FAQ

As stated above, the top grain is the smoothest, supplest, most natural, and best kind of furniture leather your money can buy. Each hide is as individual and unique as a fingerprint. Real, top-grain is comprised of about 12-14% water. For this reason, top-grain leather acclimates quickly to your body temperature. Leather is a natural product and thus breathes like one.

Top-grain comes in two different grades: aniline and semi-aniline. Aniline is the most natural and has no protective coatings or treatments that alter its natural feel. Because of this, it’s the softest but also susceptible to stains, while semi-aniline may be coated with a protective topcoat.

Many people who have experienced “sweating” on leather and are therefore turned off by the idea of leather furniture are referring to a leather product like bonded leather or vinyl. This is especially true in car seats that sit in the sun for hours.

The leather should be wiped regularly with a soft, dry cloth to prevent accumulation of dust. Apply an approved hide food every three to six months to maintain the leather’s soft feel and suppleness.

Leather is a natural product with unique characteristics. It is impossible to avoid marks left by thorns, ticks or scratches of any kind. All hides are graded according to how many blemishes they contain. We only use A-grade hides, the Top Grain Leather, but no hide can ever be free of all blemishes. This is not something to be concerned about because these blemishes give each piece of leather its completely unique character. Some manufacturers ‘correct’ hides by polishing them to hide blemishes and natural markings, but this actually damages the leather and reduces its quality.

Yes, we strongly recommend that you have fabric protection applied to upholstered couches. Masterguard Fabric Protection is a specially formulated product that prevents liquid spills from penetrating beyond the fabric’s surface. If liquid is spilt on the couch, the fabric protection’s chemicals will turn it into a bubble on the surface which can then be easily removed.

If your couch doesn’t have fabric protection, spills will be quickly absorbed into the fabric, possibly resulting in a permanent stain.

The Marsterguard fabric protection will last for three washing machine or hand wash cycles, or two professional steam cleans. Speak to one of our consultants to find out more about Masterguard fabric protection.

If you have Masterguard fabric protection, a bubble will form on the fabric’s surface where the spill occurred.

Follow these steps to prevent staining:

• Take a paper towel and lightly dab the bubble to absorb it.
• In the case of a food spill, simply scoop it up with a metal spoon and then dab the surface with a paper towel.
• For mud or soil messes, allow them to dry and then vacuum it away

Your first means of looking after your wooden furniture is to have it protected with a good wood sealant. Always clean your wooden furniture with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust. Never use commercial cleaners as it strips the finish on the item and makes it more susceptible to staining.

When moved to dry regions, some of the solid timber units will tend to crack. These cracks are normal for timber once it dries out. If you do not want your items cracking it is best to select veneer products. Cracks are a natural feature of solid timber which can enhance the character and uniqueness of the unit. However, these can be repaired or filled by the customer if they do not want this natural look.

Generally, once a table has cracked, it should not crack again. But this cannot be guaranteed as it differs from wood to wood. Humid areas do not really have a problem with the cracking of woods; it is mainly in the drier areas such as the Gauteng province.