How to Fix Tears in Vinyl Sofa

While some consider vinyl to be the inferior and cheap alternative to leather, vinyl has numerous advantages, particularly when used for upholstery. If you've ever spilled on a leather couch, you know how hard the stain is to get out. With vinyl, you simply wipe it away. However, this by no means indicates that vinyl is invincible. For example, vinyl -- like leather -- can tear rather easily. If you have tears in a vinyl couch, you don't need to live with them or patch them with tape; you can repair them pretty well yourself.

Measuring tape
Canvas
Scissors
Contact cement
Vinyl repair kit
Iron

Instructions

- 1
  Measure each tear with measuring tape. Cut a piece of canvas to the dimensions of each tear, making each patch slightly bigger than each tear.
- 2
  Slide each patch of canvas behind each tear and smooth it out. Apply a thin layer of high-grade contact cement on the visible part of the canvas. Press the upper layer of torn vinyl against the cement, smoothing the tear down.
- 3
  Apply a thin layer of leather repair glue -- in a color that matches your vinyl -- around where the edges of the tear meet the surrounding vinyl.
- 4
  Cover the glue with grain paper that matches your vinyl couch. For one minute, press a hot iron over the paper to set the glue in place. Remove the iron and peel off the paper.

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