Car headliners are a vital part of the car’s interior, helping keep the driver and passengers safe from dents or scratches. Most cars don’t have very durable headliners, often becoming sagging and torn up quickly. How can you fix a sagging headliner? This article will provide clarity on this topic.
Contents
What Does a Car’s Headliner Do?
The material that covers a car’s ceiling is called a headliner, but it serves more purposes than just concealing exposed metal with comfortable, color-coordinated fabric.
Headliners shield against heat and sound, and they can also hide the wiring and hardware for antennas, electrical parts, and other accessories.
Without this thin layer of insulation, a car parked in the sun can become hotter inside, and wind noise might become more audible, especially at highway speeds.
Additionally, each audio system has custom acoustics for each vehicle’s interior, and insulation improves the acoustics.
What Causes a Car Headliner To Sag?
Several things can happen to your headliner. Below are some of the reasons that cause your car headliner to sag:
Poor Glue Quality
The car’s headliner can sag for many reasons, one of which is the quality of the glue used. Some headliners can leave gaps between the trim pieces and the headliner itself when glued on very poorly.
It leads to a sagging or drooping look that can be unsightly and uncomfortable.
Heat
Heat is also significant in causing your car’s headliner to sag. The sun can heat the inside of your vehicle through your car’s windows and windshield. This heat causes vinyl materials in the headliner to become quite soft, often causing it to droop or sag over time.
Exhaust Gas
Car exhaust fumes can cause the vinyl used in your car headliner to become very soft, allowing it to sag and droop. Sometimes, the rubber gasket used to seal the headliner can become defective and let exhaust fumes get inside your vehicle.
With time, this can cause your car’s headliner to sag and begin looking unsightly.
Car Owner Negligence
Anytime the headliner gets damaged due to the car owner’s negligence will cause your car’s headliner to sag. For example, after you have taken your dog or cat in the car, they may have left behind wet or dirty paw prints on the headliner.
When this happens, mold and mildew can grow on the soft vinyl headliner material. It allows bacteria, viruses, and other germs to form that can cause the vinyl to rot and fall apart.
Can a Sagging Headliner Be Repaired?
It is possible to repair the sagging headliner, but it will require some work. It’s straightforward to fix, but it can be time-consuming. Luckily, the process is relatively simple and can quickly be completed within a few hours and even under an hour.
Can I Fix My Headliner Myself?
Yes, you can fix a headliner yourself. However, it can be tricky for the inexperienced auto enthusiast. Setting the headliner is not easy and can be dangerous if not done carefully and with much caution.
In most instances, your headliner will attach to the roof, door seams, and other places under extreme stress. You will need to research how to get your headliner out of the car.
If necessary, you will need to remove the window and door trim pieces and unnecessary engine components to safely remove your headliner without damaging any other parts of your vehicle or yourself.
How To Fix a Sagging Headliner Without Removing It
Use the following solutions to fix a sagging headliner without removing it.
Gluing
Gluing the headliner back in place is the most common method to fix a headliner. This is simple and finished in less than an hour. You can determine the width of the hole and glue a headliner piece in that size. Be sure to match your height.
Using Pins
To fix a sagging headliner, you can also use pins. The advantage of using pins is that they are made from metal and force the vinyl to stick together. However, you must be careful when using pins since they can poke holes in the vinyl material. Also, because the headliner is cheap, it is not very durable and will likely rip off in the reattachment process.
Using Carpenter’s Tape
Carpenter’s tape works by sticking to itself as well as any vinyl that has a similar texture. This process is commonly referred to as “one-way glue” and will leave no residue that would allow your headliner to fray in time.
Using Heat Gun
A heat gun is perfect for re-stitching your headliner with a new look. It can create glue from the temperature without leaving any sticky residue behind. If you heat the vinyl for more than three minutes at a time, you can deform it.
This process is also very efficient because you can use a heat gun to re-attach both sides of your headliner in one sitting.
How To Fix a Headliner With Adhesive Spray
You can use the following steps to fix a headliner by using an adhesive spray and stapler.
Step 1: The first step is to locate the area that needs spraying. You’ll waste time and labor if you don’t identify the correct area first.
Step 2: Use a stapler to keep the headliner in place before spraying.
Step 3: Spray along the staple pattern and wait for it to dry by wiping it down to remove the excess product.
Step 4: Take the staples out after the spray is completely dried.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Sagging Headliner?
The amount of money incurred when fixing a headliner depends on the method used, either the DIY method or hiring the services of a professional.
The DIY Headliner Repair Cost
By choosing to repair the headliner yourself, you will have to spend approximately $45. The work quality will depend on how keen you are on detail.
Headliner Repair Kit
A headliner repair kit will set you back anywhere from $50 to $100, depending on the quality of the tools.
How Long Does It Take To Fix a Sagging Headliner?
It can take an hour to a few hours to fix a sagging headliner, depending on the damage and how long it lasts. A quick fix involving staples could take 10 minutes. A more permanent solution, adhesive spray, could cost 1 to 4 hours.
Conclusion
From the content above, it is clear that there is a method to fix a car headliner for everyone, whether it is your first time or a seasoned professional. All you need is keenness and to possess attention to detail.
