What type of leather can you repair?
Do you reupholster or perform any sewing repairs?
My seats were repaired previously. Can you repair leather that has already been done before?
My cat/dog has scratched my leather upholstery. Are you able to repair this kind of damage?
My leather seat in my car has really bad, deep cracks. Are you able to repair this kind of damage?
Can you repair large rips in leather upholstery?
Is the repair permanent?
Will the Color Rub Off onto Clothing?
Can you change the color of my leather?
How do I know when my leather needs to be re-colored?
How often should I clean and condition my leather?
How do I tell if I have Leather or Vinyl?
How can I determine the type of leather that I have?
Do you offer a warranty or guarantee on leather repair?

What type of leather can you repair?
There are several different types of leathers that are used to make leather upholstery. However at this time we specialize in repairing only Top Coated Leather. (Please see “How can I determine what kind of leather I have” below for more information)

Top Coated Leather is found in most Automotive, Marine and Aircraft seating because it is more durable and easiest to care for.

Do you reupholster or perform any sewing repairs?
No.  We don’t do any kind of reupholstering or sewing repairs.  We specialize in repairing small, minor damage such as cigarette burns, small tears, or color fading/wear.  We will be happy to recommend an upholstery shop if your damage needs that kind of repair.

My seats were repaired previously. Can you repair leather that has already been done before?
Yes, we are able to repair seats that have been previously re-colored. However, because we are not certain what products may have been used in the previous repair we are unable to provide any guarantees. Also additional charges may apply to remove any of the previously applied color to properly complete the repair using our process.

My cat/dog has scratched my leather upholstery. Are you able to repair this kind of damage?
Claw scratches are a very common problem on even heavily finished leathers, and are correctable.

My leather seat in my car has really bad, deep cracks. Are you able to repair this kind of damage?
While we can repair minor cracks in leather, very badly cracked leather is usually not repairable. The reason for this is that the leather becomes very dry, brittle and less flexible which is what causes the cracks to begin with. The compounds we use to repair cracks in leather are soft, flexible compounds designed to move and flex with the leather as you sit. When these compounds are applied over very dry, cracked leather they will eventually begin to lift and peel. Usually when leather is very badly cracked we will recommend that those panels be replaced/re-upholstered and then we can re-color the entire seat to give a new uniform look.

Can you repair large rips in leather upholstery?
Rips in leather will need to be inspected before we can determine whether it can be repaired. (Please see section about estimate and service call fees) Large rips or tears are usually not repairable by our process since the repair products we use are designed for small, cosmetic damage and do not have the strength needed to hold large rips and tears together for any length of time.

Is the repair permanent?
The compounds used in our repair process actually bond themselves to the leather. They remain soft and flexible to retain the natural feel and flexibility of the leather. Once repaired, your leather item will provide the same service as it was designed to do. As with any type of repair, the conditions governing the application of the repair determine the quality achieved.  Keep in mind though that the repair area is susceptible to wear, tear, and color fading just as a new piece of leather would be if reupholstered.  Even a brand new seat will show signs of wear in time.

Will the Color Rub Off onto Clothing?
No! The product we use to re-color leather is formulated to actually perform just like the original finish. Even if the finish has gotten wet from water or other liquids, the color will remain fixed and permanent. Once completely cured (within 48 hours) these color coats will not be easily removed.

Can you change the color of my leather?
Yes we can do complete color changes to leather. Our color coating system also allows us to color leather in an infinite number of different unique colors for that custom look.

How do I know when my leather needs to be re-colored?
If cleaning your leather with a proper leather cleaner does not change the appearance of your leather for the better, then you probably need to recolor it. 

How often should I clean and condition my leather?
Of course it varies depending on usage and how dirty it gets. Automotive leather should be conditioned every 3-4 months.

How do I tell if I have Leather or Vinyl?
Please keep in mind, that a majority of upholstered furniture and automotive seats will have leather seating areas, but will also have vinyl trim on the sides or in other areas. This makes the job of identifying your material a bit more difficult. First; leather feels softer, warmer, and more natural. Vinyl on the other hand, feels colder, stiffer, and artificial. This may be easy for some to determine the difference, but others may have a very difficult time in making the decision in this manner. One way of determining which you have is to look on the under side of the material if possible. This can be done easily if you have a cut or hole all the way through the material. Just lift up a small section and look at the back side of the material. If you see a cloth like material that appears to be glued to the backside of the fabric, then you are looking at a piece of vinyl. Sometime this backing will be of a white colored "fuzzy" nature. Leather has no backing material of any kind, only "rough" or suede looking (usually of the same color as the surface).

How can I determine the type of leather that I have?
Aniline
Aniline leathers are top quality natural leathers in which the actual surface grain markings of the true leather (hide) are visible. They have very little or no protective treatments applied. Natural leathers can be classified as Natural, Pure, & Un-Protected and are usually colored with a transparent leather dye. A variety of clear finishes such as oil, wax, nitrocellulose and urethane protective coatings, which do not inhibit the softness or breathing of leather, are applied to the surface. These finishes allow the natural leather markings to show through the finish. Aniline leathers require different cleaning procedures than protected leather due to its porous nature. Aniline leather is prone to sun fading.

Identifying characteristics: very easy to scratch; water drops will darken the color and then dry back to natural color.

Pigmented/Protected/Top Coated/Painted
This is the most common leather type used in furniture, approximately 90% of the market. This leather has a uniform appearance and color. The leather has an intense color and a definite pattern (grain). You cannot see any natural leather markings through the top coatings, because a pigmented leather paint coat is applied to the surface. It is then sealed with a durable finish. Properly maintained, this finish will provide years of cleaning ability and durability.

Identifying characteristics: uniform color and grain patterns; will not scratch easily; water drops will not change color.

NuBuck
These are natural Aniline leathers that have been surface brushed or buffed on the grain side of the leather creating a nap and leaving a texture similar to velvet (softess of all leathers to the touch). Usually NuBuck has a natural finish, but may have a light protective coat and a transparent leather dye for color. This process increases the leathers surface exposure making it extremely absorbent to body oils and soil, and difficult to clean effectively.

Identifying characteristics: very soft to the touch, will scratch or scuff very easily; water drops will darken the leather but it returns to its original color after drying.

Vinyl
This is a man-made fabric of plastic and cloth. You can identify vinyl by its highly uniform grain pattern. The surface will have a slick feel to it. The backside of the vinyl is lined with a cloth/fabric backing. If you have any cracks or cuts, you can see the fabric backing (usually white in color).

Do you offer a warranty or guarantee on leather repair?
Due to the many factors and circumstances that can affect the longevity of leather repair/dyeing (i.e.: types of cleaners used after repair, dark colored clothing/denim that may stain lighter seats, types of body oils or moisturizers, severity of wear before repairs were made, amount of wear/use seat gets after repair) we cannot guarantee length of repair on work performed on seats or any other high wear area of the vehicle. Please keep in mind that no repair (even re-upholstery) is immune to wear. Even a brand new seat will show signs of wear in time.