How to Repair Sagging Roof Upholstery in a Car
The headliner is one of the features of a vehicle’s interior that typically goes unnoticed until there is a problem. Over time, extreme heat, cold or humidity can cause the foam backing of the headliner material to break apart, which allows the fabric to hang downward. Sagging fabric is not only aggravating, but it may fall far enough to obstruct the driver’s vision, creating a safety issue. Repairing a sagging headliner is a straightforward task, but removing the headliner board from the vehicle may be a little tricky.
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers
- Assistant (optional, but recommended)
- 500-grit sandpaper or a hard-bristled brush
- Clean, lint-free cloth
- New foam-backed fabric (amount varies)
- Razor utility knife
- Spray upholstery adhesive
- Medium- to large-sized textbook, or other heavy, flat object
Instructions
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Removing the Headliner Board
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1
Remove all trim pieces or other components securing the headliner board to the vehicle. This process varies greatly between vehicles, so evaluate your particular vehicle to find the trim pieces and components that you'll need to remove. In most cars these pieces include the pillar trim, roof handles, quarter-panel trim, front windshield molding, rear window molding, sun visors and dome light.
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Recline the front seats as far back as they will go, if applicable, and fold down the rear seatbacks if your vehicle has folding rear seats. If your vehicle does not have folding rear seats, remove the rear seat-back cushion and any supporting frame behind it. Open all of the vehicle's doors and the trunk or hatch. This gives you maximum moving space. Moving the headliner board around the cabin can be awkward.
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Pull the headliner board downward with the aid of an assistant. Guide the headliner board through the vehicle and out the trunk or one of the doors -- wherever there is the most clearance. The headliner board will bend a little, but don't bend it enough to cause a crease.
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Set the headliner board on a hard and flat surface, with the cloth side facing up, in a well-ventilated area.
Preparing the Headliner Board
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Pull the old headliner cloth from the headliner board.
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Scuff the headliner board lightly with 500-grit sandpaper or a hard-bristled brush until you have removed all of the foam backing from the headliner board. It is okay if the board remains slightly sticky, you simply want all of the old foam off the board. Brush the headliner board with a clean, lint-free cloth.
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Lay the new foam-backed fabric onto the headliner board, foam side toward the board, and cut the material in the outline of the headliner board, using a razor utility knife with a new blade. Cut holes in the fabric where the holes are in the headliner board. Change the blade on the knife the instant you feel any drag, because these cuts must be as precise and clean as you can make them. Pull the foam-backed fabric off the headliner board.
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Spray the headliner board with a liberal coat of spray upholstery adhesive and immediately lay the foam side of the foam-backed fabric onto the adhesive-coated headliner board, being careful to position it precisely.
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Press downward around the entire area of the foam-backed fabric, using a medium- to large-size textbook or other heavy, flat object.
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Allow the adhesive to set for the amount of time specified by the can's instructions.
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Tug lightly around the perimeter of the headliner to assure the glue fully adhered it to the headliner board. If any edges come up, simply spray a small amount of spray adhesive under that edge, press it down and allow it to set.
Reinstalling the Headliner
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Guide the headliner board back into the vehicle’s cabin, with the aid of your assistant, via a door or the trunk.
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Lift the headliner into place, guiding any wires through their respective holes in the headliner.
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Reinstall any removed trim, handles and dome light to secure the headliner into place. There are no clips or fasteners that secure headliners, just the trim panels.
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Reinstall the seat back braces and seat-back cushion, as needed.
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Tips & Warnings
Perform this task in above-freezing temperatures; preferably above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Never attempt to adhere new foam-backed material to the headliner board without first removing the board. This can cause personal injury from inhaling the potentially toxic fumes from the adhesive. It may also cause damage to your vehicle’s interior.
