Water-Based Leather & Vinyl Finishes
Click here for color matching options or learn about changing color.
Change color or match color?
Changing color is fun but not for everyone!
| Change Color | Match Color |
|---|---|
| More product needed | Less product needed |
| More labor required | Less labor involved |
| Touch-up likely and varies | Little to no touch-up |
| Available now | Wait until sample received; our turnover is swift |
| May be as expensive as matching, depending on scope of project | Matching fee; 8 oz. order minimum for Advanced Custom Color |
| Discouraged for auto, RV, boat interiors | Recommended for auto, RV, boat upholstery, primary or secondary colors |
Absorbent leathers are the best candidates for a color change. The following are not good candidates due to the greater potential for touch-up:
- damaged, scaly, thinning upholstery;
- loosely upholstered furniture with lots of wrinkles, folds, or deep creases (and therefore stress);
- pieces that receive a lot of contact with chemicals / liquids or rough kids and critters (particularly dog claws);
- changing from medium, dark, or bold colors to very pale colors;
- or bonded, faux or polyurethane (PU) ‘leather’ which resist all coatings (including their own).
Thorough cleaning and prep are critical!
Here's what wear can look like:
Deeper lines or creases receive more stress.
Our finishes wear naturally, resulting in a distressed look.
Dog claws can quickly scuff a new finish, just as they did the original leather.
Easy rub-off indicates inadequate cleaning.
The color may flake if applied too thickly and allowed to pool in the grain.
This is easily corrected by thinning the color with alcohol and reapplying.
Touch-up is easy and minimized by:
- choosing a color that complements the original;
- choosing a color similar in value (light vs. dark);
- dabbing, stippling, or printing the color to create a marbled or distressed appearance, rather than a solid color, so future wear looks natural and intended.
Whites and off-whites get poorer coverage. If you are changing from dark or red to pale, you may need 2-3 times the quantity of color. Consider a coat of Ash or Stone grey as a primer to minimize this.
Many projects also need:
Color Matching Services
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