Ashley leather furniture

Hello, I am looking for advice after what has been a 4 year ongoing nightmare. Long story short, I purchased a durablend couch from Ashley which fell apart and was returned for credit. I then purchased a "top grain leather couch" which after 2 years has started peeling on my head rest area. The couch is an espresso brown and is revealing a yellow colored leather under what appears to be a paint like layer. If I rub the peeling area it peels away more material. I have contacted Ashley and after some fighting was given another credit for replacement. However, my confidence in their products is completely gone and a quick google search finds many complaints about peeling "top grain leather". I am working with under 5k but I'm considering going somewhere else to purchase a leather reclining sofa/love seat and just using the credit for bedroom furniture. Is this my best bet and just avoid Ashley leather all together? Thanks in advance.

"Real" leather does not peel. Any kind of peeling is a topcoat coming off the piece, most often that is seen on bicast and bonded leather products (which are in no way even close to being top grain). It's most likely the polypropylene (plastic) bonding agent that is coming off the cover. Bi-cast and Bonded are made of leather by-products or the Splits, which is the hide below the top grain. The polypropylene is literally holding the cover together and it can and does lift off over time. Neither is consider genuine leather in the industry.

Real leather is either:

FULL Top Grain (dyed leather, or aniline, or unprotected). This is the best leather in the world however it can fade in direct sunlight and pick up some staining.

Top Grain (pigmented, finished, protected). This is still the upper crust of the hide however it is painted, rather than dyed. Like anything painted, it can wear away over time, but it will not peel.

Ashley is not known for putting out quality products - your instincts are probably correct. There will not be any dual recliner sofa and loveseat combo out there in top grain for under $ 5k that is worth bringing home, trust me. Either go stationary or double your budget is my recommendation.

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Originally Posted by drcollie

"Real" leather does not peel. Any kind of peeling is a topcoat coming off the piece, most often that is seen on bicast and bonded leather products (which are in no way even close to being top grain). It's most likely the polypropylene (plastic) bonding agent that is coming off the cover. Bi-cast and Bonded are made of leather by-products or the Splits, which is the hide below the top grain. The polypropylene is literally holding the cover together and it can and does lift off over time. Neither is consider genuine leather in the industry.

Real leather is either:

FULL Top Grain (dyed leather, or aniline, or unprotected). This is the best leather in the world however it can fade in direct sunlight and pick up some staining.

Top Grain (pigmented, finished, protected). This is still the upper crust of the hide however it is painted, rather than dyed. Like anything painted, it can wear away over time, but it will not peel.

Ashley is not known for putting out quality products - your instincts are probably correct. There will not be any dual recliner sofa and loveseat combo out there in top grain for under $ 5k that is worth bringing home, trust me. Either go stationary or double your budget is my recommendation.

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From what you described, it is actually top grain leather but I imagine just very poorly made. It's the paint layer peeling away to reveal the tan/yellow color of the undied leather underneath. Admittedly I never treated the surface with any products in 2 years and use hair gel so maybe this is what caused the paint to fail? I def can't double my budget so perhaps going with a similar setup with the credit and just using some type of protectant I can get more years out of it?

Are you or anyone familiar with the company called "Homestretch"? I went to a very reputable store locally that is selling the sofa and loveseat for 1900 each and claims to be made in the USA with top grain on all seating areas. Thanks again

Again, I have never seen a top grain leather finish "peel" off, and I have handled thousands of leather pieces over the years. I seriously doubt Ashley is using that kind of hide, but without seeing it I cannot say for certain. It's the plastic coating that is failing, the bonding layer.

As to the other company, if they say "Top Grain on all seating areas" then that means the arms, sides, back, kick panels, etc are again in sub-standard product, could be vinyl / bicast / bonded / splits, etc. THey may be doing the cushion casings in Top Grain, but not the rest of the piece. Good luck!

Here is a picture of the affected area. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond and I have already read your write up on proper care and products which I will ask for recommendation on which to purchase after we make a purchase.

http://i64.tinypic.com/z9xrl.jpg

Hard to say, that could go either way. Care products won't prevent that, however. That's a topcoat loss from poor adhesion at the point of production.

Okay thanks for the feedback. I'm a car guy and I figured this equates to painting a car without a proper primer to make the paint "stick" to the bare metal.

It would be more like putting paint over a non-prepped ABS bumper cover.....guaranteed to come off!

lol very true, Especially with the flexing material! Thanks again, please let me know what products you recommend to treat the new couch with. I am decided on the Homestretch leather pieces with the match backing. I can deal with the inferior back pieces for some quality leather seating.

So we decided on a piece from flex steel and was wanting to get some care products. It is a dyed leather with protective coating according to the sales rep

Do you need more detail on the leather type to recommend a specific product? Thanks

Here's the thread on leather care:

http://www.myfurnitureforum.com/show...for-all-brands

FYI, most Ashley "leather" furniture I have come across is not genuine top grain leather, they tend to use Bonded, Bi-Cast and Splits on their pieces. I cannot say that with certainty, as I don't keep up with their offerings. However if any of those kinds of covers are used, you will not get the lifespan of top grain no matter how well you take care of it.

Sorry, guess I should have reposted my previous reply, I bought a set from flex steel with real too grain leather with a protective coating and was seeing what you recommend. This was not an Ashley purchase.