In this article, you will learn how to repair a tear in a leather chair. You will also find out the culprits behind it and the best ways to care for it.
Leather chairs are usually the healthiest and strongest chairs. However, there can also be factors that will lead them to have tears and damages.
How Do You Repair A Tear In Your Leather Chair?
Step#1. Preparing the torn area
Start the repairing process by cleaning the torn area you are going to repair. To do this, prepare a bowl of white vinegar with warm water. You don’t need to worry because white vinegar is not a strong acid, so it will not ruin your leather.
Use a clean piece of cloth and dip it on the mixture. Then, carefully wipe the torn area to remove the debris and dust because specks of dirt can interfere in the repairing process.
After wiping the area with the mixture, immediately get a dry cloth to wipe the wet spot. Ensure that the leather is not soaked with the mixture because damp leathers are difficult to repair.
Next to the cleaning process is the trimming part. Get a pair of scissors and start trimming loose threads and strings on the torn area. The area should be smooth to make the gluing process easier.
Step#2. Adding a patch underneath the torn area
Using your pair of scissors, cut a patch bigger than the tear on your leather chair. It would be better if you will use a denim patch as the sublayer of the torn part.
Carefully insert the patch underneath the torn area. You can use tweezers to help you in adding the patch. Ensure that you have inserted the patch flat and smooth.
Step#3. Applying leather glue
Grab your leather glue and start applying it on the tear. You can use cotton buds, toothpicks, or any small thing that can fit inside the torn part. Note that there should not be any spilled glue on the leather.
Apply the leather glue between the patch and the leather of the chair. Spread the glue evenly.
You can get a hairdryer and use it on the glued part to make it dry faster. Otherwise, you can leave it alone and let it dry for a couple of minutes.
Step#4. Applying heavy filler
After letting the leather glue dry, it’s time for you to put on heavy fillers in between the torn parts. Heavy fillers will be a great help in filling the gaps in the leather.
Apply heavy fillers little by little until the torn part blends with the leather chair. In between the applying process, again, use a hairdryer to make it dry faster.
Step#5. Putting on colorant
When the filler finally gets dry, you can already proceed in putting colorants. However, choosing the right color for your leather chair can be tricky, so you need to ensure that you will choose a color that perfectly matches your chair.
Use a sponge to rub the torn part with the colorant. Keep on applying the colorant until the torn part gets concealed.
Step#6. Rubbing leather finish
To finally finish the repairing process, apply leather finish to the repaired area. Rubbing the leather finish on your leather chair makes the repair stronger.
Again, use a sponge and rub the leather finish continuously until you reach 8-10 layers. You should let the finish dry each layer. You can use a hairdryer in doing so.
What Ruins Leather?
Leathers are durable, strong, and long-lasting. However, if not correctly taken care of, they are also prone to various damages. With that, the following are some reasons for leather damages.
- Sharp objects or any sharp-edged materials can lead to cuts, tears, and scratches
- Putting on heavy pressure on your leather chair can result in cracks and torn seams
- Exposure to too many liquids can make your leather chair have a peeling and flaking structure
- Discolorations can be a result of too much heat and exposure to too much sunlight
- Not cleaning your leather chair immediately after being exposed to dirt can also cause damage
How To Care For Your Leather Chair?
As much as we want to sit on our leather chairs continuously, leather chairs also need to be taken care of regularly.
However, caring for your leather chair is not a huge problem to think about every day. Here are some ways on how you will do it.
- Clean your leather chair regularly with the use of a soft cloth or damp cloth
- Never use strong acids when cleaning your chair
- Place your chair away from direct sunlight or exposure to too much heat
- Check your leather chair regularly if there are damages or not, so that you will know when to repair it
Conclusion
Fixing your leather chair should not bother you anymore! You only need to follow this easy six-step guide on how to repair a tear in a leather chair to solve your problem. With these, you can make your leather chair good as new!