The headliner in your vehicle is essential for several reasons, and when it is damaged or starts to sag, it can be a big problem. Removing the headliner is not a great solution so replacing it or taking it to an upholstery shop for vehicle headliner repair is often the best option.
Damaged Headliners
The headliner in your car or truck is made by stretching and gluing fabric to an insulated backing material installed inside the vehicle's roof. The headline provides noise reduction, hot and cold insulation, provides a finished interior look, and keeps moisture or other things from falling from the steel roof panel.
Separation of the old headliner material from the backing board allows it to sag and can drop low enough to touch your head or block your vision when driving. Vehicle headliner repair often requires it to be removed from the vehicle so you can strip the old material off the backer board and replace it with new insulation and glue. If the headliner cloth is also damaged, a new headliner or replacement fabric is necessary.
If you are replacing the headliner fabric entirely, the preparation for the backer board is the same as reusing the old fabric. However, using new fabric allows you to replace it with something custom to upgrade the interior.
Replacement Headliners
Making the decision to replace the headliner can be challenging. If the vehicle is older, you may have a difficult time finding a new headliner for it. Many times that means finding a decent used headliner to use as a replacement.
If the car is new enough that the headliner is still available through the dealership, you may be able to order the part and have the service department install it for you. Vehicle headliner repair typically requires removing the trim inside the vehicle, and while you can get a tool to make that easier, if you do not have experience with it, you could break the retaining clips or damage the trim.
Most dealerships have a body shop that can replace the headliner without causing damage to the trim and retailing hardware. However, if your local dealer doesn't, you may want to have a local body shop install the new headliner.
If you have a local auto repair shop that you use, check with them as well. If the tech there has experience working with interior parts, they may be able to replace the headliner for you at a lower cost than the body shop, and ensure that the headliner is installed properly so it looks great for years to come.
Contact a local auto shop to learn more about vehicle headliner repair.
Do you remember the last time you really stopped to think about what kind of car you wanted? I began thinking about what my car needed about a year ago, and it occurred to me that there were some serious issues with the way I was treating the interior. I started focusing on keeping the space cleaner, but a friend of mine suggested adding some new auto accessories as an added touch. Before I knew it, the entire car was looking and smelling a lot better, and I knew I had something great on my hands. Read these posts to find out how to create an excellent vehicle.