How to Repair a Tear in a Faux Leather Couch
Leather couches are popular additions to living rooms, family rooms and dens. While they are very durable, they can sometimes be torn by sharp objects or even animal claws. You can repair torn leather upholstery with the use of a leather repair kit, available at major department stores. These kits include almost everything you will need to repair the damage to your couch with a nearly flawless finish.
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Clean the leather around the tear with the cleaning product included in the kit. If no cleaning product is included, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to remove any dirt and debris from the leather.
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Allow the leather to dry. Apply a leather conditioner to help the repair compound adhere. Allow the conditioner to penetrate for 24 hours.
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Mix the repair compound if it is a two-part system. These systems usually come with a small mixing spatula, or you can use a craft stick.
If the repair compound comes in a single tube and does not need mixing, it can be applied directly to the couch.
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Apply the repair compound under both sides of the tear. Press the sides of the tear into the compound so that the leather surface is as close to it's natural state as possible. The better you close the tear, the less work you will have to do later
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Smooth out any repair compound that squeezes out of the tear with a damp paper towel. If texture paper is included in the kit, select one that is similar to the texture of your couch and smooth it texture-down onto the torn area.
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Heat the torn area with a hairdryer for 10 to 15 minutes to set the repair compound. Do not bring the hairdryer closer than 12 inches from the surface or you can cause the repair compound to overheat and deform.
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Select or mix a small batch of colorant that matches your couch. There should be several options to choose from included in the repair kit. Test the colorant on an inconspicuous portion of the couch to make sure you have a good color match.
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Brush the colorant over the repaired area with the brush or foam applicator supplied by the repair kit. The colorant should extend past the torn area and fade into the leather.
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Allow the colorant to dry and apply additional coats as needed.
References
Tips
- Some leather repair kits have colorant that mixes into the repair compound, eliminating the need for painting.
Warnings
- Wear rubber gloves when using repair compound and colorant.
Writer Bio
Alex Smith began writing in 2006 and brings a combination of education and humor to various websites. He holds a Master of Arts in theater and works as a professional makeup and special-effects artist.
Photo Credits
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