not leave a potent substance on leatherette for a long time, as it can wash off the paint applied during the manufacture of the product.
This is an excellent solution to get rid of weak and strong imperfections of the leatherette surface. The coloring pigment penetrates deeply into the structure of the fabric, which allows you to completely eliminate the flaw and give the product an attractive look.
The main advantage of this method is a rich palette of colors and shades - from standard leather options to acidic ones.
Important! To fix the result, we recommend covering the paint with a finishing layer using leather varnish.
They resemble paints, but are used to repair minor scratches and level the surface. Sprays must be applied in a thin layer, as the thick layer can cause smudges and cracking, which will only further aggravate the situation.
With this tool, you can achieve an ideal "skin" relief on the surface of the coating. Liquid leather is used to fill in scratches, cuts and small punctures. Before using this substance, be sure to read the instructions for use.
This method is used only in case of severe damage to the material - deep cuts and no coating on the product. Only specialists with knowledge of special technologies for restoring artificial leather can restore eco-leather with numerous defects. In case of such damage, it is advisable to give the furniture for a hauling, since partial repairs are not able to return the product to its original appearance.
Many people love leather furniture. A leather sofa looks beautiful and expensive, but it costs a lot of money and requires special careful maintenance. Eco-leather has become the optimal solution for natural material, which outwardly practically does not differ from an expensive coating, and by some criteria even surpasses it.
Steps for restoring a do-it-yourself faux leather sofa:
We level the surface, remove all protruding threads and fibers.
Sew the edges of the cuts and holes carefully, or glue them from the inside.
Wipe the leatherette with dishwashing liquid, and then dry well.
We select the desired shade by combining several colors.
We apply “liquid skin” using an art brush or foam rubber.
We leave the repaired furniture to dry for a day.
Attention! You can level the layers or remove smudges only with a student ruler or a plastic card.
An ordinary napkin will help to restore the relief, on which “liquid skin” should be applied. Below is a step-by-step guide to give the surface a natural texture:
We take a table napkin in our hands, put it on an intact leather cover (you can take a cut of an old jacket or gloves, and then dry it for several hours. This blank will serve as a template for us to create an imitation of natural irregularities.
We apply a napkin to the already painted areas of the product. So we got a beautiful and embossed print that hid all existing defects.
The most important thing in the restoration of leatherette is the restoration of the original pattern. So, for example, it is better to paint over a small damaged area with a brush or aerosol. Before starting work, it is advisable to degrease the surface for better adhesion of the artificial leather with the polymer product.
"Liquid skin" should be applied in two stages: first - on the damaged first layer, and two hours later - on the second.
If the furniture has a large number of scuffs, cracks and cuts, then it will be impossible to restore it. You are unlikely to succeed in returning its former look to a sofa with leatherette of a rare color (turquoise, light green, coral, lilac), since the applied shade will differ from the factory color.
It is impossible to recreate the complex pattern of leather by using a tissue with a relief print, which is only used to simulate the fine structure of the leather covering.
Aerosol coloring pigment should be sprayed at a distance of at least 20 cm. It is advisable to carry out coloring work with a respirator or protective mask to reduce the risk of inhalation. Also, do not forget to put on your hands plastic gloves, which are used by masters when dyeing hair.
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We told you how to restore leatherette with your own hands, using a variety of methods. In order for an artificial leather product to serve you as long as possible, you should treat it with care, protect it from moisture and other influences. Always remember that timely prevention has never been superfluous.