At Florida Leather Gallery, we believe that leather furniture is an investment, one that should last you decades. Leather lasts longest when it’s well taken care of—conditioned regularly, kept clean and free of scratches—but we also know that life doesn’t always play fair, and that sometimes leather maintenance can go by the wayside, especially when you have other things to deal with, like training pets or raising a growing family. Sometimes, leather starts to peel. It can be a terrible, sinking feeling seeing your prized leather furniture start to show signs of wear and tear, but don’t panic! We are here to help you keep your leather sofas and armchairs looking sleek and gorgeous, even in the worst of times.
Here’s what it means if your leather sofa is peeling.
1, Your home is much too dry, or you need to move your sofa out of the sun.
The first thing to know about leather is that it is an organic material. It was once skin, and like skin, it needs moisture to stay soft and supple, or it will crack. This is especially important with natural, unprotected leather. This type of pure leather especially needs a little more humidity than the other furniture in your house. By the same token, if your sofa is exposed to too much sunlight, it can start to crack from dryness and heat as well. Be sure to keep your leather properly conditioned with products meant for leather. A Florida Leather Gallery specialist can help guide your purchase of these products.
2, The finish or sealant on your leather is actually what’s cracking.
In many cases, it’s not actually the leather itself that is cracking, but rather the finish or sealant coating the leather. This usually happens when too many abrasive or harsh chemical cleaners are used on your sofa’s surface. Only clean your leather with certified leather cleaning products to be sure to avoid this type of damage. You can hire a professional to re-seal or re-finish your leather, but in some cases, it might be too far gone to repair. Your best bet is to avoid cracking the finish or sealant in the first place.
3, Your sofa is upholstered with bonded or fake leather.
Last but not least, your sofa might be cracking because it is upholstered with cheap “bonded” leather or even fake leather. Fake leather is often made from PVC, which can crack easily with use. Bonded leather is made from scraps of recycled leather which are then bonded with a strong adhesive. In either of these cases, you will not be getting the natural resilience of a true leather sofa, and at Florida Leather Gallery, we recommend simply replacing the sofa with an actual, high-quality leather couch, like any of the sofas we have in our showroom.
In any of these cases, our Florida Leather Gallery Leaxperts are here to help. If re-conditioning your leather sofa, or applying new sealant doesn’t work to fix those pesky cracks and peels in your couch’s leather, it might be time to head down to our showroom for a new model. Call our friendly staff today and set up an appointment!
FAQs
Most of the time, it is not the leather itself that is cracking, but the finish or sealant on the surface. Using the wrong products to clean the leather can cause the leather to peel off, such as products, which contain solvents and chemicals.
What causes a leather couch to start peeling? ›
Age: As leather sofas age, they naturally lose their moisture and become dry and brittle. This may result in cracking or peeling in the leather over time. Sunlight and heat: Exposure to sunlight and heat can cause the leather to dry out and become more susceptible to cracking and peeling.
How do you fix a peeling pleather couch? ›
Remove the peeling area with fine sandpaper, a sharp blade, or even your fingers, but avoid removing more than is absolutely necessary. Wipe the surface clean and apply a thin layer of leather filler using a putty knife. Smooth it out to ensure an even thickness but try not to get filler on any untreated area.
What makes fake leather peel? ›
However, because it is not real animal hide, it can be prone to peeling over time as the materials break down. There is so many reasons such as use of harsh cleaning chemicals or products, and prolonged sun exposure can also cause peeling.
How do you fix peeling leather at home? ›
Apply leather soft filler to the peeled area with a putty knife. Scoop out a 1 inch (2.5 cm) dollop of soft filler with a putty knife. Still using the knife, smear the filler across the peeled section of the leather furniture. Smooth out the filler so that it's a uniform thickness across the peeled section.
What kind of leather couch doesn't peel? ›
Real leather is going to have great durability over time because it won't crack or peel. Instead of wearing out, real leather will develop a patina on its natural surface. Faux leather, or PU leather, is not going to be as durable as real leather, but it will be more durable compared to bonded leather.
Does real leather couches peel? ›
Conclusion. Genuine leather sofas peel, but it's not a universal problem. Peeling is more likely to occur in low-quality leather or due to inadequate care and maintenance. To prevent peeling, it's necessary to clean and condition the leather, avoid direct sunlight and heat sources, and not use harsh chemicals.
How to protect a leather sofa? ›
Leather Conditioner to Help Prevent Scratching
Keeping leather healthy also allows it to retain its natural shape and resist injury or damage inflicted on it by mishandling. Leather conditioner can also be applied to help keep leather from cracking , which occurs when the leather becomes overly dry.
What is the difference between bonded leather and genuine leather? ›
It can be hard to tell the difference between genuine leather and bonded leather when choosing a piece of furniture. Bonded leather is made of small pieces of discarded leather bonded to a polyurethane backing, while genuine leather is made of an actual hide.
Can fake leather be repaired? ›
Faux leather cannot be repaired.
Once artificial leather materials start visibly peeling, cracking, and falling apart, they cannot be repaired or restored since the damage is irreversible.
Contact cement is an adhesive with very high shear strength. Typically, they create a lasting bond between two objects and are considered the best glue for leather shoes.
Does real leather peel or fade? ›
Good quality leathers should not peel. They may crack and fade ever so slightly, but they should not peel. When a good quality leather fades, it does so gently, and contributes to the worn look of the furniture, giving it a relaxed and well-loved look.
What is the difference between synthetic leather and fake leather? ›
PU fabric has a shiny surface and is soft to the touch. However, this synthetic material will not last as long as faux leather. Pu leather wear down much easier, the top layers begin to crack and tear. Faux leather is a much better quality lamination which lasts considerably longer and rarely becomes warped or cracked.
Does faux leather mean fake leather? ›
Faux leather, also known as synthetic leather, is a petroleum-based alternative to genuine leather. While faux leather has many of the same desirable attributes of genuine leather, it is not necessary to harm animals to create this substance.
Can you fix peeling leather? ›
Resurface the exposed fabric using a leather filler putty or rubberized coating, followed by color, as demonstrated in the video below. You'll spend several hours peeling, resurfacing, and recoloring. The cost will range from $41 to upwards of $100.
How long should a leather sofa last? ›
How long does a leather sofa last on average before it needs to be replaced? Leather sofas are extremely robust, lasting around 15 to 20 years compared to about 5 for a fabric one. However, when it comes to a sound investment, quality is everything because, as the saying goes, you usually get what you pay for.
How do I stop my couch from Pilling? ›
Regular vacuuming – as dirt and dust can also cause friction, we recommend vacuuming and cleaning your sofa regularly to remove any foreign matter. Regularly vacuuming your sofa will also help remove loose fibres before they ball up and create pills.
