Headboard Reupholstery project
Here we have an eight panel headboard. Unfortunately the manufacturer utilized poor quality bi-cast leather in its construction. With only two years of moderate use the material began to delaminate .
What is “Bi-cast leather?” Well, bi-cast leather is a combination of polyurethane plastics and a small amount of lower grade leather. Typically this lower grade leather is a bi product of the cutting off of “top grain” leather from a full cow hide. The manufacturer will then emboss the material to produce a flat or textured look to resemble top grain leather.
Unfortunately we are seeing more and more “bi-cast” furniture pieces come into the shop for re-upholstery. Flexing of the material, natural oils from hair and hands, as well as abrasions can cause the material to crack and or delaminate in a matter of months to several years.
The use of terms like "genuine leather" or "100% leather" in relation to bi-cast are misleading and is considered a misrepresentation and therefore not permitted in some countries.
The final product!
Our upholstery team carefully removed all of the decorative tacks, we then cut new panels using the old panels as patterns. The new material that we used was a flexible high quality top grain leather that we sourced from one of our distributors in the Carolinas. Once the new panels were installed, our team carefully nailed in the decorative tacks.
Pictured here our Lead Product Designer (Rodolfo) is completing minor color touch ups on the leather and wood before our delivery team re installs the headboard in our clients home.