HOW DO YOU RENOVATE A CRACKED LEATHER SOFA?
Apart from incidents caused by cat scratches, the stains we may make, and the tears and cigarette burns it may endure, cracks can also appear on your sofa. Cracking is, all things considered, fairly common damage on a poorly maintained leather sofa. In reality, it is the result of several distinct causes.
At Sofolk, we do not simply stop at repairing cracks in leather; we treat the causes with a nourishing oil to extend the life of your leather sofa.
Cracked leather: why does it happen?
Lack of care
Like any skin that is not looked after, leather dries out, becomes wrinkled and, as a result, cracks. In other words, leather is a material that wears over time. Unprotected and without care, leather tends to crack and split. While it is perfectly natural for your leather sofa to suffer from colour and appearance defects over time, cracks appear because of a lack of care.
Temperature variations: heat and cold
When it is hot, leather dehydrates. On the other hand, when it is cold, the leather fibres shrink and your sofa becomes dull. From hot to cold and vice versa, your leather sofa is subjected to these temperature variations.
The sun and its UV rays
Exposure to the sun for a little too long will dry out and discolour the leather.
Water
Finally, the last cause of cracks on your leather sofa is water. Water and leather do not mix well. In the long term, water damages leather. You should also know that leather that gets wet and dries quickly will harden and become "stiff as cardboard".
To sum up, lack of care, water, sun and temperature variations are the worst enemies of the leather on your sofa.
How do you repair cracks on a leather sofa?
Repairing cracked leather is done with a specific repair paste that remains supple once dry. Sofolk RépaCuir is specially formulated to repair cracks in leather. However, our paste is white (or Anthracite) and, because of its colour, the whole sofa or armchair needs to be recoloured to hide your repairs.
This "liquid leather" in paste form acts like a filler to fill hollow spaces. While remaining supple, it repairs the cracks in your sofa durably and also repairs leather tears, snags and cigarette burns. Available in a tube, this product is spread using a small spatula (or the straight edge of a piece of cardboard). However, leather recolouring will be necessary to hide the repairs carried out.
You should also know that the repair paste must only be applied to leather that has been degreased and cleaned beforehand. Next, you must lightly sand the area to be restored with sandpaper (240 grit) before applying the repair paste in thin layers into the hollows. Once the paste has dried (about 30 minutes), sand lightly again. Be aware that the repair paste shrinks as it dries, so you will need to make at least 2 to 3 applications. The result should be a surface that is smooth to the touch, even if this means sanding off the excess paste.
However, repairing cracks is not an end in itself. At Sofolk, we go further than simply repairing your cracked leather.
How can you prevent cracks from appearing on a leather sofa?
Leather is a noble but sensitive material. Without the presence of a fatty substance at the heart of the fibre structure, the sofa loses its warmth, its softness and its longevity. Lack of care therefore encourages cracking.
Exclusive to our brand, we offer a nourishing oil to restore strength and suppleness to your leather sofa. This oil penetrates, feeds and lubricates the leather fibres of your sofa, allowing them to slide against each other without catching, thanks to a proven method using completely natural ingredients and no turpentine. The formation of cracks is thus eliminated.
Two to three applications are needed each year, using a washcloth lightly moistened with nourishing oil. This care is essential to keep your leather sofa in full health.
Renovating a cracked leather sofa: our tips
Renovating a cracked leather sofa involves several steps. There is no point trying to hide the cracks with a dye. To start with, you will need to carry out a thorough cleaning using suitable products.
Cleaning: an essential step for an effective repair
Is your leather sofa worn? Do you want to renovate an armchair with cracked leather? There are solutions for renovating worn leathers. Sofolk offers an effective product that is easy to apply. Before repairing your furniture, start with a good cleaning.
For a successful repair, it is essential to remove ingrained dirt. To do this, choose a leather cleaning product. Avoid applying cleansing milk or soap, which are not suitable. As a manufacturer specialising in care solutions for all types of leather, Sofolk sells a very practical cleaning kit. You can easily degrease your sofa or armchair using the cloth and the sebum cleaner included in this kit. The bottle of wax will be useful for regular care.
Please note, however, that this product is not suitable for suede or nubuck.
Repairing cracked leather with a quality product
After thoroughly cleaning your leather armchair or sofa, you can begin renovating it. At Sofolk, your manufacturer specialising in leather care, you will find a particularly effective repair paste. This quality product allows you to repair cracks, but also holes and tears.
Available in white and dark grey, this product can be used on surfaces of different colours. You will then need to carry out leather colouring. Easy to apply, this liquid cream guarantees a long-lasting result.
To make things simpler, you can choose a repair kit to renovate a cracked leather sofa. You will then have all the products you need to clean, repair and care for your furniture.
Applying a dye for a neat finish
As the Sofolk repair paste is essentially a renovation product, you will need to apply a finishing dye.
The repair kit for leather sofas contains a bottle of pigment leather dye. The advantage is that you will benefit from a wide choice of colours. Enough to treat yourself and match the style of your sofa to the decor of your home!
For a perfect result and optimum resistance, Sofolk recommends that you apply a varnish. Not only will this give you a satin, gloss or matt finish, it will also protect the leather. The colour will last and the protective film will limit the build-up of dirt.
Our advice for caring for your sofas and armchairs
Renovating a cracked leather sofa restores its shine. However, to keep it in good condition over time, it is important to carry out regular care.
To this end, Sofolk has developed a range of quality products specially designed to nourish leather. Applying a protective wax will help limit damage caused by moisture and rubbing. The nourishing oil will provide suppleness by penetrating directly into the leather fibres, thus maintaining its warmth and softness.
