1 Attachment(s)
Aniline: Water Damaged: Insurance Claim: How to Restore Water Damaged Leather effectively in an Insurance Claim?
Hi everyone...
I am a water damage specialist and I am looking for any suggestions on limitations or possibilities that water damaged / water stained leather can be effectively restored in an insurance claim.
I thank you all for your feedback and directions. (I am an IICRC instructor and these questions come up from time to time).
Ken Larsen
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...chairsm1-1.jpg
What would the process be to restore this piece of leather?
Roger,
Just looking at the picture it would seem to be a lost cause, how would you restore this?
Aniline Leather Water Damage Restoration Possible?
What we see as this picture seems to be a lost cause in terms of possible water stains as of aesthetic.
What is more important is the hygiene aspect in the controlling microorganisms as quickly as possible.
It depends on the nature of the water damage as classified into 3 main category based on IICRC S500.
If perchance this water damages blooms into mold infestation then procedural handling reference IICRC S520 comes handy.
While leather cleaning reference guide is based on IICRC S300, the other two standard references helps to understand the insurance claim industry better.
Coming to the question on the restoration process, this is what I’ll do in reference to the picture and assuming it is still wet delivered to our facilities:
Consider all water damage to leather as a Category 3 – Black Water as this protein fiber is susceptible to microbial growth once wet with contaminated water.
Step 1 Remove dust cloth to be replace with a new one after restoration.
Step 2 Spray a leather safe pH 3.6 leather bactericide and fungicide (mold3.6™) to all contaminated areas inside and outside and feather out the entire panel or section to control microorganism and avoiding water stain marks.
Step 3 Since this leather is more an aniline than a semi-aniline, a leather safe pH 4.0 heavy duty preconditioner (superCleaner4.0™) is spray and agitate with a horse hair brush. All preconditioners works by dwelling time to allow penetration, lubrication and suspension all foreign contaminants for 5 to 15 minutes.
Step 4 A leather safe pH 3.8 leather cleaner (cleaner3.8™) is sprayed, agitated and extract with clean white rag.
Step 5 A leather safe pH 3.0 leather acidifier rinse (rinse3.0™) is sprayed, agitate and extract until rag shows clean.
Step 6 A leather safe pH 3.6 leather surface wetting conditioner (surfactant3.6™) is sprayed to the entire affected panel to help disperse chemistry constituents concentration of both inherent and foreign by the osmotic effect.
Step 7 An anionic fatliquor (fatliquor5.0™) helps replenish original fatliquor is spray and foam spread for even absorption to the entire leather structure. This application will prevent the leather going stiff when it dries.
Step 8 When there is still visual difference between the prior stain areas and the dry areas at this wet stage, the leather structure is not wet enough surfactantt3.6™ wetting and plumping will help to set the wetness in equilibrium.
Step 9 Spray the entire piece with mold3.6™ more on those original wet areas.
Step 10 With leather structure plumping satisfaction place clean white paper towel with direct leather contact without air space or bubbles with the help of mist rinse3.0™ spray. Place 1 or 2 more sheets and secure it with white towel for the force of the wicking process to take it course. Leave the item for a very slow overnight drying without heat or blower for one or two days with a daily check on the progress.
Note: Have we forgotten about the suede side?
Use a suedeBrush3™ instead on the suede side and possible extraction with a wet vacuum follow by white rag.
How about the brass tack, will it tarnish?
If it does it will be easily taken care off with tarnish1.3™> basifier8.5™ after when it’s completely dry for sure.
Well, dust cloth has to be replaced too.
Step 11 The last step is the application of leather scent feel conditioner, leatherScent’W™ (waxy) for aniline or leatherScent’B™ (buttery) for semi-aniline.
This is a safe and effective leather water damage restoration approach where leather safety comes first, effectiveness follows with appropriate
matched leather safe pH 3-5 products within the system.
Do you believe that it can be restored?
Share your doubt with us please?
Roger Koh
Homeowner Wax PU cleaning
Just saw your pix. I would guess since the owners did it they can live with the ring. Our customers expect it to be completely gone so removing the wax, redye then restore the wax is the only method we have previously used. Any others?