A car roof lining is also known as a headliner or headlining. It is a fabric material that is on the inside roof of automobiles.
Its primary purpose is to:
As a result, car roof linings have multiple layers of composite materials. Also, manufacturers observe head impact counter-measures when making roof linings. Others integrate LED lighting technology behind the fabric.
For uniform appearance and soft touch, most roof linings have napping of tricot knit fabric. Manufacturers then stick this fabric to melted polyurethane foam. Eventually, they glue this fabric-foam to the inner fiberglass roof of the car.
Presently, there is an invention of environmentally friendly roof linings. They consist of recyclable face fabrics and adhesive backing.
A headliner is the foam-backed cloth covering that is attached by adhesive to the ceiling of your car. It is not unusual for a car headliner to become unattached and cave in if it has been exposed to excessive amounts of moisture or if the car is an older model.
You do not have to hire a professional to come in and fix a saggy or dirty headliner. You can replace it yourself by following these steps for how to install a headliner.
Over time, the car lining gets loose and detaches itself from its backing board. We call this process sagging.
When a car’s roof lining fails, it either sags or falls from the board in severe cases.
The sagging may be due to:
Sunroof tops are dangerous for your car. They can leak moisture inside the car’s roof. Doing so accelerates the sagging of the lining despite the age of the vehicle.
The majority of car owners put a lot of effort into the external maintenance of their vehicles. They are unconscious that the interior of a car also suffers gradual wear and tear.
Realizing too late that your car’s interior roofing needs attention can be a painful ordeal. As such, you need to examine the condition of the roof lining frequently. If you notice any sagging, it is recommendable to fix it immediately.
There are two ways through which you can fix a sagging roof. You can either replace it with a new one or just fix the lining without removing it.
Replacing a roof lining can be financially draining. It is even worse if your car is already old. You may end up paying an amount that is equal to the value of that car.
Also, fixing the sagging by a professional is a bit expensive. You can do it yourself in incredibly less time using the following tips:
These pins are appropriate for fixing large areas of a roof lining. They are also known as saggy stoppers.
They are incredibly affordable and readily available in the market. You can use twist pins to fix a roof lining that is just about to fall off.
The most fantastic thing about these pins is that they don’t leave holes on your board. As such, it is preferable to other methods.
The simplest way to reattach car roof lining back to its place is by gluing. It works best if the fabric is sagging partially in the edges.
For the lining to evenly adhere back, it is recommendable to use a spray-on glue. Ensure that the glue you use is purposely for attaching car upholstery fabric.
Ordinary glue is not effective and cannot withstand adverse weather conditions.
Spray the glue on the entire upper side of the fabric. Also, spray some on the foam, which is under the lining.
Join the fabric to the foam and press firmly with your hands, removing any creases.
A sagging car roof lining is as a result of glue’s impotence. A steam cleaner helps in melting the glue, and it can stick back.
A steam cleaner goes hand in hand with a paint roller combo. The roller helps to spread the lining firmly to the board without leaving creases.
This method is most effective on sagging fabric at the edges and corners. However, if the glue is old and has been dry for long, this method may not work.
Pins are also efficient in fixing car roof lining without removing. When the fabric is sagging from the center, sequin pins are the most appropriate instead of glue.
They don’t require much money or time. Even if half of the roof lining is coming off, these pins can effectively push it back. However, they are not recommendable to use for large areas.
After straightening the fabric, push the pins through to the foam backing. You can arrange the pins in an appealing pattern as you wish.
You can buy this double-sided tape from any auto shop in your vicinity. It works by sticking it to the roof’s frame and the lining.
This tape is very adhesive in that it can hold the lining in place for months. It is preferable for severe damages on the sides and edges.
This method is, however, not recommendable. You can only use it as a temporary fix before utilizing a more excellent approach.
Extreme heat is the leading cause of lining sagging in a vehicle. It melts the glue, making the fabric loose and thus detaching itself from the backing board.
As such, you need to take proper precautions. Otherwise, the heat will wreak havoc on your car’s interior and exterior finish.
Here are simple and affordable tips you can use:
Keeping the car’s interior clean should also be paramount. It helps prevent some particles from melting.
In any of the steps needed to clean your headliner, the most important aspect is to be gentle. If the headliner is damaged during cleaning, or the stains are simply too stubborn, replacing the headliner might be a better option.
For minor stains, a minor cloth, soft brush, and upholstery cleaner may be sufficient to remove them. The most important aspect to this cleaning step is to avoid saturating the headliner, which can loosen the glue holding it all together.
You might need a specific cleaner, depending on the stain. Alcohol and lacquer thinner work well on oil-based stains, like ink, crayon, grease, and makeup. General upholstery cleaners work on water-based stains, like soda and coffee. You can even make your own general cleaner with white vinegar, liquid soap, and warm water.
First, use the dry cloth or soft brush to brush away any loose soil without rubbing the dirt deeper. Then, apply the upholstery cleaner to the cloth, dabbing the stain to moisten it without saturating it. This should start dissolving the stain so you can remove it with a dry section of the cloth, gently rubbing the stained area.
For more general cleaning of the entire headliner, use a foaming upholstery cleaner and soft brush. Without saturating the headliner, spray the entire headliner—aerosols tend to work best—paying special attention to notably dirty areas. After letting the upholstery cleaner work into the surface soils, use the soft brush to lightly clean the surface of the headliner.
The trick here is to let the upholstery cleaner work, as this will limit the collateral damage that can come from overzealous spraying and scrubbing. You can always try again if the first time isn’t acceptably clean, but the gentler you are the more likely your headliner will survive. Allow plenty of time for drying before putting your car away.
Deep-cleaning your car headliner is reserved for extremely dirty headliners and ones that have absorbed too much odor. It is also the most likely to ruin the headliner, which is why it should be considered a last resort. If the headliner starts to separate, you might have to fix a sagging headliner before it obstructs your visibility. For deep-cleaning your car headliner, use a steam cleaner and upholstery cleaning solution.
When using a steam cleaner, be sure to not saturate the headliner, as this can lead to failure of the glue holding it together. Work small sections at a time, spraying on solution and vacuuming up the remainder. Fabric steamers can also be used this way, pretreating with upholstery cleaner and steaming, then brushing and vacuuming.
When deep cleaning, be sure to allow for thorough drying time. Leaving your doors and windows open helps, as do fans. This will give the glue a chance to dry out before it fails and prevents mold and mildew growth.
A headliner is a combination of an outer layer of fabric, an inner rigid substrate, and an inner foam backing that is adhered to the roof of an automobile. This composite product improves the interior appeal of the vehicle, as well as provides an element of insulation.
Luckily, you can do this yourself for around $50. Just purchase a headliner repair kit and headliner adhesive from an auto parts store or online retailer. If you’d rather leave it to the pros, headliner replacement will set you back around $200 to $350 at an auto repair shop.
Headliner Fabric: If you are replacing the headliner on an existing board, a foam-backed material is the best option for your project. This type of material is laminated to foam for use with a spray adhesive.
As the exterior of the car bakes in the sun, the temperature of the roof goes up and up. Without a headliner up there to offer some sort of insulation against the exterior temperatures of the car, the inside of the car would get hotter and hotter due to conduction and radiation.
Over time the headlining fabric can separate from its backing board, resulting in a so-called “sagging headliner”. The sagging occurs because the condition of the glue that holds it to the backing deteriorates over time. The process is accelerated if the headlining becomes wet.
One of the easiest ways to put the headliner back into its place is to use glue. It will best work if the fabric is sagged partially, like in a corner or around the edges. To fix the headliner in a car without removing it, you have to apply a special headlining adhesive because the ordinary glue will be of no use.
How much time should it take to install headliners? About an hour or two to remove the headliner, another hour or two to prepare the surface, an hour to install new fabric to the board, and an hour for reinstallation.
Most headliners consist of a tricot knit fabric that is napped to provide a soft touch and uniform appearance. The fabric is adhered to melted polyurethane foam. This fabric-foam composite is glued to the interior fiberglass roof of the automobile.
The headliner fabric could be made of almost any kind of material from regular upholstery material to heavier fabrics like vinyl. Upholstery leather is never recommended for headliners as it is heavy and will sag much sooner than other headliner fabric.
We chose the 3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive as our top pick. The combination of brand reputation and product ability makes this one a sure pick for any skill level. Consider the Tear Mender Instant Fabric and Leather Adhesive if you’re watching your budget. This versatile product dries clear for a superior finish.
The usual price for a headliner replacement is $150 to $300 including labor. You should also consider whether or not the pillars should be replaced. This is mostly done for aesthetic reasons. Depending on the material, you can expect to pay $5 to $10 per yard.
Most average-size four-door cars require approximately two yards of automotive headliner fabric, while most trucks require approximately one yard of headliner fabric. Most extended cab trucks require 2 yards of headliner fabric.
Our solutions for interior headliners are adapted and produced specifically to meet your needs, with Ether and Ester-based polyurethane foams or a new, ether-based prepolymer technology.
Do not try to do a headliner with not enough adhesive. You need 2 to 3 cans and a good roller to properly do this.
Cleaning smoke damaged headliner:
These include:
Steps to Remove the Stain: Spray foam upholstery cleaner, following the directions and precautions on the can. For best results, choose a product specified for automotive use. Use a damp sponge to scrub carpets, seats, and the more durable stained fabrics (not the ceiling). Rinse the sponge frequently with clean water.
Get a microfiber towel damp with water and spray a small amount of car interior cleaner onto the towel. Dab the cloth onto the surface of the headliner, paying particular attention to the stained areas. Use moderate pressure and do not agitate or rub the stain. Continue dabbing the area until the stain is gone.
An all-purpose cleaner (often abbreviated into APC) is a multipurpose, liquid, spray-on cleaner that can be used on several types of dirt. It is one of the most common products used by a detailer due to its versatility.
By scrubbing a headliner while blasting it with a stream of low-moisture steam, you will be able clean every car carpet – regardless of how muddy, dusty, dirty or salt-caked it may be.
