How To Fix A Headliner In A Car

in Service and Maintenance
Car with its roof down

Source: Pixabay

The headliner is a layer of fabric that sits on your car’s roof. It’s there partially for aesthetic purposes, but it also reduces noise in the cabin and assists with temperature regulation. Unfortunately, there are cases where the headlines might start to fall. If this happened, you might wonder how to fix a headliner in a car.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to deal with a broken headliner in a vehicle, you’re in the right place. The more you know about repairing the headliner, the easier it will be to restore your machine to excellent condition. Read on to learn more about how to repair a headliner, how long it takes to fix it, and other valuable information.

How To Repair A Headliner

Curious how to fix a headliner in a car? While it’s possible to replace it, the cost can quickly add up to thousands of dollars, depending on the type of car you own. Instead, there are several tactics you can use that won’t look much different from a top-to-bottom replacement.

According to clickmechanic.com, here are the best ways to quickly repair a headliner:

  • Glue: Use a specialist adhesive or hot glue to push down the headliner if only the edges are falling off.
  • Steam cleaner and paint roller: A steam cleaner will wet and melt glue in the headliner. Then, roll over it with the paint roller to repress the wet glue into the ceiling.
  • Double-sided tape: For a temporary fix, use double-sided tape to seamlessly press the headliner into the ceiling. 
  • Staples and hair spray: Staple the headliner to the backboard. Then, hairspray it and allow it to dry before removing the staples.
  • Pins: For a short period, pins will work effectively to keep the headliner in place.

Though these might seem unorthodox, they will work well.

Of course, most of these methods are only temporary fixes. They’re great to tide you over until you have enough money to repair the headliner or sell the vehicle.

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How Long Does It Take To Fix A Headliner?

According to fixdapp.com, it will take two to three hours to repair a headliner in a vehicle. It will take most mechanics an hour or two to take off the headliner and then another possible hour or two to get the surface ready for the new addition and then to install the fabric to the ceiling.

If you’re doing it yourself, it shouldn’t take more than an hour. Most DIY methods are far from being as in-depth as complete replacements. 

The time it takes to fix a headliner will also depend on how complex your car is. For instance, a luxury BMW will take more to replace the headliner than a Kia.

How Long Does A Headliner Last?

Ideally, a headliner should survive the duration of the vehicle’s lifespan. They exist to provide a barrier until the car dies, so they should be able to make it at least a decade, if not more, before something goes wrong.

If your headliner falls apart before this time, there are external factors at play. You might need to consider the conditions your car experiences during a typical day to see if there is anything you can change to reduce the chance of further harm to the headliner.

What Does It Mean When A Headliner Sags?

According to schmicko.com, one of the main reasons behind a sagging headliner is heat. If a car is exposed to too much, it will melt the glue beneath the fabric and cause it to come loose, only able to be pressed back up by remelting the glue and pushing it against the ceiling.

Water is another culprit for a sagging headliner. Poor waterproofing will allow liquid to sneak inside the headliner, eating away at the paint and leading to sagging and decay from the headliner.

Finally, those with kids or dogs are also prone to a sagging headliner. Animals and young children might pull at the lining, which causes it to sink much lower than it would have naturally. The physical strain will speed up the aging significantly on your roof.

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Tips To Keep In Mind

When considering how to fix a headliner in a car, it’s also valuable to know how to prevent sagging in the first place. It’s possible to be proactive to keep the headliner in an excellent position and minimize the money that must go to repairs.

Here are a few ways to reduce damage to your headliner:

  • Keep kids and pets in their seats to ensure they don’t pull at the headliner
  • Park in the shade to keep the interior and exterior safe
  • Examine rubber seals on the car to ensure they are in place
  • If using a steam cleaner, don’t place too much pressure on the headliner

These should keep it in one piece and prevent sagging from happening.

The more you reduce external forces from beating in on your headliner, especially sunlight, the longer you can keep sagging at bay. Also, the less forces tug or pull at the headliner, the longer it will remain up. It’s worth the extra effort for an excellent appearance. 

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Final Thoughts

If you want to know how to fix a headliner in a car, you can take it to a mechanic for a replacement or access DIY tips to spend a little less money. The best tactics you can take include gluing, steaming and rolling, taping, stapling and hair spraying, and pinning. However, most of these are temporary and will only tide you over until a professional fix. 

We hope this information was helpful! The more you know about the potential lifespan of your headliner and how to address some repairs yourself, the less stressful it will be to see the headliner begin to sag. Unfortunately, owning a car means dealing with random repairs in areas where you might not expect sudden damage – like the ceiling area.

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