It is frustrating and confusing for consumers to find the right leather furniture restoration process for a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project. Unfortunately the market place is loaded with products that simply fail, giving the entire industry a black-eye. The truth is a “one-size-fits-all” solution may occasionally work but can not possibly be universally effective.
At a professional level, no two leather furniture restoration projects are identical. The products and processes applied vary based on how the leather was originally tanned, the type of leather and finally the specific issues associated with the piece.
The average consumer has no clue about these basics. Is it vegetable tanned or chromium tanned? Is the piece finished (pigment coated) or unfinished (aniline dyed only) leather? Is it bi-cast, Nubuck, split-hide or top-grain? Now add variables like mottled coloring affect, body oil accumulation, cat claw damage, fading, type of color coating, epidermal damage, pH damage, age of the leather, level of moisture loss, degree and type of staining, etc. The permutations are enormous. To be successful, the project must be approached based on the answers to these questions.
For example, the priming agents used should be chemically engineered specifically for the target piece. The primer applied to an aniline dyed leather must be different than that applied to a pigment coated leather. If not, the wrong primer could seriously stiffen a soft supple leather, essentially converting it into plastic. That’s not good.
Another example is the color match. Correctly matching an existing color is an art form that is only mastered through experience. This is especially true when the original color has a mottled or color variation affect. Expecting a consumer to mix colors and arrive at the correct hue (color), value (lightness to darkness) and chroma (clarity) is asking far too much.
This is why a successful DIY leather restoration project requires a customized solution. The people assembling a leather restoration kit for a consumer should have direct hands-on knowledge of the process and a deep understanding of the restoration system’s chemistry.
A sample of the existing leather and pictures of the project should be required so the technician can “know” the leather and “see” the issues. They can then do the hard part for the consumer – prepare a customized solution. The consumer’s job is then simply a matter of application. To that end, sharing “know-how” via DVD or internet based video and well written instructions enhances the probability of success. This is the essence of a successful DIY program for leather restoration.
The key questions a consumer should ask before buying a DIY leather restoration kit are:
- Is your system guaranteed? (What if I ruin my furniture?)
- Who makes the products you sell? (If not you, then how well can you really understand the chemistry?)
- Are you actively restoring leather furniture professionally? (If you’re not a pro doing this work, how can you help me through the process without direct hands-on experience?)
- Do you match my color for me? (Even if it’s a mottled color?)
- What preparations do I have to do before applying color? (If the answer is none, expect it to fail as correctly prepping the leather is essential.)
- What if I have skin oils in my leather? (It’s not solved by cleaning. It can only be solved through full oil extraction.)
- What kind of instructions are there? (Is there a DVD that comes with the system?)
- How does the system restore suppleness? (it’s not just visual appearance but how the leather feels that matters.)
- Does the kit contain everything I need? (Do I have to spend money on items like application tools, etc.)
- What’s the expected longevity? (Will it restore my leather to like-new condition?)
How can you be sure my leather is a candidate? (If the leather is worn out, a professional would know by looking at photos and then advice against a restoration process.)
Look for a company that will offer the highest probability of success — a company offering a customized solution. They may not be the cheapest. But, making a decision on price alone is a big mistake. Find a company that does this work professionally with years of experience and a company that actually makes the products, not one that is just an Internet marketing company.
A good resource to learn more about leather is http://www.advleather.com. The web-site is deep and full of knowledge that will better arm you in the decision making process for your furniture.