Renovation kits for skai and faux leather sofas

The skai on a sofa always ages in the same places: the seats lose their sheen, the armrests fade, and fine cracks appear where you lean. Before thinking about replacing it, bear in mind that a faux leather sofa is easy to renovate, provided the material is not too badly damaged.

Our kits bring together the products for a complete renovation, in quantities suited to the size of the furniture: a repairer for small defects, a faux leather paint made in the shade of your choice and a varnish that protects the result. With no primer or fixative needed, it is applied with a roller, a sponge and a brush.

Our kits for renovating a skai sofa

Touch-up kit or renovation kit: which one to choose?

The touch-up kit (250 ml of paint + 200 ml of varnish) restores the colour of faded or dull skai that is still intact. It covers about 2 m², i.e. an armchair, the seats of a sofa or a set of chairs.
The sofa renovation kit adds the tear and scratch repairer (Repacuir), to fill small tears, cracks and crazing before recolouring. It is available for 2/3-seater or 4/5-seater sofas, with the varnish in a bottle or an aerosol.

Renovating a faux leather sofa in 4 steps

Step 1: prepare

Sand lightly with 240 to 400 grit paper to break the original varnish, then clean and degrease with methylated spirit or with acetone diluted half and half with water.

Step 2: repair

Fill small defects with the repairer, in thin layers, allowing 2 to 4 hours of drying between applications, then sand off the excess.

Step 3: recolour

After a test on a hidden area, apply 1 to 3 coats of paint, with about 2 hours of drying between coats.

Step 4: protect

Finish with the varnish, which sets the finish, satin, matt or gloss, and protects the colour from wear. Each step is detailed in our guide to faux leather renovation.

What to expect from a skai renovation

Skai is a thin layer of flexible plastic laid on a fabric backing. It takes recolouring very well, and small tears, scratches and localised cracks can be repaired. But a plastic material cannot be repaired as durably as leather: faux leather that has started to break down may continue to do so around the treated areas. The sofa regains a fine appearance, and how long the result lasts depends on the condition of the material. If in doubt, send us some photos.

Finding the colour of your sofa

When ordering, choose from the 22 standard colours of the SOFOLK colour chart, the furniture manufacturers’ colour charts or the RAL colour chart. You can also have us reproduce the original shade from a small sample, taken from under the sofa, behind the dust cover.

Frequently asked questions

Can a faux leather sofa be painted?

Yes. After light sanding and degreasing, faux leather paint adheres without a primer, and the varnish protects it. It is even simpler and quicker than for a leather sofa.

Which kit should I choose for a corner sofa?

The 4/5-seater sofa kit, with 1 litre of paint. For a larger model, order additional product or contact us.

Can peeling skai be repaired?

A small area, yes. Skai that peels over large areas because of its age cannot be repaired durably: the material keeps deteriorating.

How long does it take to renovate a skai sofa?

Allow one day, most of the time being spent on drying between coats. Do not use the sofa until the varnish is finished.

Are these kits suitable for chairs and armchairs?

Yes: the touch-up kit is well suited to an armchair or a set of chairs. For chairs with tears, the 2/3-seater renovation kit easily covers several seats.