How To Determine If Its Worth Restoring My Furniture
To Restore Or Not To Restore? You’ve got that old leather couch or high quality (be it old) fabric chair that needs to be replaced. Or maybe you’ve found a wonderful piece at a vintage shop that is begging you to take it home to refinish it. Easy and affordable right? Maybe… consider your options.
To Restore Or Not To Restore
You’ve got that old leather couch or high quality (be it old) fabric chair that needs to be replaced. Or maybe you’ve found a wonderful piece at a vintage shop that is begging you to take it home to refinish it. Easy and affordable right?
Before undergoing the journey of such furniture repair you need to ask yourself a few key questions:
What would the replacement cost be vs. restoring it? (might take some homework)
What type of fabric is it?
What is the furniture worth? This usually includes a sentimental value as much as a monetary value.
Material
Let’s get into material. Usually the piece you are looking to restore is leather (in most cases) Is it genuine leather or is it bonded leather? If the top layer of the leather furniture is flaking and peeling away, then chances are likely that you have bonded leather. Bonded leather isn’t real leather so unfortunately its rather disposable and can not be repaired.
Bonded leather is actually bits of leather sprayed over vinyl. The top side of the vinyl is then stamped and colored to have a leather-like look.
If you’ve determined that you have genuine leather furniture, then you do have some repair options. There are many furniture cleaners and protectors on the market that home-owners can try themselves to repair dirty surfaces, stains rips and tears.
** Pro Tips - If you are in the market for new leather furniture you may want to consult our article about “Top Questions To Ask Before Buying Leather Furniture”
Replacement cost
You probably have already done the math… what is your time and money worth when considering attempting to repair furniture vs. buying brand new. For some, they simply don’t have the time so nearly everything in their lives becomes disposable. But for others, the value of restoring something has a special place. Then cost becomes the only factor.
If cost of replacement is a concern but also time and money spent on on a DIY solution concerns you, then that’s when you should seek a professional. At Color Glo, we offer up to a 70% savings in restoration vs buying new. A CGI specialist will come on-site (so you don’t have to haul your item anywhere) and they’ll work to asses the damage, color match the material and apply special techniques to restore the area back to new.
Leather Care Tips
If you’ve recently bought new leather furniture, you may want to fuel up on some knowledge on how to take care of your furniture to avoid repairs and long-term wear. To learn more, view this article on “How To Care For Leather Furniture”. You’'ll also find some great tips on “How To Remove Candle Wax From Leather”.
Other materials
Leather is not the only material that can be restored. CGI specialists can bring vinyl, plastics, fabric and more back to life. We specialize in both residential and commercial/medical equipment including planes, helicopters, automobiles, watercraft and more.
A CGI specialist restoring a bench seat in a business setting.
View our service categories and learn more about restoring your old items back to new.
Color Glo Specialist Can Help
Color Glo International is the industry leader in restoring furniture, boats, RV's, aircraft, commercial equipment & more. Color Glo specialists can repair or clean anything from rips, tears, burns, frayed stitching, beverage & food stains, lipstick, ink stains, and everything in between. Give a Color Glo certified technician a call. We are mobile and offer onsite service so there is little inconvenience to you, our customer!
Our repairs and cleaning are environmentally safe and children/pet friendly. We use water-based products so you don’t have the dingy chemical feeling after we’ve completed our service. We even have general cleaning kits to provide you for the next time you find yourself needing a spot removal product that really works!
Mobile Repair Service Helps Boat Owners Get Sailing
If you’re like the people of our home state of Minnesota, you like your boats. But boating season brings repairs - let a Color Glo Specialist come to your for upholstery, vinyl, leather and plastic repair.
Behold It Is Boating Season
If you’re like the people of our home state of Minnesota, you like your boats. Boating is a family and friends activity that is shared worldwide and due to COVID-19; it has been partially on hold for many boat owners. Restrictions on public docks and slips and as well as the availability of boat repair shops have slowed down the process of hitting the water.
Many people who have private docks or the ability to put in someplace have had the lake itch and went out as soon as humanly possible. And after slathering on sunscreen, packing up your clothing and water gear, the last thing you want to encounter at the dock is a problem with your boat that puts the family fun on hold.
But, if you’re one of the 12 million registered boat owners in the United States, then you know there’s a price to relaxing on the water. Boats require frequent maintenance and upkeep. Most boat owners find that annual maintenance costs add up to about 10 percent of the cost of the boat.
Upholstery maintenance
In addition to the boat’s engine and electrical components, one of the top items to maintain on any watercraft is the canvas and upholstery. Color Glo International offers on-site repair services for a quick and convenient solution to get you out of the marina and back on the water.
High-stress areas
One area of the boat that often gets overlooked is that back seat section or rear of the boat. It really depends what you use your boat for, but if recreation is its purpose then you are the target customer for repair services in this area. People stepping on the back seats and rear deck after tubing, water skiing or cock-tailing on floaties can cause serious wear and tear. Stepping on cushions can cause a lot of direct stress to the seat and its coating. You just might find them to be cracked and in need of repair right now as you are sliding into the lake.
Damage by winter visitors
It’s possible you haven’t noticed more hidden damage. Mice are an issue we are finding regularity with our boat owners. And though mice can literally chew through wires, harnesses, tubing and other important electrical elements, the most common issue we find after winter storage is damage to cushions. They find their way into the filling and take up residence for the colder months leaving you with, well... expense.
Though it will really depend on the peice and the damage, but generally speaking a Color Glo restoration specialist can bring your marine leather, vinyl and cushion back to life for 70% - 90% cheaper than buying new. And we come to you!
Just check out these before & after pics.
Sun-fading
The sun can damage and fade your boat’s upholstery, making it look worn and tired. CGI Specialists are trained to expertly repair and re-dye tears. They can fix holes, scuffs and scratches too, even cigarette burns, punctures and more. Their restoration techniques can refresh the appearance of your boat and make it look like it did when you first set sail.
We’re not just about boats
Though this is the boating season, Color Glo International onsite repair services cover so much more. Make that old boat, camper or RV look like new again! Color Glo can Restore, Repair, Clean as well as renew or often change the color of Leather, Vinyl, Cloth, Velour, Woodgrain, Fabric, Hard Plastic & Carpet used on Motorcycles, ATVs, Boats, Jet Skis, Motor Homes, Campers and much more!
Color Glo can restore all the interior of your beautiful and hard earned watercraft and recreational vehicles. Whether it be vinyl, boat carpet or even hard plastic, we can make the interior of your boat look new again. Who knows... you may even find our products make your boat look even better than new! Color Glo specialists can perform these services:
Seats and beds repair.
Boat tops restoration.
Engine enclosures restoration.
Mildew removal.
Woodgrain restoration.
Hard plastic repair
Color Glo Specialist Can Help
Color Glo International is the industry leader in restoring furniture, boats, RV's, aircraft, commercial equipment & more. Color Glo specialists can repair or clean anything from rips, tears, burns, frayed stitching, beverage & food stains, lipstick, ink stains, and everything in between. Give a Color Glo certified technician a call. We are mobile and offer onsite service so there is little inconvenience to you, our customer!
Our repairs and cleaning are environmentally safe and children/pet friendly. We use water-based products so you don’t have the dingy chemical feeling after we’ve completed our service. We even have general cleaning kits to provide you for the next time you find yourself needing a spot removal product that really works!
Restoring Pet Damage On Furniture To New
Our furry four-legged children. We love them, we care for them, we can’t live without them. They’re cuddly and cute and they bring happiness into our lives but they can also cause damage to our leather furniture (and elsewhere around the house).
Pet Damage - Yikes!
Our furry four-legged children. We love them, we care for them, we can’t live without them. They’re cuddly and cute and they bring happiness into our lives but they can also cause damage to our leather furniture (and elsewhere around the house).
We get it. Your anger level is likely high after seeing the damage your pet caused to a brand new top-grain leather couch. A couple of things to keep in mind (in the mission to remain at zen) is that your pet(s) will cause far less damage in your home than human children will in your lifetime. ALSO, there are solutions available to restore that expensive leather investment back to new that can keep you from skinning the cat.
There is often no need to replace your damaged furniture as restoring scratches, holes, and tears caused by your furry friends is totally “doable” as well as restoring your love for Fido.
However, this door below may have a different fate….
Dad, look what I did! It was super fun!
Determine if restoration is an option
The first thing you’ll want to to do is consider a small checklist to see if restoration is a good route to explore. Sometimes, pet damage can be a bit beyond saving, such as the cute doggo in the photo above. Chances are that home will need a brand new door. But this isn’t always the case, especially with furniture.
Here are some tips:
What is the total amount of damage to the furniture? Is it just a few inches or are their tears measured in feet?
What is the type of material the damage is on? This may also help you determine how likely restoration is. For example is your piece genuine leather, bonded leather, or another type of material?
What is the replacement value of the furniture itself? Depending on the quality of the piece of furniture you own, it may be more worthwhile to simply buy new. This would usually only apply to lower-cost furniture solutions not bought at higher-end quality furniture stores. If it is a quality piece, Color Glo specialists can save you hundreds or more by restoring to new.
Lastly, how much do you love your pet? Ok. just kidding… Fido comes first in all of our hearts.
Can I repair the damage myself?
Sure, why not. But is furniture repair a lane that you typically drive-in? Do you want to? When you’ve injured your body and need medical help (such as stitches) do you handle that task yourself or visit a professional? As with nearly all categories, delegating this type of pet damage on furniture to a CGI specialist has its benefits. Especially if you really like your furniture and want to get it back to looking great again.
Your pet’s handiwork can be restored to new for a fraction of the cost and no headache to you. Your time is better spent on larger ticket items in your home or family life.
Sorry…. I love you!
How much does it cost?
Subjective question. And asking this question or getting a quote won’t cost you anything so it is worth sizing it up. The cost of pet damage restoration will greatly depend on the type of material and the exact procedures needed for the job. If your issue is not necessarily damage but “odor” then it may be a DIY situation. You can get some great tips and advice in our article How To Remove Pet Odor From Your Furniture.
Most professionals will ask for you to send them photos of the damage so they can assess the situation, then provide you information from there.
Color Glo Specialist Can Help
Color Glo International is the industry leader in restoring furniture. Color Glo specialists can repair or clean anything from rips, tears, burns, frayed stitching, beverage & food stains, lipstick, ink stains, and everything in between. Give a Color Glo certified technician a call. We are mobile and offer onsite service so there is little inconvenience to you, our customer!
Our repairs and cleaning are environmentally safe and children/pet friendly. We use water-based products so you don’t have the dingy chemical feeling after we’ve completed our service. We even have general cleaning kits to provide you for the next time you find yourself needing a spot removal product that really works!
