According to Checkatrade, the average full headliner repair price is £225. Prices range from £100 to £350 and include materials and labour costs. If y'all ain a premium vehicle, you can expect to pay more for a full replacement.

While that may sound expensive, a headliner replacement is often worth it in the long run. This interior lining is more than important than you lot might think, both in terms of efficiency and rubber. On top of that, y'all can delay the repair cost until it is more user-friendly for your budget with a brusque-term ready. However, nosotros practise not recommend repairing a medium or large section of a damaged headliner. This will need a full replacement.

By the end of this article, you lot will understand:

  • What your car'southward headliner does
  • Why it's important to repair your headliner
  • five cost-constructive fixes for small repairs

Summary

A headliner, also known as car roof lining, attaches to the blank fibreglass on the inside of your roof. It is a compound of materials, containing layers of textile, cream and gum, and is designed to make your car quieter, more than comfy in hot and common cold weather and more than aesthetically pleasing. Old age, poor maintenance or farthermost heat can affect the headliner and crusade it to 'sag'. There are several ways to fix this, and you should make sure you practice and so whenever you notice a trouble. This volition go on your motorcar condom, besides as fuel and energy-efficient.

What is a Car Headliner?

Also known as a car roof lining, the headliner is attached to the inside of your roof. It covers the bare fibreglass and makes your car:

  • More aesthetically pleasing
  • Quieter
  • More comfortable in hot and cold weather

A headliner contains several materials. The most common layers used are:

  • Tricot knit textile
  • Melted polyurethane foam
  • Backing lath

These are held together with gum so are secured to the inner roof.

grey interior headliner of car in good condition
An case of a good quality headliner.

Over time, the lining tin detach from the backing lath. This is known as 'sagging', and is caused by:

  • Farthermost estrus or humidity
  • Former age
  • Poor maintenance

If your car has a sunroof, the headliner is at greater risk of sagging. Moisture can leak into the roof and speed up the deterioration of the lining. Then, why is information technology then of import to fix this when you find it?

Why Do I Need to Repair or Replace a Sagging Headliner?

Your car's headliner is non just for appearances. Manufacturers pattern their lining with head impacts in heed. If your roof lining is sagging and ineffective, you're at greater take a chance of injury in an accident.

On summit of that, your car is much less fuel and energy-efficient if your headliner isn't sealed properly. Bare fibreglass tin can conduct more hot or common cold air into the cabin, reducing the touch of the air-conditioning or heater. This means you lot will need to use it for longer and use more fuel in the process.

In short, a sagging headliner tin make your machine less efficient and toll you more coin in the long run. Hither are v quick and piece of cake repairs yous can do yourself if you lot have a pocket-sized issue with your headliner.

Headliner Repair Options

The following are price-effective, short-term fixes and are Not alternatives for a full headliner replacement. If the foam is rotten or missing, your headliner is sagging in multiple places or the damaged area is a medium to big size, nosotros highly recommend seeking professional help.

We also don't recommend completing a full headliner replacement yourself. Some vehicles have a sunroof or modules which need covering, complicating the process. Y'all tin can compromise the safety of your vehicle if you need a big repair and don't do information technology properly.

Pin or Tack Your Headliner

Yous can use whatever pins y'all have handy, whether that's sewing pins, drawing pins or prophylactic pins. Gently press them into the cloth to secure it against the other layers and ensure the headliner is secure before letting go.

Pros:

  1. Speed. You can remove the sag in but a few minutes.
  2. Works For a Small to Medium Sag.
  3. No Feel Needed.

Cons:

  1. Aesthetics. While pinning may be quick and constructive, information technology is too a very ugly fix. If you care about the appearance of your auto, you might want to consider a prettier repair.

Glue

A sagging headliner is unremarkably caused by the layer of gum drying out, then replacing that is the perfect prepare. Specialist headliner adhesive is inexpensive and easy to observe, just you can likewise employ a hot gum gun. Only be conscientious and avoid dripping the gum on your skin or your car'southward upholstery.

Pros:

  1. Simplicity.
  2. Quick. You might need to await a few minutes for the glue to dry but y'all can still fix a pocket-sized to medium sag in no time.
  3. Aesthetics. If you completely seal the fabric dorsum onto the foam, passengers won't even notice the repair. That makes it a great selection if you take pride in how your car looks.

Cons:

  1. It Won't Ever Solve the Trouble. If the foam has rotted away, you won't have anything to stick the fabric dorsum onto. On top of this, you may also take to remove the erstwhile glue if the fabric isn't sticking downward completely. This isn't the easiest task.
  2. May Be A Very Large Repair. If one department of your headliner has rotted foam or a lack of gum, other areas may have the same problem. If you have to brand more than than one glue repair in quick succession, a total headliner replacement may be a good investment.

Staple Gun and Hairspray

If yous don't feel comfortable using mucilage but want a more artful fix than pinning your headliner, consider using a staple gun and hairspray. The staples are much less noticeable than big cartoon pins and this set is a lot more permanent than some of the others. Plus, yous can create an even improve terminate by advisedly removing the staples once the hairspray has set.

Pros:

  1. Presentation.
  2. Longevity. While this is still not a permanent fix, information technology lasts a chip longer than some of the other methods. That tin can brand it a great option for drivers of older cars which aren't worth investing much coin in.

Cons:

  1. Fourth dimension-consuming. Waiting for the hairspray to dry then removing the staples ways this headliner repair takes a lot longer to complete.
  2. More than Expensive. If yous don't have the required materials or can't borrow them for free, sourcing both a staple gun and hairspray tin make this a more expensive set equally well.
yellow and black steam cleaner, bulky cleaning machine on wheels with nozzle
If you already ain a steam cleaner, it might make your headliner repair much easier!

Steam Cleaning

If the fabric layer has peeled away from the foam considering of dry mucilage, it might be easier to re-use the sometime glue rather than replace it. If you already ain a steam cleaner, this is the perfect headliner repair for yous. Gently utilise steam to the affected area and so press the fabric downward with a paint roller. Once the mucilage sticks the layers back together, move on to the adjacent section and repeat as many times equally you demand to.

Pros:

  1. Effectiveness. No thing how big or pocket-size the sag, steam cleaning is a swell solution. It's as well great for the aesthetics of your car.
  2. Longer Lasting Solution.

Cons:

  1. Expensive. Sourcing a steam cleaner isn't cheap, especially if you don't have admission to 1 yourself. Information technology might not also be worthwhile if you don't have another utilise for it.
  2. Time-consuming. This repair requires the most patience because it may take a lot of fourth dimension to cook and restick the glue.
  3. May Non E'er Work. If the glue is likewise dry, steam cleaning it may have no result.


Double sided tape

Double-sided Tape

If you tin admission the inside of your headliner, double-sided tape is a great repair method. Merely stick 1 side of the tape onto the fabric and peel away the backing to stick it onto the foam as well. Make sure information technology is firmly attached and that the tape holds the two layers together before letting go.

Pros:

  1. Ease. Double-sided tape is the quickest and simplest fix.
  2. Aesthetics. Equally the tape is attached to the inside of the textile, there should be no testify of your headliner repair.

Cons:

  1. Doesn't Work on Dry Glue. If your headliner is sagging because of dried glue, the tape won't stick at all.

Brand sure you choose the right method for your situation and inquiry the suitability of your repair before you lot brainstorm. The last matter you desire to do is make the problem worse. Most importantly, simply complete a headliner repair if a minor department of your lining is sagging. Yous should get a professional person stance for anything more than severe and book a headliner repair for the best long term resolution.