What do we do to leather...

But firstly... What is Leather?

In the UK leather is defined by BS2780 as:
Hide or skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be imputrescible. The hair or wool may or may not have been removed. It is also made from a hide or skin that has been split into layers or segmented either before or after tanning.
Note 1: If the leather has a surface coating, the mean thickness of this surface layer, however applied, has to be 0.15mm or less.
Note 2: If the tanned hide or skin is disintegrated mechanically and/or chemically into fibrous particles, small pieces or powder and then, with or without combination of a binding agent, is made into sheets or forms, such sheets are not leather.
Leather Types and Properties:
British Standard (BS2780) Definitions

So what type of leather do you have?

What can be done to restore leather?

Cleaning:

Just as you wouldn't wash a cashmere jumper the same way you would wash a pair of jeans, neither should aniline leather be cleaned the same way as pigmented leather. But they should be cleaned. In many instances this is all the restoration a leather item may require.

In leather, dirt can accumulate in the creases and grain, making it look dirty and worn. Not only that but within this dirt are abrasive particles which wear the leather prematurely, if they are allowed to accumulate. This results, eventually, in holes and tears appearing, 

During the cleaning process our technicians will remove ingrained dirt, hydrate and condition the leather

The correct cleaning of leather extends its useful life and keeps it soft and supple, incorrect cleaning will damage your leather over time - a very short time in some cases.

Marks & Stains

Ink, curry, colour transfer from clothes, grease stains, glue, paint or make up. All these and a multitude of other stains are almost impossible to remove yourself - we can do it though.

Colour / Finish Restore:

When leather has been worn by use or by dirt the top surface is slowly worn away, until the pigment is exposed. This may give a sticky feel to the leather, it may show as a different colour peeling or just as a dull area.

With some leathers the colour can fade or change in sunlight.

At this point we can re-colour and re-finish, restoring the look and feel of the leather. And the work is all done at your premises

Damage Repair

Damage can be scuffs, cuts, tears, burns, scratches etc.. Anything where the top surface or the leather itself has been damaged. SEE BELOW

All these problems can be solved at your premises, leaving an unnoticeable repair.

How much will it cost?

Call 0789 421 0995 or email a picture to info@renovateleather.co.uk for a free quotation

An example repair

This is a repair completed on a Mercedes Cosworth in Leamington. Not all repairs are this large but it easier to see what is being done at each stage on a repair of this size.

First the area to be repaired is cleaned and allowed to dry thoroughly

As the hole was deep enough to expose the seat stuffing replacement foam and a sub-patch are inserted into the bolster and fixed in place. This strengthens the area of damage that has been worn thin around the damage.

A deep filler is used to replace the missing leather and add further strength. This is roughly shaped and then heat cured.

At this stage a special liquid is added to the exposed leather to bond the fibres and another is used to help the pigment bond to the repair.

The next step is to add a little pigment to highlight area that still require attention.

A shallow filler is now used for the finer detail and moulded to shape. After each stage the repair must be allowed to dry and cure.

Now the final detailing and shaping.

And the finished item will last as long as the original as strength has been built in at every stage. Renovate Leather are happy to give a 12 month warranty on all their work.