Bicast Leather Chair Description

Over the past few years, consumers in the market for leather furniture have chosen chairs, sofas and other pieces upholstered in a very affordable material that manufacturers have dubbed "bicast leather." However, there is some question and controversy regarding the product's quality and whether or not it is actually real leather as the name suggests or a "leather-like" synthetic material.

Affordable leather or simply synthetic?

Facts

According to Leathernet, an information website that serves the world's leather industry, "bicast leather is a synthetic upholstery product consisting of a thick polyurethane layer applied to a leather or reconstituted leather substrate." It is also commonly referred to throughout the industry as bi-cast, bycast or PU leather.

The polyurethane surface of bicast leather has a smooth and shiny finish that resembles the surface of more expensive leather. However, the base (or backing) layer is of "split" or "sueded" leather, similar to the inside lining of a leather shoe, that is considered by Canadian furniture manufacturer Randall Klein Design to be "inferior to top grain leather." In addition, some products bearing the bicast leather name actually combine the polyurethane surface with a synthetic---not leather---backing.

Uses

Furniture manufacturers use bicast leather to cover popular products including dining room chairs, sofas, club chairs, ottomans and other types of upholstered pieces. Leathernet describes it as being "commonly found in inexpensive furniture."

Advantages

Because of the product's polyurethane surface, pieces upholstered with bicast leather are easy to clean and do not absorb stains or spills. In addition, since bicast leather is less expensive to produce than aniline or top grain leathers, furniture covered with it is much more affordable to buy.

Disadvantages

While furniture covered with this product may have "look" of the real thing, the Randall Klein Design website explains that, because the strength of leather comes from the "outer layer of the hide," bicast leather "does not have the strength or durability people normally associate with leather." The polyurethane coating can peel or crack, and the layer below can split or tear.

Considerations

Both New Zealand and the United Kingdom have legislation in place mandating that bicast leather cannot be marketed as leather. Mainly Chairs Ltd., a New Zealand furniture manufacturer, advises people who want to purchase leather furniture to insist on getting information about warranty details and the type of materials used in its construction before they purchase.

Recommendations

If you are in the market to buy upholstered furniture on a tight budget, bicast leather remains an affordable and attractive option as long as you take into consideration the limitations of the material of which it is constructed.

References

• Leathernet
• Mainly Chairs
• Randall Klein Design