Repairing or Replacing Your Automotive Headliner

As far as automotive interiors, there is nothing more annoying or potentially dangerous than a sagging or separating automotive headliner. If you are not having this problem in your car, you have probably seen a car drive by with the headliner falling down into the back seat. If this problem is not repaired, eventually it could become a safety hazard by falling into the driver's field of vision.

What can be done?

There have been some temporary solutions offered in the past, such as those "twist in pins", but they are at best a temporary solution and will actually damage the headliner board, and cause more problems when it comes time for a more permanent fix.

The best solution is to completely replace the fabric of your headliner. You could have that done professionally, although that would be a rather expensive solution. A much more affordable solution would be a "do-it-yourself kit" that make this project something that anyone can do.

At stockinteriors.com we also offer a complete replacement for the entire board, which comes pre-covered with the fabric color of your choice. This option is only avaialble for a very small selection of vehicles.

What is a "Headliner"?

Most cars after the mid 70's have what is called a fabric covered headliner board. This board is usually made from a pressed material, much like cardboard. That headliner board is then covered with a foam backed headliner fabric, which is glued directly to the board. In most cases, the sagging or separation occurs when the fabric separates from the foam.

What should I buy?

When looking for a do-it-yourself kit, look for several things. First of all, make sure you are buying a quality material. Most fabric comes with either 1/8 inch thick foam, or 1/4 inch thick foam. It is usually best to go with the 1/4 inch thick foam.

by: Todd Speary