|
The 3 mistakes to avoid when buying leather furniture.
You will enjoy your leather furniture for years and years when it is made correctly and with the best materials. The best leather furniture is hand-made in the United States of America, the best leather furniture makers are family owned and typically in North Carolina. Traditional hand craftsmanship methods of frame construction include 1.25" thick hardwood frame, puzzel joints that are double doweled/screwed/glued, springs that support the cushions and cushions with the correct density/compression/fill-fibers. Hand cutting the hides prior to tailoring/upholstery and applying any nail trim one-by-one by hand.
The tanned leather hides that cover the furniture must be high quality top-grain hides. Each leather hide is cut into layers and each layer is used for different purposes. The under layers are called splits or bi-cast, meaning they are split from the top layer. These splits are typically used for inexpensive furniture, car seats, shoes, belts, wallets and handbags, etc. The top layer is called top-grain and is the most valuable part of the leather hide, with exceptional strength, durability and beauty. It is the top-grain hides that look the best and last the longest and is a measure of high quality.
The 3 mistakes to avoid when buying leather furniture are:
-
Buying furniture that uses split or bonded leather or vinyl on any part of the furniture. Some furniture is made using splits and bonded leather on the sides and back to lessen the cost. The color may look OK when new, but after a short amount of time the leather colors, texture and appearance changes. Also, split and bonded leathers may crack and deteriorate quickly over time.
-
Buying leather furniture made in China. It is said that over 80% of the leather furniture available is made in China. If it does not follow the above mentioned methods then it was made with cost cutting and quality cutting methods. It is very difficult to truely know the construction of the furniture when it is on the showroom floor or pictured on a website. I have never sat in a "comfortable" leather sofa made in China. Learn about the company that made the furniture, where they are located and their construction methods. Discover how that piece of furniture is made because some American companies will have parts of their furniture made in China and then final assembly is in America. Some American companies will have their leather hides cut and the pattern sewn in China (often called married leather) and then use that like a slip cover over the frame made in the USA, never quite fits right or wears well.
-
Buying inexpensive leather furniture and expecting it to look good and last a long time. It is inexpensive because it eliminated the high quality construction methods used for the frame, cushions, tailoring and uses split or bonded leather. It will not look good and last a long time.
Please click here to CONTACT US or call 800-603-7133 with any questions.
Leather Furniture USA since 1999
www.LeatherFurniture-USA.com
|
|
