Which car upholstery to choose

Even the highest quality car interior upholstery gradually wears out, gets dirty, tears, becomes unpresentable and eventually needs to be replaced. And then the question arises: what material to choose for sheathing?

The main requirements for automotive upholstery are as follows:

• compliance with hygiene standards, the absence of harmful fumes and unpleasant odors;
• resistance to direct sunlight;
• the possibility of cleaning and / or washing.

When choosing, you must also take into account the purpose for which the machine is used, whether pets ride in it and how this or that material manifests itself in various conditions, in particular in heat and cold. The most common choice is between leather and fabric.

Leather

Leather is associated with coziness and comfort. Leather upholstery looks solid and prestigious. It is no coincidence that this material is used at manufacturing plants for interior trim in many models of executive cars.

Advantages:

• A stylish, rich look that will emphasize your status as a wealthy person.
• A high level of comfort, if, of course, we are talking about high quality genuine leather. Low-grade leather can be tight and uncomfortable.
• The skin has a pleasant smell. At the same time, it almost does not absorb foreign odors.
• High wear resistance.
• Water repellent properties. Rain, snow or spilled drinks can be wiped away or blotted with a tissue.
• Leather seats are easy to clean from dust and hair. This is especially true if not only people, but also four-legged passengers ride in the car.

Reduced risk of an allergic reaction. However, if everything was perfect, then the question of choice would not be relevant. But leather upholstery has its drawbacks.

• In winter, sitting on a cold leather seat is very unpleasant. Helps in this case, heating the chair, if available. Well, for those whose car spends the night in a heated garage, this problem does not concern at all.
• In hot weather, the opposite is true. In the sun, leather upholstery can get so hot that it can burn. But even if this does not happen, few people like to sit in a red-hot chair and sweat. Air conditioning and parking in the shade will help to come to terms with this drawback.
• In summer, the situation is aggravated by the low breathability of the skin. Perforation partially compensates for this trouble. It happens that forced ventilation is also arranged, but this results in additional costs, and it is not always convenient.

The cost of leather is quite high. It is unlikely that you will be able to save money by making the skin yourself. This requires special equipment and skills.

the cloth

Tweed, velor, jacquard or, more precisely, their automotive varieties have a three-layer structure. The base material is applied to a foamed substrate (most often foam rubber), and under it is a protective layer of non-woven fabric.

Advantages:

• Upholstery in fabric is much cheaper than leather upholstery.
• Fabric feels warmer than leather. This is especially felt in winter.
• In summer, it does not warm up so much under the rays of the sun.
• Good breathability improves comfort.
• Perfectly keeps the driver from slipping.
• Repairing damaged fabric upholstery is easier and cheaper than leather upholstery.

Disadvantages:

• Hygroscopicity. Spilled liquid is quickly absorbed and evaporates for a long time. As a result, it happens that you have to sit on a wet seat. Various water-repellent impregnations allow to solve the problem completely or partially.
• Fabrics absorb odors. This, in particular, must be remembered if smoking is allowed in the cabin.
• Fabric upholstery, in comparison with leather, is more difficult to clean from dust, and even a vacuum cleaner is often powerless in the fight against pet hair.

Types of fabrics and their features

Jacquard

Smooth, lint-free fabric. Automotive jacquard has antistatic properties that prevent dust and animal hair from sticking. Fireproof and hypoallergenic material.

The tight weave makes it strong and durable. Washes well, dries quickly. Often used for interior upholstery at manufacturing plants.

Tapestry

Similar to jacquard in appearance and properties. Tapestry fabric practically does not wrinkle.

Velours

Pleasant to the touch material, reminiscent of velvet. Looks nice and expensive. Gives a feeling of comfort. it is easier to function with autovelour, than with many other materials. The main drawback is that it gets dirty easily. In addition, cigarette ash can burn through it.

Carpet

Translated from English, karpet means carpet. Inexpensive fleecy fabric, which is used, among other things, in loudspeakers and for carpeting. Hides surface imperfections well. Suitable for entry-level cladding on a tight budget.

Fur

It is very good to have a removable fur cover in stock. In frosty weather, it is difficult to overestimate it. You just need to remember that the fur perfectly collects dust, and dry cleaning services may be required to clean it from dirt.

What to choose?

Each car upholstery material has its positive and negative properties. Before you plan to upgrade the upholstery and seats, you need to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.

If financial opportunities are severely limited, then there is not much choice. It remains only to choose the fabric that meets your needs and will be to your liking (and affordable).

For mid-level upholstery, eco-leather can be a good option. It should not be confused with cheaper and low-quality artificial leather (vinyl leather, leatherette).

Outwardly, eco-leather is very similar to genuine leather, but inferior to it in softness and elasticity, and is much cheaper. At the same time, eco-leather significantly exceeds natural leather in terms of breathability, it has practically no greenhouse effect.

Vinyl is quite suitable for finishing the plastic components of the cabin. Working with vinyl film does not require special skills, and the choice of colors is practically unlimited.

If the means allow you to count on something more, then there is a real choice. For most owners of expensive brands, the prestige factor is likely to be decisive.

For premium upholstery, genuine leather is usually used. At the same time, you will have to come to terms with its shortcomings, which were mentioned above. Or opt for Alcantara.

Alcantara is a worthy alternative

Many mistakenly believe that Alcantara is some kind of special kind of genuine leather.

In fact, it is a synthetic microfiber non-woven material that is made from polyester with the addition of polyurethane. Pleasant to the touch, tactile sensations are indistinguishable from suede. Therefore, it is often called artificial suede.

At the same time, Alcantara is more resistant to wear than natural suede, fades less in the sun and tolerates temperature changes well.

Fireproof, hypoallergenic material, does not absorb odors and has high breathability.

Unlike leather, Alcantara holds the driver well during hard braking or cornering, preventing him from sliding off the seat.

Cleaning is not difficult, you can use ordinary leather products and wash in the washing machine. In many cases, a soapy solution is sufficient.

In terms of elasticity, Alcantara is superior to genuine leather, which makes it easier to upholster seats, even of the most complex shape. And the richness of colors will satisfy every taste.

No special equipment is required to work with Alcantara. It is easily processed, so if desired, you can make the skin yourself.

A fly in the ointment is the cost of Alcantara, which is comparable to the cost of genuine leather.

Nevertheless, the popularity of this material among motorists is growing every year. And this is not surprising, given the fact that Alcantara is practically in no way inferior to genuine leather, and in some respects surpasses it.

In addition to real Italian Alcantara, self-adhesive Alcantara is on sale, which is produced, in particular, in South Korea. In terms of properties, it resembles the original Alcantara, but is inferior to it in quality. Working with self-adhesive alcantara requires certain skills and it is better to entrust it to professionals.