Expert: Mark H. Miller - 8/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a 6 year old Black Leather Couch and Loveseat.  Some of the cushions have flattened out a bit and I would like to refill them, but they are attached.  I reached my hand down along the backside of the cushions and there is one long zipper that goes across the 3 cushions.  Is there a way I can refill these cushions on my own?  Also, the finish is a bit worn, scratched from our small dog, and faded in spots.  What do you recommend I use to refinish/repair my couch and love seat?  There are a lot of different Repair Kits and Solutions on the net, but I am not sure which will be best to use.  I am on a budget so hiring a professional is not an option right now.  Is black shoe polish an option?

ANSWER: Hi Teresa,

It may be possible to open the zipper and add filling material, but you must add to the bottom and not to the top of the cushion, if you do that you will push the existing filling up,  don't add filling material to the top you will end up with lumps.  However you need to be extremely careful,  if you break the zipper and can't close the cushions you may have a bigger problem than you now have.  It does not make sense that there is one zipper for 3 cushions,  there should be one zipper per cushion.  Also, it would take a very strong man or woman to reach into those cushion and push filling material underneath the raise the present filling.  I don't want to say it can't be done but it will definitely be extremely difficult and hard work.

If you decide to give it a try buy plain Dacron batting, available from upholstery suppliers on line to use as filling material.  

If however there are buttons in the cushion they can not be refilled because the strings that hold the buttons in place go through the bottom of the cushion and you can not push the filling material past them.  

I too am not experienced with repair kits for leather since my job was always to reupholster,  I can however tell you that you should not use black shoe polish,  shoe polish is a wax and if someone sits on your sofa in hot weather with light clothing the shoe polish could come off and ruin their clothes.  The only thing to use to maintain leather is a high quality saddle soap, that is available in most hardware stores,  and you should do that periodically to prevent your leather from cracking.  Don't feel too bad about the small scratches from the dogs nails,  in the trade we consider that to be part of the charm of leather,  reasoning that if the scratches and imperfections unique to leather are objectionable one may as well have naugahyde.

The reason leather cushions are often attached is that otherwise they slide out, and that leaves the disadvantage that they are almost impossible to add filling to.  Also, it may not all be due to your needing more filling material - leather stretches with use and therefore some sagging and wrinkles are normal.

You asked me very good questions and I am sorry I can't be of more help, I hope that what I wrote will help you decide what course of action is best,   please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.  

Mark Miller

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Mark, thanks for the prompt response.  I now have a follow-up for you?  I double checked and there is just one long zipper along on the back side of the cushions.  The backside of the cushions that you can not see is not leather, it is a different cloth material and the zipper is sewn into that.  However, when looking at the couch you can see three separate cushions and there are three separate compartments to fill.  I did not notice any buttons and am considering attempting to fill the sagging areas from underneath the existing foam cushion as you described.  It is a tight squeeze between the back cushions and the seat cushions.  So, I am thinking about unzipping the bottom portion of the back cushions and pulling out some of the white stuffing/filling in order to create more wiggle room to fill the bottom seat cushions.  After the seat cushions are filled I would then refill the back cushions and zip everything back up.  Does this sound like a good way to approach it?  Here are some pictures of my couches so that you have a better idea what I am talking about.






http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm130/MomInSV/Leather%20Couches/LgLeatherSofa
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm130/MomInSV/Leather%20Couches/SmLeatherSofa

Thank you,

Teresa


Answer
Hi Teresa,

Those pictures help a lot.  The reason there is cloth on the back of the leather cushions is to let the air out when you sit on them.  Leather cushions would pop like a balloon if there is no way for the air to escape and would not resume their original shape after you get out of the sofa if there is no way for the air to get back in.

It does not make any sense that all three cushions have only one zipper, but there is nothing to be lost by opening the zipper to see what is going on.  

The way you intend to proceed to add filling material is exactly the way to go.  The fact that there are no buttons means it is good quality,  in fact just looking at them I would say these are really nice pieces and you made a good investment when you bought them.

Also, I can't tell if the cushions sit too low because the filling material has compacted but what I see in the pictures there is normal stretching which is part of having leather,  what you need to look for is that there is enough filling material so that when you sit on the sofa the leather does not fold over on itself and crease, if that happens the leather will crack and break where it has creased and you would be very wise to add filling material to prevent that from happening.  From what I see you should not consider adding material to the back cushions,  I recommend you leave them alone.

Also, begin a saddle soap regimen to prolong the life of your leather.

Good luck,  I hope this information is of help to you.  Congratulations on owning such nice furniture.

Mark Miller.