Real leather upholstery is expensive and in high demand because faux leather has been unable to meet up. While peeling is a nonexistent threat to genuine leather, it’s one of the most common defects of faux leather.
So, why do you suppose your faux leather sofa is peeling, and what should you do about it?
If you bought faux leather couches, you should expect them to peel after extensive usage. The weaker nature of this material makes it prone to peeling under extensive or harsh usage. Once your faux leather sofa starts peeling, you can fix it using leather paint or a leather filler.
This article will inform you of some of the reasons why your faux leather sofa peels. In addition, simple ways to fix peeling leather from a sofa and steps to prevent peeling would also be discussed.
Why Do Faux Leather Sofas Peel?
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While fixing a peeling faux leather sofa is possible, it’s usually much easier never to have to do that. However, if you’d rather have your faux leather looking new without any fix, you need to learn maintenance. Here are some of the recognized reasons why your faux leather peels and how to avoid them.
1. Exposure to heat
It’s already common knowledge that faux leather sofas are generally less durable, but some elements can inspire peeling. If your faux leather sofa is exposed to a heat source, it will be a matter of time before it starts to peel.
The best way to prevent your leather sofa from getting exposed to heat is by protecting it from the sun. However, if you’re looking to buy a sofa for an outdoor space, getting faux leather may not be very economical in the long run.
2. Age
It doesn’t matter how well you care for your leather sofa; as long as it ages, it will always stand a chance of peeling. However, if you’ve had your faux leather sofa for a pretty long time, you should consider getting a new one if you’re experiencing incessant peels.
3. Less durability
The primary reason why you worry about sofa peels in the first place is that you bought faux leather. It’s common knowledge that faux leather is less durable than genuine leather, making peeling almost inevitable.
If you’d rather not have a peeling sofa, you should consider investing the extra bucks in getting a real leather sofa. While real leather can also peel, it does so less frequently than faux leather, making the better option obvious.
How to Fix Peeling Faux Leather Sofa
Regardless of how hard you try, you can’t prevent the peeling of a faux leather sofa. Fortunately, you don’t have to resign to using it that way. Instead, this section will show you some of the cleverest ways to fix your peeling leather sofa.
Before attempting any repairs, it’s crucial to note that you may worsen the condition of the sofa. However, if you can take responsibility for any damages, here are some of the best ways to fix a peeling faux leather sofa.
1. Get the required equipment
You didn’t think fixing your peeling leather sofa was something you could do without any specialized tools. Fortunately, you can make do with mostly home-sourced materials, reducing the amount you’ll have to spend.
Some of the tools you’ll be using have no usable alternatives that you can source from the average home. However, you can source these tools from your local store without having to spend an arm and a leg.
Here are some of the tools you’ll need to repair your peeling faux leather sofa like a pro.
- Leather paint or leather filler (or both)
- Plastic wrap
- Scissors
- Razor blades
- Smoothing cards
- Knife
- Vinyl adhesive
If you have usable alternatives to any of the aforementioned tools, you can use them. However, it’s always best to stick with the recommended tools for a clean job. Once you have all of them handy, you can proceed to start repairing your peeling sofa.
2. Remove all the peeled parts
To be clear, there are two ways to fix a peeling leather sofa. The first solution involves using leather paint and the other one, a leather filler. However, the foremost step that unites both of these methods is removing the peeling parts of the leather sofa.
When removing the affected areas, ensure that you don’t pull off any piece that isn’t peeling yet. Expanding the surface of the peeling area will also make it more complicated to repair, which may incur more cost.
For precision, you can use a pair of scissors or a razor blade. Dampen a cloth and run it over the affected area to remove the peeling parts easily. The next step will depend on what method you plan to use for the repair.
3. Apply some leather paint to fill the peeled area
Here, I assume you’re using the standard method, which involves fixing the sofa with leather paint. However, since a regular home doesn’t usually have leather paint, you may have to get this online or at a nearby art store.
Once you have the paint ready, shake the paint jar to ensure that the paint mixes properly. You can imagine how terrible the result will look when you attempt painting the peeled areas with inconsistent paint.
After shaking, dip your paintbrush into the leather paint and run it side to side. In some cases, you may not find paint that matches the color of your sofa. You can talk to an experienced painter to see the color combinations that will match your sofa’s color.
Wait until the paint dries once you achieve a color that fills the gap perfectly. After about an hour, you can test the paint with your finger to see how dry it feels. When it appears to be completely dry, you can start using your faux leather sofa as usual.
4. Use a leather filler to cover the peeling areas
If you can’t get leather paint, you can also use leather filler, which works just as well as leather paint. Leather filler was made to be a repair material for leather materials, making it a more practical alternative to painting.
You can find an abundance of faux leather fillers on Amazon or some local stores. Try finding one that matches best with your sofa, as you can’t mix colors here. After finding the perfect leather filler, you’ll need to apply it to your sofa using a putty knife.
Try smoothening the sofa’s surface while applying the filler before it cures. If errors are made, you can wipe it clean using a dry cloth.
You should wait for the filler to cure after applying enough filler to make the peeled areas look unnoticeable. This doesn’t take as long as waiting for paint to dry, but it doesn’t happen instantly either. A 30-minutes wait isn’t a big deal if the goal is to get your faux leather sofa back to normal.
If you’re not feeling confident enough to attempt repairing your faux leather sofa yourself, you may have to find a professional to help. Some professional companies and firms specialize in fixing faux leather sofas once they start peeling.
However, if you have the time, it’s recommended that you try your hands on the activity. The worst outcome that could result from fixing your sofa is having to pay higher for the repair.
