Upholstery
Care and
Warranty
Please retain
this Care Book
for future reference.
Make yourself comfortable
A sofa or chair is not just a piece of furniture.
It is a haven to escape to, for your mind to
relax and dream.
True to our name, every sofa, chair and ottoman we build is crafted in high
quality leather. Full Grain leather highlights the natural characteristics of the
hide, while Corrected Grain leather has a more uniform, kid-friendly finish. Both
are comfortable and beautiful. And, like some of us, they may grow to look even
better with age.
We understand the nuances of hide and its application to furniture design.
Each range design is expertly matched to selected hides to give the ultimate
combination of style and comfort.
We are a part of Steinhoff International, one of the largest furniture retail and
manufacturing groups in the world. We take the shared knowledge from our
global group and consider how this applies to our world – here in Australia, and
how you live.
When it comes to creating new designs, we don’t just study furniture. We study
people. How they sit, how they watch, how they read, how they stretch, how they
cuddle and how they flop. Because we want you to do all that and more on your
sofa.
Understanding Genuine Upholstery Leather
Soft, supple and highly durable, leather is a versatile and universally
popular upholstery cover for furniture. The best quality upholstery
leathers breathe and feel cool in summer and warm during winter.
Upholstery leather is made from animal skins, which are a by-product
from the beef-cattle meat industry and offer a time-proven, sustainable
solution for upholstering quality furniture. The hides are made ready
for upholstery by tanning, which is a series of treatments that soften,
pigment, beautify and protect the hides.
Bay Leather Republic Materials & Finishes
Depending on treatments used, genuine upholstery leathers
come in three basic types. Each has differing performance, as well as
a distinctive look and feel. Bay Leather Republic leathers also come
in a wide variety of timeless and fashion colours with textured, original
finishes to suit your decor and lifestyle needs. Made from the finest raw
materials, our leathers are put through a series of rigorous tests that
ensure optimal performance.
This guide has been created to help you understand genuine leather upholstery,
so you can appreciate the quality and unique characteristics of your genuine
leather purchase, and the necessary care and maintenance guidelines to
ensure your sofa will be with you for years to come.
Welcome to
Bay Leather Republic.
Make yourself comfortable.
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UPHOL STERY CARE AND WARRANTY
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Our Three Types Of Genuine Upholstery Leather
Hallmarks Of Natural Leather
Full Grain Leather
Your Bay Leather Republic furniture features unique and hand made
signatures that individually personalise every design. Just
as no two fingerprints are alike, each piece of leather is distinctive in
its markings. These markings add beauty to the leather and serve as
proof of its authenticity. Leather is a natural material, so every hide has
unique characteristics; and as our furniture is made from many hides,
the leather may show slight colour and grain variation - this is only
natural when you are buying quality leather.
Full Grain leathers are made from the strong, top-grain (surface) layer of the
cattle hide. These hides often show their natural growth marks or scars.
Full Grain leathers are graded to exhibit more or less of their natural
characteristics. These variations in markings can be subtle or pronounced,
depending on the selection of hide and the extent of the leather finishing
treatments. Finding highly valued, unblemished hides that also show off their
natural characteristics - grain variations, growth lines etc., is the proof that you
are investing in the best leather, with the most sought after quality and value.
Corrected Grain Leather
Corrected Grain leather uses the strong top-grain layer from quality cattle
hide, but these hides may have shown excessive marks, scars, insect bites,
tears, nicks, bruises etc. To be used for selected Bay Leather Republic
upholstery, the impact of these irregularities needs to be reduced; usually by
lightly buffing (sanding and filling) the hide’s top-grain surface. A uniform grain
pattern is then embossed into the leather, to restore an overall ‘even grain’
look. Corrected Grain leathers are more strongly finished, to enhance their
look and wear and provide excellent value for money as day-to-day leather
furniture covers.
Split Leather
On some of our designs Bay Leather Republic have selected leather ‘splits’
to upholster the furniture’s outside back or sides. These ‘splits’ are genuine
cattle hide, literally a layer of hide that’s ‘split-away’ from just under the stronger
top grain layer. While the leather Split does not have the same strength and
resilience as premium Full Grain or Corrected Grain leathers (and Splits should
never be used on the seats of furniture), modern tanning methods offer practical
use of the Split, making leather panels with an embossed grain, that matches
the look of the premium top grain leathers. Not only does this technique
maximise the yield from the cattle hide, it provides an economical alternative to
all over top-grain leather upholstery.
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UPHOL STERY CARE AND WARRANTY
Age adds character and reflects how the leather furniture has been
used during its lifetime. Over the years, leather adapts itself to the user
and develops a personalised and individual look.
With regular use, as the leather fibres relax, we expect that comfort
creases may form in the areas that receive the most body contact,
such as seat and back cushions. All these signs serve as more
evidence of the leather's authenticity and should be no cause for
concern.
The naturally changing patina of some premium
leather finishes
The less surface treatment your leather has, usually the softer and
more natural it will appear and feel. Pure aniline and some
semi-aniline finishes, as well as leathers with a ‘waxy’ or ‘pull-up’ finish,
will continue to change appearance as the leather ages, responds to
your lifestyle and the way you use your furniture.
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Most Common Characteristics In Premium Leathers
Horn butts, scrapes
& healed scars
Vein lines
Fat wrinkles
Skin blemishes
Scars, wrinkles and folds all contribute to the natural beauty of top grain
leathers and do not affect the performance or longevity of the leather. The
appearance of these characteristics varies from minimal to prominent,
depending on the hide selection and processing.
Colour variation
Grain variation
Dyes are absorbed differently throughout the hide and some colour variation is
normal and expected. Colour variation ranges from slight in pigmented top-coat
protected finishes, to distinct, in semi or full aniline finished leathers, with no
colour pigments.
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UPHOL STERY CARE AND WARRANTY
Good Looks Need To Be Maintained
Prior to your Bay Leather Republic product leaving the factory, it will receive a final
inspection. It will then be wrapped in order to protect it and minimise movement
whilst in transit. Once unpacked, leather sofas may require “dressing”. This is quite
normal, and very easy to perform using the following steps:
- Plump up the back cushions and arm pads of each sofa
- Ease the leather gently into shape with the palms of your hands
- Spread the leather across the seat cushions in the same way
- Give the sofa time to “warm up” and relax (this may take a few days in a warm room.
Seating comfort
Advances in structural and seating design technologies have resulted in more
durable and ‘softer-sit comfort’, whilst still maintaining the necessary body-correct
support. To extend the comfort life of your cushions, avoid sitting on the edges of
foam cushions as this may cause premature loss of structural shape. If your furniture
features loose seat and or back cushions, regularly rotate the cushion positions, to
help all seats settle and give a consistent feel across your furniture.
Solid foundation
The load bearing components of Bay Leather Republic’s frames are correctly
engineered, custom made for each model, from various timbers and timber
composites. Timber products, such as structural grade plywoods are featured, in
appropriate areas according to the requirements of the design. Structural timbers
remain the upholstery industry’s preferred foundation for construction because it
has never been superseded for its responsiveness and adaptability to best practice
furniture design.
A quality sofa doesn’t wear out, it wears in
If your new Bay Leather Republic sofa feels or looks a little different to the one
you saw in the store (the seat may feel firmer; the leather may look tighter), that’s
because your furniture is brand new, unlike the store’s floor sample which may have
already been well ‘run-in’ by many visitors. Like a new pair of shoes, or a saddle, with
regular use your new furniture will also gradually begin to adapt to your expectations.
An advantage to bear in mind is that a fine sofa or chair doesn’t wear out, it wears in.
This also means that your sofa can (and will) relax into a more casual appearance
over time. When pressure is applied to the polyurethane foam for the first time, the
micro cells within the foam structure break which creates a slight softening effect.
This natural cellular breakdown is expected and has been designed to achieve far
greater comfort. It also means that during the first few weeks of use comfort creases
and wrinkles will form naturally in the leather. These characteristics of upholstery give
it a soft inviting look that is an inherent feature of the best leather upholstery.
Maintaining Your Bay Leather Republic Recliner
Caring For Your Leather Upholstery
If your new furniture includes Bay Leather Republic
manual, or electric power reclining seats:
Although leather is one of the oldest and most durable upholstery materials,
it still needs regular, correct care and cleaning to maintain its natural beauty.
You can significantly extend the life of your leather upholstered furniture by
following these simple DO’s and DON’T’s:
•
ALWAYS fully close the footrest
BEFORE getting out of the furniture.
DO clean the leather regularly with a soft damp white, colour-fast cloth to
remove grease, dirt and dust. Vacuum the leather carefully, using small rounded
brushes, to remove dust particles.
•
•
Do NOT move the furniture unless the
footrest is locked in the closed position.
DO NOT use soap, saddle soaps, oils, all-purpose cleaners,
detergents, solvents, spray cleaners or abrasive cleaners on
your leather furniture.
•
Do NOT pull on the seat back arm,
or sit on the arms.
•
Do NOT pull or sit on the open foot rest,
as this will damage the mechanism.
•
When operating the mechanism, keep
children or body parts clear to avoid injury.
•
•
Transformers are supplied with electric
power motion furniture, so ensure that
power to these is fitted correctly and power
cords are safely positioned.
Always leave recliners in a closed position
when not in use.
As the recliners contain moving parts, slight noises will be audible
when the recliner is operating.
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UPHOL STERY CARE AND WARRANTY
DO NOT dry the leather in sunlight or with a hair dryer.
DO NOT expose your leather furniture to direct sunlight or
extreme heat (maintain at least 30cm between your sofa
and a radiator or similar heat source).
DO NOT place your furniture in direct sunlight for prolonged
periods. Leathers are light sensitive and will fade over time.
DO NOT place sharp or heavy objects on leather furniture
as it may damage the leather.
DO fully Clean, Condition and Protect your furniture with our recommended care
products every three months (or more frequently with high use), to remove dirt
and gradual accumulation of household grime, body oil and perspiration. Follow
the easy usage instructions that accompany these products.
DO blot all spills immediately with a soft, clean white cloth, because even
protected leather is porous and can absorb unattended spills and stains.
Do not rub. Rapidly remove the spilled liquid and sponge the area using a
clean cloth soaked in water. Do not soak the surface, and dry immediately
using a dry cloth.
NOTE: Unprotected aniline leathers will rapidly absorb spills and stains.
These natural finishes require special attention, as well as specific care
products. Ask your Bay Leather Republic consultant for guidance.
If products are to be used on floorboards, we recommend the use of floor
protection.
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Bay Leather Republic Warranty & Consumer Guarantees
Bay Leather Republic Warranty: Bay Leather Republic provides this warranty
(“Warranty”) for its products that have been purchased in Australia. This Warranty
is subject to the Australian Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (“Australian
Consumer Law”). The benefits provided in this Warranty are in addition to other
rights and remedies of a consumer under the Australian Consumer Law, and any
other laws in relation to the products to which this Warranty relates. The Warranty
period commences from the date of sale. The period of the Warranty will be:
(a) 10 years for upholstery frames (including sofas, daybeds, chaise, armchairs and
recliners, and excluding dining chairs and bar stools);
(b) 2 years for furniture (including upholstery furniture coverings, foam, finishing
(stitching, glue, nails, tacks) and recliner mechanisms) and any other product which
Bay Leather Republic identifies in writing as attaching this Warranty;
(c) 1 year for all other items.
This Warranty covers the replacement or repair of any product that has a
manufacturing or material defect that is not the result of normal wear and tear, or a
natural characteristic of the material used. This Warranty is not transferable and does
not cover products used for commercial purposes.
Exclusions: Subject to the Australian Consumer Law, this Warranty does not apply to
any products that are seconds, repaired, or have a defect where this has been drawn to
the customer’s attention before the purchase of the product. In addition, this Warranty
will not apply if:
(a) Repairs to a product are made or attempted by a service provider other than
approved by Bay Leather Republic.
(b) The product has not been used or maintained in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions as provided with the product.
(c) The customer uses the product in an abnormal manner for example if the
product is abused, misused, dropped, crushed, impacted with any hard surface,
exposed to extreme heat (including fire) or cold, not maintained properly or used
after partial failure.
(d) The product has been modified, incorrectly adjusted or operated, subjected to
incorrect electrical supply or inconsistent electrical supply or used with inappropriate
accessories.
(e) The product is tampered with in any way.
(f) The product’s serial number, as applied by the manufacturer, has been altered or
removed from the product.
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UPHOL STERY CARE AND WARRANTY
Consumer guarantees: Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded
under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for
a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or
damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods
fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.
To the extent that they are compatible with the consumer laws in Australia, the
exclusions and provisos that apply to the Bay Leather Republic Warranty apply to
the consumer guarantees.
Consumer guarantee remedies: If there is a major failure with the product, the
customer is entitled to:
(a) reject the product and get a refund;
(b) reject the product and get an identical replacement, or one similar in value if
reasonably available; or
(c) keep the product and obtain compensation from Bay Leather Republic for the drop
in value of the product caused by the major failure.
If there is a minor failure with the product, the customer is entitled, at the election of
Bay Leather Republic, to:
(a) a refund of the cost of the product;
(b) replacement of the product; or
(c) have the product repaired within a reasonable time.
Exclusion of implied warranties: Subject to the above, to the full extent permitted by
law, all warranties, conditions and other terms express or implied by statute, custom or
common law are excluded. Nothing contained in these terms and conditions excludes
or restricts any consumer guarantee, warranty, condition, right or remedy implied by any
statute (including the Australian Consumer Law) which cannot be excluded, provided
that, to the extent that the statute permits, Bay Leather Republic is entitled to limit its
liability as set out above for a breach of a guarantee, condition or a warranty implied by
that statute.
HOW TO MAKE A CLAIM
To claim under the Warranty or a consumer guarantee, you must return the product for
repair/inspection to your store of purchase, and pay for the associated costs (including
any freight and insurance charges), unless these costs are significant in which case
we will arrange for the product to be assessed either at your premises or ours at our
cost. We will assess the product to determine the nature of the issue, whether you are
entitled to a remedy, and in the case of a minor failure, the remedy that will be made
available to you. Sometimes we may have to forward the product to the manufacturer
or repair agent and liaise with them. Before a claim will be processed we require proof
of purchase from you (the original sales docket receipt or another form of proof of
purchase). We will do our best to resolve the issue in a timely manner. For any queries
please call Bay Leather Republic Customer Service on 1300 762 817.
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Enjoy your new
Bay Leather Republic furniture.
It will become part of your
family for years to come.
For Customer Service :
Call 1300 762 817 or email:
customerservice@bayleather.com.au
Bay Leather Republic Pty. Ltd.
2 Harvey Road, Kings Park, NSW 2148
Hours of Operation
AEST Monday - Friday 9 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday 9 am to 4 pm
www.bayleather.com.au