If you want to know how to upholster the roof of a car, you are in the right place. This becomes a necessity in those cases in which the upholstery in this area of the vehicle is seen to be sagging or has considerable damage.
Once you encounter one of these problems, it is time to consider taking the car to the workshop or being the one to carry out the repair yourself, which, logically, is cheaper. Also, contrary to what it may seem, it is a job that is not complicated, as long as you follow the steps that we are going to detail. However, keep in mind that you will have to invest several hours in the process.
Knowing how to upholster the roof of a car is one of the simplest repairs you can do on a vehicle, although it is also one of the least performed, since it looks more complicated.
The reasons that can lead to the roof of a car to come off are very varied, such as dust, dirt, shock, etc. Before explaining the procedure step by step, you should know that the fall of the ceiling is a recurring problem in all ranges and brands.
Instructions for upholstering the roof of a car
- First of all, you must proceed to disassemble the fallen ceiling. To do this you will have to remove all those elements from the car that may be an obstacle when carrying out the entire process. To do this you will have to remove the sun visors, the trims, the handles and the moldings. You will not spend too much time on it, but do it carefully.
- Next you will have to remove the light panel that may be integrated into the roof of your vehicle.
- When you have already removed all of the above, it will be time to proceed to extract the ceiling molding. The easiest way to do this is to start pulling it back, always being careful not to break it. To do this you must open the trunk and you will progressively pull until the casing that is responsible for covering it is out.
- Later you will have to remove the roof fabric, which you can extract more easily by removing the rubber that is present on the doors. Once removed, you can continue cleaning the area, removing debris, dust, stains…To do this, you will use a hard bristle brush.
- When you have perfectly clean the roof of your vehicle, it will be time to start gluing the new roof. To do this you must take wide-haired fabric and apply special glue with the help of a brush. Pour generously and apply some glue to the top of the car as well. Then go pasting the fabric.
- When carrying out the fabric gluing process, it is important that you be careful not to damage the rest of the vehicle’s upholstery, since the glues leave stains that are very difficult to remove. Also, during gluing it is advisable that you start gluing from the center to the sides. In this way you will prevent bubbles from forming, making the whole uniform. However, this depends on the preferences of each one.
- Once you have finished gluing the fabric, carefully, you will be able to place all the moldings and elements that you removed in a first step to be able to carry out the change of the car’s roof upholstery.
- When you have already glued the new fabric you will have finished. You just have to let it dry with the windows open. It is advisable that you leave the car without moving it for a few days. After drying for a period of at least 72 hours you can use your vehicle without any problem.
- When it has dried completely, it is the ideal time to re-place all the
What do you need to upholster the roof of a car?
Before starting with the car roof repair you need to have the following materials:
- Screwdriver
- brushes
- Contact glue for fabrics
- Wide pile upholstery fabric
- Stiff bristle brush
Tips for upholstering the roof of a car
- In the event that it comes off again over time, all you have to do is repeat the process that we have indicated. Knowing how to upholster the roof of the car is very easy, as you have seen, and it will only require you to have a few materials and time to do so.
- To prevent it from coming off again after having repaired it, it is recommended that you avoid using steam products to clean the vehicle. It is preferable that you bet on dry cleaning, which is effective and non-corrosive for the interior of the car.
- Once you have finished gluing the new upholstery, it is advisable not to use the vehicle for at least 72 hours, although it is better if you can extend that time, since this way you will give more time for the roof to dry completely, minimizing the risks that it can move and come off. Remember to keep it with the windows open during the drying process.
