Q:
Can you repair my
leather and will it be invisible?
A:
Most leathers can be
repaired but there are times when it cannot be done successfully.
For instance, if you have a pigmented (coloured) leather then there
is a good chance that a repair will look very good. If however, you
have an aniline dyed (no pigments used) then it is incredibly
difficult to succeed in an effective repair. This is because dyes
are used (a bit like dyeing wood) and so will show everything
through it. You must remember though that a repair is exactly that -
a repair and not a new item or replaced section. Any repair will
never replace the original leather and this must be taken into
consideration when going ahead with the work.
Q:
Can you restore the
original colour on my suite?
A:
Yes we can. We
essentially need to visit you and take a sample of your leather (if
not by a tab then usually from underneath inside the frame). We then
colour match this sample and return to carry out the restoration
process. Please note, any re-colouring will change the texture ever
so slightly. Essentially we are adding pigment on top of an existing
colour so it should be expected that it may be a bit stiffer and not
quite as supple as a brand new piece of leather. This should be
considered before deciding on re-colouring.
Q:
How long does it take to
re-colour my sofa's?
A:
A difficult question but
it depends on how much repair work needs to be done initially and
how much re-colouring is required. To cut costs we can colour all
the areas except the side panels and back panel so this would be a
bit quicker and so reduce the price. A visit and quotation will
determine this.
Q:
What
different types of leather are there, as it quite confusing!
A:
Split grain (Pigmented) leathers are typically split into the
outer most and inner most layers. The inner most layer of the hide
that is produced in this process is called split grain leather. When
something is labelled "genuine leather", it is typically a split
grain.
Top grain (Pigmented or Aniline) leathers are made of the
outer most layer of the hide, processed or sanded to hide serious
imperfections in the leather. Top grain leathers are stronger than
split grain leathers because this outer layer of the hide is the
most durable. Top grain leathers may be formed in the manufacturing
process to look like exotic skins such as alligator or ostrich.
Full grain leathers are made of the outer most layer of the
hide. Unlike top grain leathers, full grain leathers are not sanded
or processed; rather, the beauty of the natural markings are left
untouched. In general, full grain leathers are preferable because
they offer a combination of strength, durability and appearance.
Nubuck is a top grain leather that has been sanded or buffed on
the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short fibres,
producing a velvet like surface. It is fairly difficult to maintain
and cannot be wet cleaned. Brushing regularly will prevent soils
from settling further into the grain.
Suede
Suede leather is made from the under side of the skin. Because suede
does not include the tough exterior skin layer, suede is less
durable but softer than standard ("full-grain") leather. Due to its
textured nature and open pores, suede may become dirty and absorb
liquids quickly. Again, brushing is the only form of cleaning and
shouldn't be confused with Faux Suede which is not suede but a
synthetic look a like.
Wax Pull Ups
These leathers have a wax or oil added to the grain to
give a different feel than traditional leathers. Oily / waxy pull up
feels very natural, with a slightly wax feel to it. It scratches
extremely easy and changes to a lighter shade when stretched. Newer
manufacturing processes have started applying polyurethane type
mixes to speed up processing and longevity.
