The lining of your car roof is the smooth layer directly above your head. It doesn’t seem like much at first glance, but it keeps sound and extreme temperatures out of the vehicle. Unfortunately, they can sag and come undone as the years go on.
Car roof linings will likely come undone at least once in your car’s lifespan. When that happens, it’ll sag down onto your head, compromising comfort and causing distractions. You can repair it yourself with a car roof lining repair kit or get a professional to do the job.
The following sections will help you understand why car roof linings need repairs, how you can fix them yourself, and how much it’ll cost to get a pro to do it for you.
Let’s get to it.
Why Do Car Roof Linings Need Repairs?
Cars have so many parts that it's impossible to track them all. So, why would something so overlooked as the roof lining need repairs?
Well, it turns out that car roof lining repair is necessary at least once in your car's lifespan because it can fail for several reasons.
Over time, or due to unexpected damage, the car roof lining can become loose instead of remaining flat and secure on the car's ceiling. As a result, the lining will quickly become baggy and sag downwards, making it uncomfortable for you and your passengers.
Those problems can happen for several reasons, including:
- Incorrect installation: The first reason your roof lining needs repairs is because of human error. For example, a lazily installed lining will eventually come undone and must be repaired. Besides that, installing car roof racks or a car roof top box might require drilling that can pierce through and affect the interior lining.
- Smoke and fragrances: Chemicals inside the car can also undermine the roof lining’s adhesives and cause similar problems. Those can be the chemicals from smoke or fragrances that accumulate in the lining.
- Extreme temperatures: Intense weather and the extreme temperatures can also lead to car roof lining repairs. Again, this sort of thing weakens the adhesives and causes the lining to sag gradually.
- Oversized or sharp objects: Another cause related to human error is loading oversized or sharp objects. For example, perhaps you transported the earlier-mentioned car roof rack inside the car's cabin before installing it at home. Such large items can scrape against the roof lining and pull it off.
As you can see, despite how easy it is to overlook the car roof lining, it’s never free from the possibility of damage. A lot of things can cause it to become loose and require repairs.
Why Repairing Your Car's Roof Lining Is Important
Repairing a car roof liner might not seem an urgent priority for a car, especially if you've already got a long list of other repairs to sort out. However, you must understand that ignoring this repair could cause more significant problems later.
Here are a few reasons why it’s crucial to get your car roof lining sorted out as soon as possible:
- Safety: Keeping your car roof lining in excellent condition is a matter of safety. When it sags directly onto your head, it becomes a distraction that can affect how you handle your vehicle. Not only does that put you and your passengers at risk, but it also endangers other road users.
- Value: Something as simple as a sagging roof lining will reduce your car’s market value, making it difficult to fetch a reasonable price when you sell it.
- Durability: The lining indirectly affects your roof’s durability. So, if you want it strong enough to mount something like a car roof box on top, ensure the interior lining is secure, too.
How Do I Fix the Lining on My Car Roof?
The good news is that you have plenty of options to repair car roof lining issues, including DIY options. The not-so-good news is that not all of them will give you the expected results.
In any case, here are your DIY options for fixing your car roof lining:
- Glueing: The first and most basic repair is to glue your sagging roof lining back onto the car’s ceiling. Of course, you’ll want to remove any debris and old adhesive before doing so.
- Pinning: Another more straightforward method is to attach pins to the headliner to hold them in place. You could use simple push pins from the stationery store or automotive pins explicitly designed for roof lining repair.
- Stapling: If pins aren't your style, you can also staple back the lining into place. You'll need a heavy-duty stapler, like the ones people use to fasten missing cat posters to trees.
- Steaming: Suppose you have a steam-cleaning kit or something similar at home. You can make use of it by steaming the lining back into place. The heat and steam will melt and moisturise the adhesives, making them sticky enough to hold the lining.
- Taping: Lastly, applying a bit of good, old-fashioned duct tape can also help. Naturally, this is meant to be a short-term solution unless you are okay with how it looks.
Suppose you want to fix your car roof lining yourself but use something a bit more professional. In that case, you can purchase a car roof headliner repair kit.
Those kits come with every tool and accessory you'll need to repair your car roof lining neatly. In addition, those kits are affordable and easy to find online or at your automotive accessory shop.
Best of all, these kits come with plenty of extra pins, screws, and other accessories. So, you can keep them as spares if you have another car roof lining to fix.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Car Roof Lining?
Car roof lining repairs are perfectly fine done at home as DIY tasks. You can undoubtedly get the job done with a repair kit and after watching a couple of Youtube videos for guidance.
Still, nothing beats a repair done by professionals.
In Australia, you can get your car roof lining repaired for anywhere from $120 to $600, depending on your car’s make and model. The price difference comes down to lining size, materials, and other factors.
On the plus side, prices are pretty competitive. So it would be best if you got quotations from a few repairers before choosing the best one for your needs and budget.
You can find local service providers by using the CarpartAU Directory. You can narrow automotive businesses by specialisation and locate the ones closest to you. Grab their contact details, collect a few quotes, and get your car roof lining repaired quickly by some of the best people in the business.
By Ray Hasbollah