Does anyone know what kind of material is used for the interior roof of a car?

United States
April 24, 2010 3:19pm CST
My last car was stolen and as a result I had to buy a pretty crappy '91 Pontiac Grand Am. I have never seen an interior of a car so destroyed before. It's filthy, there are rips in the seat but the worst problem is the roof inside the car. Not only is the material hanging down but it also has slashes in it so I can't just glue it or staple it. I fear that as the weather gets warmer spiders will start living in there. It's like a canopy and it hangs so low it touches the top of my head (really fearful of spiders). It's really quite gross but the engine is in great shape so I don't want to get rid of it (doesn't even have 100,000 miles on it) Does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of fabric is used? I can probably replace it myself but I'm clueless about fabric.
2 responses
@TTCCWW (579)
• United States
25 Apr 10
I have helped redo a few of these. Mostly an american car problem. The reason it has fallen is because it was originally glued to a very thin layer of foam rubber and that foam has deteriorated. If you remove the side trim pieces around the roofline, ussually clipped in place, remove the interior light, sun visors, etc. and the panel will come out. Scrape it with a putty knife until it is really clean, buy a piece of light weight cloth from any fabric store and you can use a very thin piece of foam again. The foam allows you a lot of leaway when gluing the cloth back on. Many fabric stores actually stock headliner material and the foam. Fabric store clerk will know exactly what you need. This is not expensive. Use the 3M spray on glue and glue the foam to the panael then glue the material to the foam. Hint, allow to dry in the sun for a few hours before reinstalling the headliner and don't soak the material or the foam with to much glue, a light coating will do. It is a project for a day off. Good Luck...
1 person likes this
@sallyj (1225)
• United States
25 Apr 10
Thank you. We have puchased head liners and the men put them in. But they are expensive. This sounds easier and less expensive.
• United States
28 Apr 10
You were very detailed and informative. I will let you know how it comes out. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me.
@petersum (4522)
• United States
25 Apr 10
I would suggest that you talk to someone who fits sun-roofs. They will be the experts since they have to cut through the roof. They should know not only the outermost material but also any inner insulating material and the appropriate glues that will be needed. They might even do a full repair job.
1 person likes this