Valley Leather Furniture

FAQ
Our service to you is to be an expert resource in your next purchase of fine leather furniture.

Following is the most often asked questions:

How strong is leather?
Leather is the strongest natural material known to man.

What is Top Grain leather?
This is the best grade of leather. When a hide is cured, it is split to divide the top layer from the layer beneath. As the name implies, Top Grain is the top portion. It retains all the natural scarring and wrinkling of the hide (which is minimized by skillful cutting and placement of the hide on the piece of furniture). If these characteristics aren't desired for the intended look of the hide, the Top Grain can be sanded and buffed until a more uniform look is attained. Ultimately, Top Grain is most prized because it provides the most strength, durability and suppleness.

What is Split Leather?
This is the layer that remains when Top Grain is removed from the hide. It has none of the textural character of the Top Grain, but can be embossed with a texture that simulates Top Grain. This layer of hide is still appropriate for furniture, but is not as strong as Top Grain.

Can you mix leather and fabric pieces?
Yes. It is done all the time. Our rule of the thumb is: Put the seating that will get the most use in leather because it does not show the day to day wear that upholstery fabric will.

Can Leather be repaired if scratched or torn?
Yes, other than the possible of scratching your leather, it is not often that we get calls about leather being torn or ripped. However, it does happen and we can repair your leather pieces.

Can I have pets around my leather furniture?
Absolutely! Most good leather furniture is far from delicate (suede and other specialty hides are exceptions to the general rule that follows!). Even if your dog or cat jumps up on your leather furniture, those claw punctures should just seal right up.

Does leather feel hot?
No, leather is constantly adjusting to its environment. It is cool to the initial touch but will adjust to your body temperature within 10 to 15 seconds. It will not be hot in the summer nor will it be cold in the winter.

How do I handle a spill?
With all but the most specialized leathers, spills just bead up and can be wiped away!

Is Leather for children?
The very opposite ~ Leather is great for children of all ages. It will take the day to day use that a family has to offer.

My teenagers plop! Will my leather furniture take the abuse?
A well made leather sofa or chair will handle the abuse. That's because leather furniture can last 20 years or longer, and just keep looking better and better. Furniture manufacturers of integrity build their frames to last just as long.

Will leather soften after years of use?
Yes, but not to the degree you would hope. Leather softness is achieved by tumbling at the tannery. Generally, what leather softness you purchase is what you will have for the life of the furniture.

Can Leather be cleaned?
Yes ~ Most leathers can be cleaned with a mild soapy solution and water. Unprotected leathers (ie... pure anilines) require special handling. We recommend the use of leather care products for their protection and cleaning.

Will Leather fade?
Yes. Direct exposure to ultra violet sun rays will cause fading and/or discoloration.

How long will leather last?
A relative question but we know of cases where leather pieces have been passed along to their children after 20 to 30 years of use.

What sort of frame should I look for in my leather furniture?
The frame of a leather piece of furniture is crucial. Your leather furniture will last, according to Furniture World Magazine, four times longer than an upholstered piece. So you don't want your leather furniture to give up on you from the inside out. Ask these questions about the frame of a piece your are considering: Is it made of kiln-dried hardwood? It should be. If wood isn't dried in a kiln, it will dry out later -- in your home! That means warping. Also ask if the frame was constructed with double-doweled corners. This makes the joints stronger, to give you noiseless, stable support.

What about the suspension of my leather furniture? What will serve me best?
First, look at the suspension system in the seat cushions. Do they have inner-springs? Some leather furniture makers save a few dollars by leaving out the springs. Instead, they'll insert a slab of foam (see the description of foam in cushions, which follows shortly). At first owners don't notice a difference in a cushion without springs. But over time, their cushions don't spring back as quickly -- or at all -- when they get up. It's nice to leave behind a good impression, but not on your seat cushions!

Are 8-way, hand-tied springs or the new computer manufactured springs in the suspension very good?
Bases with real springs act to preserve the cushions they support, in the same way a box spring prolongs the life of a mattress. Eight-way, hand-tied springs are joined together at key points so they can move independently of each other. So your furniture feels more comfortable, and supports you more evenly. It also holds up wonderfully to the abuses of pets and kids.

Are all foams in cushions created equally?
No! You can compare your leather furniture to carpeting. You may have heard that you can extend the life of new carpeting by buying good quality padding to go under it. The same holds true for leather furniture. Find out what the back cushions of the leather furniture you are investigating are made of. Inferior furniture is often stuffed with shredded foam, a byproduct of the cushion-making process. Recycling is a good idea, but not here! Shredded foam tends to break down over the years, making the cushions lumpy or limp. Look instead for virgin-fiber Dacron, or its equivalent, in all back and side cushions.