What is Bonded Leather?

When you are searching for a good office chair, you will notice that you have a wide range of options. And we are not talking about the price only. From the shape of the office chair to the materials it is made of, the customization it allows you to do, among others. However, today, we would like to tell you a bit more about bonded leather. After all, you probably already saw many office chairs that are covered with this material. 

What Is Bonded Leather? 

Simply put, bonded leather is a material that uses the left-over pieces of hiding blended together to form a seamless piece of leather material. This is why bonded leather is also referred to as vinyl or reconstituted leather. 

The main difference between real or genuine leather and bonded leather is that the first one is made from entire pieces of animal hide and costs a lot more than bonded leather. 

One of the things that it is important to keep in mind about bonded leather is that it is difficult to notice the difference between bonded leather and genuine leather. The reality is that they both share the same appearance and the smell is also very identical. However, genuine leather tends to feel harder to the touch. In case you can compare a bonded leather office chair with a genuine leather office chair, then you will notice that the genuine leather one tends to have a little less give than the bonded leather one. 

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Besides, it is also worth to mention that manufacturers tend to use many different types of coats and permanent polishes to make bonded leather appear to be genuine. 

Now that you already know what is bonded leather, why should you pick an office chair covered with this material? 

Well, when you are looking to get an office chair that has a premium feel but you don’t have a high budget to buy a genuine leather office chair, then a bonded leather one may do the trick. 

How Is Bonded Leather Made?

One of the most common questions people have regarding bonded leather is related to how it is made. 

The truth is that the manufacturing process of bonded leather is very similar to the one used to make paper. Simply put, manufacturers shred leather scraps and fiber and then mix them with bonding materials. They are then released onto a paper or fiber backing cloth. 

The material needs to b then dyed and embossed with a leather-like texture on the surface. In most cases, manufacturers will opt for a polyurethane treatment to give it’s surface a glossy finish. 

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What Is Bonded Leather Used For?

As you can imagine, bonded leather can be used for many different things. One that we already mentioned here is that it can be used in office chairs. However, it can also be used in gaming chairs and other furniture, shoe components, belts, handbags, and even textile lining. 

Since not all bonded leather is the same, the more fragile tends to be used to cover books as well as other types of desk accessories. 

How Can You Clean Bonded Leather?

In case you already have a bonded leather office chair or gaming chair at home, then you need to know how to clean it properly so that you don’t accidentally ruin it. 

So, when you need to clean your bonded leather office chair or gaming chair, you will need to use a clean damp cloth and wiped dry with a separate cloth. 

Notice that just like genuine leather, bonded leather shouldn’t be near water. So, in case you accidentally spill a liquid, you should clean it immediately. However, you should never use abrasive cleaners or detergents to do so. Instead, you should look for non-alkaline cleaners and non-detergent soaps. However, make sure that you always test them in a part of the chair that no one can see first. 

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Bonded Leather: Pros & Cons

Just like any other material, bonded leather has its own pros and cons. 

Pros:

• Cost-effective
• Environmentally friendly as uses leftover hide
• Minimal variations between batches
• Soft and pliable

Cons: 

• Not as durable as real leather
• Prone to cracking and peeling
• Difficult to repair if damaged
• Expensive in the long-run if product gets damaged.

Is Bonded Leather Durable?

As a rule of thumb, most bonded leather products will tend to peel and crack within 2 to 5 years. However, it depends on the bonded leather that was used as well. 

Why Does Bonded Leather Peel And Crack?

There’s no question that one of the biggest problems with bonded leather is that it can peel and crack. And unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it. The truth is that since bonded leather is a non-elastic material, as it is worn out, it is prone to cracks. Besides, strips of polyurethane and leather will then start to peel away from the backing.

Can You Repair Bonded Leather?

While bonded leather is prone to cracks and peels, it can be repaired. So, when you have a small crack or peel, you should try to repair it immediately before it moves to the rest of the office chair. 

In case you are looking to repair your bonded leather office chair, you will be glad to know that there are some repair kits available on the market. 

So, when you are trying to repair it, you will need to sand the affected area first, This ensures that you remove any protruding bits of the leather. You can then dye a patch to match or you can dye the fabric under the peel if you prefer. This will stop further peeling. 

While you can repair a bonded leather office chair, it is important to notice that it will be visible. However, the look will improve.